Alarming your home with smoke detectors is a life-saving measure. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) attributes two-thirds of fire deaths to homes with missing or broken smoke detectors (disconnected or having dead batteries). There are two types of smoke detectors: ionization-type detectors are sensitive to fast flaming fires; photoelectric-type detectors are sensitive to slow smoldering fires. Look for dual-sensor smoke alarms that combine both types in one unit.
Smoke detectors can be either battery-operated or hard-wired into your home’s electrical system. The benefit of an interconnected system is that if a smoke detector in the attic sounds, all of the others sound as well.
Follow these NFPA smoke detector recommendations in your home:
• Install them outside all bedrooms and on every level.
• Replace batteries every year. When you “fall back” with the time change, change the batteries.
• Replace all units every 10 years.
Source: nfpa.org