Smoke Alarms

Learn more about smoke alarms and why you should have them in your home.

Statistics

There is an estimated 600,000 fires in the UK reported annually. An average of 17,000 are injured from these. There are also about 800 deaths. Of these reported fires, 50,000 happen in residential buildings – that’s an average of 140 in a day. These fires kill 500 people yearly and injure more than 11,000. But according to the Fire and Rescue Service, many of these injuries and deaths could have been prevented if there was an early warning and people were able to get out in time. Studies show that you are twice as likely to die in a fire if you are in a house that has no smoke alarm than one that does. Installing a smoke alarm can help save you, your family and your home.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are self- contained fire-protection devices that can automatically detect a fire and give warning or alarm. A smoke alarm is about as small as your hand and are usually fitted to the ceiling. They are made to detect smoke or fire in its early stages, and give off an alarm to allow you and your family to exit the home safely.

Types of Smoke Alarms

• Ionisation – The cheapest type of smoke alarm, ionisation is very sensitive to small smoke particles from fast flaming fires, such as those from paper and wood, and can detect this type of fire before smoke gets too thick. However, it is less sensitive to slow burning and smouldering fires that have large smokes before the flaming starts.
• Optical – This type is more expensive, but also more effective at detecting slow burning, smouldering fires. It has lesser sensitivity to free burning flaming fires. This type of smoke alarm can be installed near – but not inside – the kitchen because it is less likely to go off because of burned toast, than an ionisation alarm.
• Heat – This type of smoke alarm can detect smoke and the increase of temperature from a fire. Hence, they are ideal to be installed in the kitchen. However, they can only cover a small area of a room so it is advisable to install several heat alarms inside a large kitchen.
• Combined
  • Combined Smoke Alarms – These alarms combine the features of ionisation and optical alarms and can effectively detect both slow burning and flaming fires.
  • Multi- sensor Alarms – This type is a combination of optical and heat alarms and can suppress false
  • Combined Smoke and C02 Alarms – This type combines two alarm systems that are both essential to any home – smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Buying this type of alarm means reduced purchasing and maintenance costs. It is also a great way to save up space if you have a small home.

Ready to get an alarm installed? Call Mediacoms today; we have teams who are experienced in installing smoke alarms, CCTVs and home security systems.