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The most important part
of installing any smoke detector is understanding why they are
necessary. Although much of the news about fires tends to focus on
dramatic burns and household damage, the truth is that smoke can
kill and injure you far more quickly than actual flames. When homes
burn, they tend to release prodigious quantities of toxic gas and
debris, including powerful carcinogens, cyanide and worse. But the
most insipid part of most home fires is the sudden rush of carbon
monoxide – this odorless gas can render people unconscious in a
matter of seconds, dooming them to catastrophic inaction in the face
of an enveloping blaze.
The most basic way to fight back against such danger is to place the
smoke detectors in smart places. Some people mistakenly believe that
one per home is plenty, but the truth is that instant-response
devices such as these need proximity to do any good. Bedrooms are
obligatory locations for smoke detectors, though you may also want
to add more in hallways, meeting areas, basements and attics –
anywhere an errant arc or spark could create a conflagration. It’s
wise to err on the side of overkill when it comes to these simple
machines, especially in homes that house children or heavy sleepers.
Once you have chosen your locations, it is essential to install each
in the right part of the room. Fires tend to crawl across floors,
furniture and other low-clung surfaces, but the fire isn’t what
smoke detectors are looking for. The smoke itself poses the
immediate danger, and that smoke tends to be hotter than the
surrounding air. Because heat rises, smoke tends to accumulate along
the upper edges of any space. This is why manufacturers insist that
smoke detectors are installed near the ceiling of rooms where they
will pick up airborne particles most quickly. For walls, this means
4 to 8 inches clearance from the ceiling, and for ceilings it means
a similar clearance from the nearest wall.
Actually installing the smoke detector may be the simplest part of
the process. Most basic designs attach with a few simple screws,
though it is important to find a proper patch of wall space for a
secure fit. If your home has drywall or temporary materials in
place, vibration and impact could knock a smoke detector off its
perch. Look for wall studs and be sure to tighten everything well –
houses that are coming undone may be wracked by explosions and
movement before the blaze ever reaches your door. One final note for
residents of earthquake-prone cities – you may want to opt for
longer screws. Be sure and check building codes before you come home
with all your materials.
Thankfully, maintaining a smoke detector couldn’t be simpler. Every
node comes with a test button built in, and most will begin to chirp
if the battery is running low. Indicator lights such as LEDs provide
an additional layer of redundancy as well. You still want to test
the system often and replace the batteries long before they expire.
Most experts also recommend training your family to respond
immediately to the sound of a triggered detector, including defining
a path and meeting place in the event of fire.
If you want to provide additional protection, you can also invest in
smoke detectors that hook into home alarm systems for a
comprehensive monitoring solution. Systems such as these do the
simple sound alarm one better by calling emergency services to your
doorstep – a pricier option, to be sure, but one which may literally
save your life. |
