- The change to the Ontario Fire Code means one smoke alarm in the
home is not enough. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the home, including the basement, and in each bedroom if sleeping with the door closed.
- All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years, regardless of
their power source. If you suspect your unit might be 10 years old or older, replace it.
- Never remove the batteries or disable a smoke alarm. If smoke from cooking or bathroom steam causes nuisance alarms, use the hush feature or install a smoke alarm with photoelectric technology.
Inspecting existing smoke alarms is important as it is estimated that more than five million Canadian households have smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old. These must be replaced.
Replacing batteries or testing smoke alarms by pressing the test button only ensures that the battery is live, and is not an indication that the smoke alarm's sensor is functioning.
Many Canadians are unaware that smoke alarm sensors degrade over time.
How to check if your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old:
- Remove smoke alarm and check the back of the unit for either a manufacturing date or best before date.
- If the manufacturing date is more than 10 years old, you should replace the unit.
- If the best before date indicated has expired, you should replace the unit.
How to select a smoke alarm for your home:
Select the Technology
- Ionization - better at detecting fast flaming fires that spread rapidly
- Photoelectric - better at detecting slow smoldering fires, and less likely to sound a false alarm. For complete protection use both an ionization and a photoelectric smoke alarm in your home.
Select a Power Source
- Battery powered - easy installation, no wiring required
- Hard wired - interconnects with other units in the home. Battery backup options are available
Select the Features
- Test/reset button - tests circuitry, silences and resets alarm
- Hush button - quickly silences nuisance alarms caused by cooking,
steam, etc.
- Safety light - illuminates an exit route to safety
- 10 year lithium battery - needs no replacement batteries for the life of the alarm
- Tamper resistant - locks to ensure no one can remove alarm or battery
Replace expired units with:
- A dual sensor alarm - includes both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensing technologies for maximum protection
- A 10-year tamper resistant alarm - contains batteries that do not need to be replaced for the life of the alarm. This alarm locks to inhibit tampering and prevents the removal of batteries to ensure continuous protection. After 10 years from installation the unit will beep to warn homeowners that it is time to replace the alarm.
- A dual smoke and carbon monoxide alarm - Also protects against the dangers of carbon monoxide in the home.
- A talking alarm - An innovation that delivers voice messages, including a sound alarm, to identify different dangers. A voice alarm is more effective in rousing sleeping children, thus more effective in alerting them of potential harm.
