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It's not a smoke alarm. CO alarms are not a substitute for a smoke alarm. Although firs is a source of carbon monoxide, a CO alarm does not sense smoke or fire. Warning of fire requires the installation of smoke alarms. While a smoke alarm triggers an alarm when it detects particles of smoke, a carbon monoxide alarm triggers an alarm based on exposure to CO over time. It is designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult may experience symptoms.

Remember, with carbon monoxide, it is the concentration of CO over time that poses a threat. Since carbon monoxide displaces oxygen in your blood, it can harm you if you are exposed to either high levels of CO in a short period of time, or to lower levels of CO over a longer period of time. Current UL Standard 2034 limits for CO alarms to sound are:

• 30ppm for 30 days

• 150ppm for 10-50 minutes

• 70ppm for 60-240 minutes

• 400ppm for 4-15 minutes

If initial testing does not confirm the presence of carbon monoxide, there may be other reasons for an alarm:

• Professional equipment used to measure the presence of carbon monoxide in the air must be calibrated to sense low levels of gas concentration. Some detection devices only measure concentrations of 1,000 parts per million and higher, significantly above safe levels.

• If initial readings don't reveal sufficient concentrations of carbon monoxide to set off the alarm, testing equipment which registers levels over a 24-hour period should be used to help identify the source.

• If doors or windows are left open or appliances turned off, and outside air enters the home, carbon monoxide can dissipate. This can create a lower reading than the original level that triggered the alarm.

• To help assure proper measurement, after evacuating the home, carbon monoxide readings should be conducted by professionals as quickly as possible after the alarm has sounded. To ensure the most accurate testing by professionals, leave doors and windows shut after evacuating.

CAUTION: Do not reenter the premises until the emergency services responder has arrived, the premises have been aired out and the CO alarm remains in its normal condition.

Posted in Safety Products By Bob

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN A CO ALARM SOUNDS?

  1. Operate the Test/Silence button.
  2. Call your emergency services, fire department or 911.
  3. Immediately move to fresh air—outdoors or by an open door or window. Do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. Do not reenter the premises, or move away from the open door or window until the emergency services responder has arrived, the premises have been aired out, and your CO Alarm remains in its normal condition.
  4. After following steps 1-3, if your CO Alarm reactivates within a 24-hour period, repeat steps 1-3 and call a qualified appliance technician to investigate for sources of CO from fuel-burning equipment and appliances, and inspect for proper operation of this equipment. If problems are identified during this inspection have the equipment serviced immediately.
  5. Note any combustion equipment not inspected by the technician, and consult the manufacturers’ instructions, or contact the manufacturers directly, for more information about CO safety and this equipment. Make sure that motor vehicles are not, and have not, been operating in an attached garage or adjacent to the residence.

*Per ANSI/UL 2034

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

At the onset of hurricane season, it’s important for consumers to remember the proper safety precautions to take in the event of a power outage, as several dangers – including accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – arise when electricity is lost.

During power outages, many consumers turn to various sources of alternative power and cooking as a temporary solution.  From gas-powered generators to gas grills to wood and charcoal, households look for ways to continue their daily lives during a loss of power.  Unfortunately, the incorrect use of many of these products can result in tragic consequences.  For example, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 28 people died from accidental CO poisoning during the 2005 hurricane season as a direct result of portable generator use. The following safety tips will help families avoid CO and other dangers associated with power outages:

  • Never run a generator indoors or in a poorly ventilated area such as a garage, basement or porch, and use the appropriate-size power cords to carry the electric load.
  • Install a minimum of one battery-operated CO alarm (or AC-powered alarm with battery backup) outside each sleeping area, and for maximum protection install at least one CO alarm on each level of the home.
  • Ensure that CO alarms have working batteries installed.
  • Never burn charcoal or other outdoor cooking appliances indoors or in the garage.

Extra Guidelines to Help Prevent Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
A national survey reveals nearly three quarters of Americans think carbon monoxide (CO) can be “very dangerous” in the home, and their fears are warranted. CO is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in the United States, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Often referred to as the silent killer because one can’t see, smell or taste it, CO is a by-product of combustion produced by anything that burns fuel, such as gas furnaces, water heaters, barbeque grills, wood-burning fireplaces, stoves, alternative power sources and autos. Exposure to CO causes many flu-like symptoms and can be fatal.

That’s why it’s so critical for consumers to identify potential dangers and take measures to help protect themselves and their families against this serious threat.  First Alert, a leading manufacturer of home safety products including CO alarms, recommends following these guidelines:

  • Have fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a qualified professional every year before cold weather arrives. During the heating season, clear filters and filtering systems of dust and dirt.
  • Be sure to open the flue for adequate ventilation when using a fireplace.
  • Inspect the pilot lights on natural gas appliances to ensure that the flame is blue. When a flame is mostly yellow in color, it likely is producing CO.
  • Clean out the lint and debris that may build up in the clothes dryer vent which leads to the outside of the house.
  • Only use generators in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.
  • Use barbeque grills only outside and never indoors or in the garage.
  • Never leave an auto running in a garage, even for a couple of minutes and not even if the overhead garage door is open.
  • Install a CO alarm outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association. Ensure that the alarms are plugged all the way in the outlet or, if battery operated, have working batteries installed. For better protection go a step further and install CO alarms inside each sleeping area.
  • First Alert recommends replacing CO alarms no later than every 5-7 years.
Posted in Safety Products By Bob

Choosing the Right Smoke Alarm!

2014-05-01 9:06:00 PM

Choosing the Right Smoke Alarm

According to a study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an estimated 890 lives could be saved each year in the United States if all homes had working smoke alarms.  First Alert, one of the most recognized safety brands in America, offers an array of smoke alarms to meet almost any family’s needs.

What Types of Smoke Alarms Are There?
Smoke alarms can be found with a variety of features and added benefits to help maximize home safety, however it is important to know there are two main types of smoke alarms. They are differentiated by the smoke sensing technology they are constructed with. These technologies are called ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors and differ by the way they react to a fire occurrence:

Ionization technology smoke alarms are generally more sensitive than photoelectric technology smoke alarms at sensing small particles, which tend to be produced in greater amounts by hot, flaming fires, that are consuming combustible materials rapidly and may spread quickly. Sources of these fires may include paper burning in a wastebasket, or a grease fire in the kitchen.

Photoelectric technology is generally more sensitive than ionization smoke detector technology at sensing large smoke particles, which tend to be produced in greater amounts by smoldering fires, which may smolder for hours before bursting into flame. Sources of these fires may include cigarettes burning in couches or bedding.

For maximum protection, industry experts recommend the use of both types of technology on each level and in every bedroom of your home. Regardless of what type of smoke alarm you have in your home, First Alert® recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years.

Posted in Safety Products By Bob

How to Help Reduce Nuisance Alarms

2014-05-01 9:06:00 PM

How to Help Reduce Nuisance Alarms

According to a survey performed by First Alert®, a leading manufacturer of smoke alarms, nearly 7 out of 10 Americans have had a smoke detector alarm because of smoke from cooking. More than 50% of Americans admitted to having silenced a false alarm by removing it from the wall or taking out the batteries. *

It is very important to never deactivate a smoke alarm for any reason. One way to help reduce the occurrence of a nuisance alarm is to install photoelectric-type smoke alarms in those areas of the home where they happen. First Alert recommends installing a photoelectric-type smoke alarm in these areas because it is activated by sensing the smoke from a larger, “smoldering fire” – not, for example, from the smoke particles of burnt toast or a blast of humidity from a hot shower.

First Alert offers the industry's widest range of photoelectric smoke alarms designed to meet all local and state fire codes. All of the alarms manufactured by First Alert meet or exceed the performance standards for smoke alarms set forth by nationally recognized testing laboratories.

*Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
**Source: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

Posted in Safety Products By Bob

Interconnecting Smoke Alarms

2014-05-01 9:06:00 PM

Industry experts recommend installing interconnected smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every sleeping area as a part of a comprehensive fire safety program.  Having interconnected alarms in new construction is already a requirement of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code, as this feature enables all alarms to sound when any individual alarm detects smoke to help provide an early notification.

There are easy solutions for wirelessly interconnecting smoke alarms in homes that do not have hardwired alarms installed. First Alert offers a new wireless smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm series providing homeowners with whole-home safety in fire and CO emergency situations.  The new alarm series uses First Alert ONELINK® Technology, which allows homeowners to create a network of alarms that “talk” to each other with no wiring required.  When one alarm sounds, all alarms respond, providing an immediate warning and giving everyone in the home a better chance of hearing the alarms and reacting quickly.   

Upgrading to a whole-home safety network is easy.  Homeowners simply install two or more battery-operated, First Alert ONELINK alarms in different areas of their homes.  Until ONELINK alarms, having hardwired alarms was the only way to ensure all alarms sounded when one detected smoke or CO.

Posted in Safety Products By Bob

Smoke Alarm Features

2014-05-01 9:06:00 PM

For those in need of new smoke alarms, a wide variety of innovative products are available with an assortment of features to meet different needs.  Following are just a few of the safety and convenience options incorporated into today’s array of high-tech smoke alarms:

Long-life 10-year lithium batteries – eliminates the need for battery replacement for the 10-year life of the alarm.

Bright escape lights – lights the way to safety in case of an emergency.

Strobe technology – provides visual alerts for the hearing-impaired.

Remote-controlled mute – Infrared sensor allows for easy, hands-free silencing and testing of alarm function with most conventional remote controls.

Talking Alarms – When programmed correctly, alarms with this feature installed can verbally warn you of the type and location of the danger.

Smoke alarms are a fundamental component to any household safety plan. They may provide critical time to find your way to safety in the event of a fire. So take time and do your research to find the types of smoke alarms that are best suited to help protect you and your family.

*The First Alert survey results are based on the responses of 1,000 adults in the United States who answered a telephone survey from Jan. 29 through Feb. 1, 2009. Results are accurate to +/-3 percent points with a 95 percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire U.S. adult population.

Posted in Safety Products By Bob

What do I need to know about fire?

2014-05-01 9:06:00 PM

Smoking Out the Facts About Home Fire Detection

Fire is a deadly threat to any household. It can strike anywhere, at any time. The frightening truth is that in 2005, there were nearly 381,000 home fires in the U.S. resulting in over 16,000 injuries and deaths combined*. You must be prepared by using the tools for fire protection.

Smoke alarms provide a warning of fire. Smoke alarms are the easiest, most cost-efficient way to alert your family of a developing fire. The more smoke alarms you have installed in your home, the more your chances increase that you will be alerted to a fire.

Fire extinguishers provide a tool to fight small fires. Having a fire extinguisher in your home can increase your chances of keeping a small fire from getting out of control and becoming a deadly rage.

Using both smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in your home, along with knowing what to do in case of fire, can help save your life! Fire can be a preventable tragedy!

What do I need to know about fire?

Fire can and might happen to you! You must be prepared and have the knowledge to escape safely. Fire is darker, smokier, hotter, and faster than you can imagine. You must know what fire is like to increase the chances of a safe escape. The following are four important facts to remember:

1. Smoke is dark. Most people expect fire to be light. For this reason, people have been trapped in their homes because they could not find their way out in the dark -- they didn't have a flashlight and didn't practice an escape plan.

2. Smoke can be deadly. Since most fire fatalities occur between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. when most people are sleeping -- the only thing standing between the deadly fumes of fire and a safe escape maybe the piercing sound of a smoke alarm.

3. Fire has intense heat. Fire can cause the temperature to rise several hundred degrees in just seconds. The heat is so intense that it can cause the human body to stop functioning altogether - -one breath can cause severe lung damage. The heat alone can cause someone to become unconscious and not be able to escape. Escape time can be valuable.

4. Time is critical. A residential home can be totally consumed in flames in less than five minutes from the start of a fire! A home fire can double in size is just 30 seconds.* You must know what to do in order to help get you and your family out safely. A closed door is often the best way to stall a fire; by closing the door, you may save yourself seconds to use an alternate escape route.

I have one smoke alarm in my home. Is that enough protection against fire?

No, several smoke alarms and fire extinguishers must be installed and maintained for proper fire protection. The NFPA recommends smoke alarms be installed on every level of the home, and inside every bedroom and sleeping area. Smoke alarms should also be installed in the main corridor outside each bedroom area. Fire extinguishers should be installed on each living level, as well as in rooms that pose potential fire hazards (i.e., kitchen, garage, workshop).

Installing and maintaining smoke alarms and fire extinguishers dramatically increases your family's chances of surviving a fire.

Posted in Safety Products By Lynn

Many laws require that you install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home. It is also important to install at least one fire extinguisher in a convenient location on each level. The most basic protection for any home would be to install one smoke alarm and one fire extinguisher on each level. However, check your local building code since many require alarms also in each bedroom. 

Other important considerations include:

1. Mount smoke alarms in the middle of the ceiling when ceiling mounted. If that is not possible mount detectors on the wall at least three feet away from a corner and 4 - 6 inches away from the ceiling.

2. Keep smoke alarms away from drafts created by fans or air ducts. The moving air can blow smoke away from the sensor.

3. Avoid placing smoke alarms too near the kitchen stove and bathroom shower, as cooking smoke and shower steam can cause nuisance alarms.

4. Mount basement alarms at the bottom of the basement stairwell.

5. Mount fire extinguishers on a wall 3 1/2 to 5 feet above the floor. The location should be near an exit or an escape route from the room.

Posted in Safety Products By Lynn

There are two basic types of smoke alarms: ionization and photoelectric. Both are effective at detecting smoke, yet each has a unique detecting system.

Ionization technology is generally more sensitive than photoelectric technology at detecting small particles which tend to be produced in greater amounts by flaming fires, which consume combustible materials rapidly and spread quickly. Sources of these fires may include paper burning in a wastebasket, or a grease fire in the kitchen.

Photoelectric technology is generally more sensitive than ionization technology at detecting large particles, which tend to be produced in greater amounts by smoldering fires, which may smolder for hours before bursting into flame. Sources of these fires may include cigarettes burning in couches or bedding. Each type of detector also comes as AC-operated smoke alarms or battery-operated smoke alarms. Some AC alarms even come with a battery back-up system. Additional options can include an escape light, silencing button, or remote control mute feature.

Posted in Safety Products By Lynn

Fire extinguishers are categorized by ratings. These ratings determine the size and type of fire that the extinguisher can successfully put out. Fire can be divided into three categories: A, B, or C. An "A" type fire is primarily wood, paper and fabric. "B" type fires are primarily flammable liquids (such as gasoline) and oil based. Finally, "C" type fires are electrical in nature.

The number preceding the A, B, or C rating determines how big of a professionally set fire the extinguisher can put out. For example, a 10-B:C extinguisher would be able to handle a 25 foot square fire of either flammable liquid or electrical origin. A 5-B:C extinguisher could handle a 12.5 square foot fire that is flammable liquid or electrical based.

Posted in Safety Products By Lynn
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