Carbon Monoxide Detectors
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Carbon Monoxide Detectors Unfortunately, there are several special interest groups that oppose minimum lev- Carbon Monoxide (CO) is known as the els of safety such as home fire sprinkler “silent killer.” systems. One of the biggest problems is the public does not receive factual infor- mation on these life safety systems. Smoke Detectors, Carbon There should be at least one CO detector Here are resources where you can get Monoxide Detectors, and Home near each sleeping area of the home. factual information: fire sprinklers. Saving Lives and Property Everyday!! Change the CO detector battery at least www.homefiresprinkler.org once a year. Try to find CO detectors that have a sealed, multi-year battery. A single sprinkler head www.firesprinklerinitiative.org extinguished this fire CO detectors typically need to be replaced www.firesprinklerassoc.org every 7-10 years (refer to the manufac- turer’s information for more detail on re- placement schedules). www.urbandale.org When in doubt, contact the people who have firsthand experience about the ef- fectiveness and value of fire protection systems—your fire department! Smoke detectors are an important early notification device in your home to alert you to a fire! Many fire deaths in homes occur where there were either no smoke 3927 121st St. detectors present or the detectors did not Urbandale, IA 50323 work. Home fire sprinklers in conjunction Phone: (515) 278-3970 Email: [email protected] with smoke detectors give you the best www.urbdandale.org chance of surviving a fire as well as mini- www.facebook.com/urbandalefiredepartment mizing the devastating effects of fire. Smoke Detectors Home Fire Sprinklers Failure of lightweight construction at a house fire in Urbandale The National Building and Residential Codes You need to have at least one smoke have required fire sprinklers in homes as a detector on every floor of your home minimum requirement since 2009. However, (including the basement). most communities have chosen to remove this minimum level of protection from new homes. Data from communities across the U.S. have Smoke detectors should be dual sen- shown home fire sprinklers are effective, sor technology (ionization & photoe- affordable, and save lives. lectric sensors). MYTH: Requiring fire sprinklers makes housing “unaffordable.” Batteries need to be replaced at Testing conducted by Underwriters Labor- least once a year. Try to find re- FACT: A recent study conducted by the Fire atories shows that structural materials placement detectors that come with Protection Research Foundation showed the used to build homes today are prone to a 10-year sealed battery. average cost for a fire sprinkler system in a collapse sooner when exposed to fire. In new home is $1.35/square foot.* Fire addition, homes today are primarily fur- sprinkler opponents have never been able to nished with items made from plastic and Test your detectors monthly and be provide data or research to show how home synthetic materials which burn faster and sure to vacuum around them at least fire sprinklers caused a negative economic release more heat and toxic smoke than impact in a community that has fire sprin- furnishings made from natural fibers, sig- monthly to reduce the chance of nui- klers as a minimum safety provision in new sance alarms. nificantly reducing the time someone has homes. to escape a fire. Do not install smoke detectors in MYTH: Sprinklers go off accidentally, causing kitchens. unnecessary water damage. FACT: Accidental sprinkler discharge is ex- tremely rare. Things like burnt toast and Make sure everyone in the home re- cigarette smoke will not trigger sprinkler op- views and practices your fire escape eration. Each sprinkler works independently plan at least twice a year. and only in response to the heat of the fire. Studies have shown that over 90% of the time a fire is controlled or extinguished with no more than 2 sprinkler heads activating. MYTH: A smoke alarm provides enough protec- tion in the home. FACT: If operational, smoke alarms may alert occupants to the presence of danger, See the sprinkler head? Most sprinkler but they do nothing to extinguish or control heads in homes are concealed giving them the fire. a very low profile. A smoke detector has a larger profile than a fire sprinkler head. * A copy of this report can be obtained from UFD or downloaded from www.homefiresprinkler.org .