Photo Courtesy of NFPA
It’s National Fire Prevention Week.
One of the most important measures in fire protection for any building (residential or commercial) is having the proper Fire/Smoke Detection System in place. Please make sure you have the right system installed in your property and that it’s maintained as recommended.
Did you know your smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years? Why is this you ask? Well, experts say that ten years is the typical life expectancy and beyond that they sensors in the alarms can begin to fail and lose their sensitivity. You can determine the age by removing the smoke alarm and the manufacture date will be printed on the back; the alarm should be replaced 10 years after this date.
Many of the newer models have self-contained batteries that last for ten years, which eliminates the possibility of you forgetting to change the battery every year. That can be a life saver!
I’ve also provided a link below to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) that addresses many frequently asked questions regarding smoke alarms. http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week/teaching-fpw/replacing-smoke-alarms)
Here are some interesting statistics to share:
- Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms
- More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
- The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.
- Nearly half of the home deaths happen between 11pm and 7am, when most people are sleeping.
The NFPA has many great resources from home inspection surveys to quizzes. Please take a few minutes to test your knowledge and I would highly encourage everyone in your household take it! The link to the quiz is as follows: http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week/fire-prevention-week-quiz
Please educate yourself, your family and don’t forget your employees in the commercial environment.
Links and reference materials provided by the National Fire Protection Association.
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