Fire & Smoke Alarms & Detectors

Fire has been identified as the third leading cause of accidental death but this fact has been conveniently ignored by a large majority of individuals. Most times, when we read about a fire in the newspapers or on television, we often think that it only happens to other people and not to us. It must be said that this is not true in any way at all. If you have never been a victim of a fire that happened at home or at work, you can thank your lucky stars for that. But if you mull over the possibilities, it is certainly better to be safe than sorry when it comes to avoiding fire-related catastrophes. There are basic prevention steps that can be taken and these ultimately can save lives and your own precious property.

How do fires normally occur? Fires can take place anywhere and anytime. Sometimes they are classified under accidents when it stems from non-intended incidences. Fires can start when they come in contact with combustible items such as wood, cloth or paper, flammable liquids such as gasoline, propane and kerosene, electrical appliances, and several types of combustible metals such as titanium, sodium and magnesium. Sometimes, fires can arise due to arson, although this is rather rare.

To safeguard your home against fires, you should install proper fire and smoke alarms as well as sufficient detectors. Most smoke detectors available in the market runs on electrical circuits that get interrupted by particles. Whenever a fire occurs, particles rise up to the air. When these come in contact with the smoke detector, they impede the sensitive circuitry and alert an in-built microchip. It then does its pre-programmed job of sending out a signal and hence, setting of the fire alarm!

When it comes to fire alarms, several popular choices include ionization fire alarms and photoelectric fire alarms. The difference between these two is that the former respond faster to flaming fires, whereas photoelectric fire alarms are formulated to react faster to smoldering fires. Because there is no way you can predict what sort of fires would happen, it is suggested that you install both types to be on the safe side.

Fire alarms offer many features that will provide adequate protection against fire disasters. There are, however, several reminders when it comes to maintaining them and ensuring that your fire alarms perform optimally. Batteries in fire alarms should never be removed. They should always be replaced every 6 to 12 months, whereas fire alarm systems themselves should be replaced every decade or so. If your fire alarm isn’t a wireless system, you should always check to see if the electrical cords are frayed or damaged.

Even with the most sophisticated fire alarm systems installed, there are times when an encounter with a fire should never happen. Do not fight a fire if it is spreading beyond control, or when the fire is blocking your only escape. Always remember to steer clear of fires if you aren’t properly attired or if you do not have adequate fire fighting gears.

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