Transcript Slide 1
How many of you know what TYPE of smoke alarm you have? Does it Matter? Based on industry information, what has the fire service been promoting for 30 years? In spite of their differences, either one of the two types of smoke alarms is acceptable for home use. Find the least expensive smoke alarm that is UL Listed. Smoke Alarm History 1970 - 1st battery smoke alarm (Apx. $30) 1977 - National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) conducted smoke alarm testing 1980’s - 75% of homes had smoke alarms 2004 - 96% of homes had smoke alarms 2008 – 96% of homes had smoke alarms, 20% of homes do not have a working smoke alarm. IONIZATION: Contains a small amount of radioactivity that conducts electricity. Ionization alarms are more sensitive to the tiny particles of combustion that can’t be seen or smelled, those emitted by FLAMING FIRES. Ionization alarms are more PRONE TO FALSE ALARMS from cooking and steam from bathrooms. PHOTOELECTRIC: Contains a beam of light and a photocell within the chamber. Photoelectric alarms are more sensitive to the large particles of combustion emitted by SMOLDERING FIRES. The Difference Does Matter. Here Is What We Have Learned… Andrea Dennis, Kyle Raulin, Al Schlessman, Erin DeMarco, and Christine Wilson These five students died at Ohio State University on April 13, 2003 (Palm Sunday) Julie Turnbull, Kate Welling & Steve Smith died in this house on April 10th, 2005 (Palm Sunday) at Miami University Some of the Many Studies International Assn. of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) study1980 Texas A & M-2 1/2 year study: 1990’s National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) sponsored private industry study-2001 NIST study-2008 The Results Have been consistent… Ionization alarms sounded tens of seconds faster than photoelectric alarms in flaming fires in many of the tests. Photoelectric alarms sounded tens of MINUTES faster in smoldering fires in many of the tests. Ionization smoke alarms failed to sound at all in some smoldering fires tests. The Results Ionization smoke alarms are more prone to nuisance false alarms from normal cooking and steam from the bathroom/shower. These false alarms cause residents to remove the batteries. The batteries do not get replaced. What if a resident has only ionization smoke alarms? Educate them on the sensor differences. Recommend they replace their ionization smoke alarms with photoelectric or add photoelectric smoke alarms in addition to their ionization alarms per our guidelines. Remind them to maintain all of their existing smoke alarms until they replace them. How do you tell what sensor you have? National statistics: 90% of homes in the US are equipped with Ionization smoke alarms only. 20% of homes have non-working smoke alarms. 53% of these non-working alarms were due to missing/removed batteries; the leading reason being nuisance alarms. Non-working smoke alarms were found in 23% of home fire deaths. Investigations of fires in (Your City Here), at the minimum, support these national statistics. By the way…What types of alarms are being used to protect our most vulnerable citizens? Photoelectric smoke detectors are now the only type being utilized in all commercial buildings including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, day cares & apartments! Final Comparison Sensor Photoelectric Ionization Environment Light Source Radioactive False Alarms Few Frequent More Smoldering Responsive to Fires Located Commercial Buildings Flaming Fires Price $8 $12 90% of Homes Your City Here The majority of home fires occurring within Your City are of the slow burning smoldering type creating heavy smoke. In the past XX years all but one fire fatality occurring in Your City were caused by smoke inhalation. Fire investigations conducted by fire department personnel have found operational smoke alarms that failed to operate in smoke conditions. Fire Department Recommendation Based on this information, the Fire Department is already recommending that Photoelectric smoke alarms be placed in all the recommended areas throughout the home. Amend the city ordinances that require smoke alarms to require photoelectric smoke alarms as the primary alarm. The passage of this legislation is important for promoting and enhancing the life safety of the residents of Your City, furthering our continued commitment to exemplary service and safety for our citizens. Questions?