Smoke Alarms - BUY YOURSELF TIME

As a home inspector I see all kinds of homes - all sizes, all ages, all conditions.  One of the largest SAFETY issues that I report on has to do with smoke detectors.  A large percentage of homes either don't have them where they are needed or they are too old and wouldn't work anyway.  We can do better.  WE MUST DO BETTER!  This post will be written in simple and blunt wording.

Below is a link to a video from a newscast that shows a real world test on smoke detectors.  In the beginning of the video the newscaster introduces the story by saying, 'we all have smoke detectors in our homes.'  As a home inspector I can tell you for a fact that "ALL" is not a word that I would use to describe reality in our homes.  In fact, smoke detectors are either missing where required or just too old to work in the overwhelming majority of the homes that I inspect here in the Cedar Valley.  Take a look at the video and then keep reading.  

In the video, notice the three types of smoke detectors and the time it took to sense the fire.  Keep in mind, THESE WERE WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS! 

As the video states there are 3 types of smoke alarm sensors: ionization, photo-eye,  and combination photo-eye/ionization. 
Rough Costs:
Ionization (least expensive and detect fast burning)  $5 to $10.00
Photo-eye (mid-priced and detect slow smoldering) $20.00 and up.
Combination or dual sensing (most expensive BUT MOST EFFECTIVE)  $30 and more.
  
In the video notice how quickly the dual sensing unit responded.  Notice how LONG it took the cheap ionization detector to respond to a slow smoldering fire.  The smoke would kill you before the flames ever do.

Updated national building codes REQUIRE dual sensing detectors.  Only 10% of the homes in America have a dual sensing device.   Codes are updated for a reason.  Thirty or forty years ago when homes were made of natural materials the time to evacuate a home was about 15 minutes.  Today, due to many man-made materials we have about 3 minutes to get out of the house.  For example, there is a reason that the fire department will NOT enter a home to fight the fire once it is confirmed that everyone is out safely. 

The floor structure of a newer home is made of materials that rely on glue and high pressure to bond layers of wood together during the manufacturing process to make the individual joist members and plywood as opposed to the solid wood floor joists many years ago.  Once the glue reaches a high temperature it simply melts and the system fails.  There is no warning.  There is no sound.  Tests have shown that a manufactured floor system can fail in as little as four minutes. For this reason get as much time as you can to evacuate the home.  Use devices that detect slow smoldering fires.  It takes several minutes for a cheap detector to sense a fire, several more minutes for you to call 9-1-1, several more for the fire department to show up to even begin to look for you.  Television shows make it all happen before the next commercial break.  It doesn't happen this way.  Realistically, you have only the time OF A COMMERCIAL BREAK to get out safely.  "Buy" yourself that time.  Get dual sensing smoke detectors.  

To make matters worse, most of the detectors I see in a home are either not working due to the batteries or the device is older than 10 years old.  Yes, detectors do wear out and need to be replaced.  While pushing the test button on the device MAY activate the alarm to sound it is NOT an indication that the "sniffer" on the device is functioning.  

Below are some diagrams on where to install smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors (CO) and fire extinguishers.  Notice,  MORE THAN ONE SMOKE DETECTOR is required per floor with livable space.  If you have bedrooms or livable space in the basement you would need to follow the same requirements as the other floors.

In the video these test results even made the fire fighter conducting the test change his own detectors at home.  He knows that time is something you just don't have in a fire.  "Buy" yourself all the time you can.