Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Reducing the frequency, cost and loss of life stemming from building fires each year is among the main objectives of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the National Electrical Code (NEC) and numerous local building officials.

Another leading and partially preventable cause of death in homes is carbon monoxide, which is odorless, tasteless and invisible. As a result, the NEC is updated every three years to keep pace with the best electrical practices. Throughout the United States, most states have laws regarding the required placement of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in new constructions.

So how effective have these efforts been? While the numbers may fluctuate one year to the next due to specific events, the overall trend has been a reduction of about 55% in the number of fires and deaths over the past four decades.

If you have a system that was installed in the past five years or less, you are probably fine. If you want to make sure that you are providing your home and family with the best protection possible for smoke and carbon monoxide hazards, call us at Ossie Electric to schedule a free consultation.

The NFPA suggests placement of at least one smoke alarm on every level of a home, in every bedroom, and outside each sleeping area because occupants have mere minutes to escape a fire. The leading smoke detector technologies are ionization (best at gauging invisible fire particles associated with fast moving flames) and photoelectric (best at detecting visible particles associated with slow smoldering flames). It is recommended that both be deployed simultaneously.

Industry experts recommend a carbon monoxide detector on every level, especially on those with fuel burning appliances. The incomplete combustion of carbon-containing material produces carbon monoxide. CO is virtually undetectable by humans; unfortunately it is a highly toxic inhalant that attaches to hemoglobin in the bloodstream and effectively fatally chokes off oxygen supply in the body. Carbon monoxide detectors measure CO levels over time and alert occupants to gradual or sudden buildups to inform ventilation or evacuation as needed.

Increasingly, both smoke and CO detectors are required to be hard wired, but many units use battery power, either as a back-up or primary power source. Homeowners need to remember to periodically change batteries and assure that wires are operable. While many newer detectors have longer useful lives, the units need to be changed every 7-10 years. Functionality diminishes over time with the build up of dust, insects, and parts simply wearing out.

According to the NFPA, from 2009-2013, the risk of dying in a fire in a home with a smoke detector was 0.53 deaths compared to 1.18 deaths per 100 fires in homes without detectors, a difference of 55%. Why not take this simple precaution with proven results? At Ossie Electric, we want our customers safe and offer a free evaluation and will recommend the best setup of smoke and CO detectors for your home.