| *Related Infographic: https://twitter.com/TNCommerceInsur/status/708015860988960768
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 10, 2016
CONTACT: Kevin Walters
OFFICE: (615) 253-8941
State Fire Marshal: Check Smoke Alarms When Changing Clocks
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 13th
NASHVILLE –State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak reminds Tennesseans to check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend when they set their clocks Saturday night for daylight saving time. She also urges everyone to consider the age of their smoke alarms.
“It’s proven that smoke alarms can save lives in the event of a fire – but only if they are working,” McPeak said. “Know the type of alarm you have and how to maintain it. Some alarms now come with 10-year, sealed batteries designed to last the life of the unit. Traditional alarms with 9 volt batteries, however, should have new batteries at least once a year. All alarms should be tested monthly. It’s also important to note that any smoke alarm 10 years old or older should be replaced entirely.”
Smoke alarms more than 10 years old no longer offer a reliable level of safety and are often the source for nuisance alarms. The State Fire Marshal’s Office urges all residents to determine how old their smoke alarms are (the date of manufacture is located on the back of the alarm). If they’re 10 years old or older, they should be replaced immediately! This includes smoke alarms that use 10-year batteries and/or are hard-wired.
State statistics indicate that a home without adequate smoke alarm coverage is a dangerous place to live: Nearly 80 percent of Tennessee’s 2015 fire deaths took place in homes where no smoke alarm was known to have been present.
Many fatal fires occur at night while the victims are sleeping. The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can cause people to sleep more deeply, narrowing the chances of surviving a fire. A working smoke alarm can double the chances of survival by increasing the amount of time a person has to escape a fire in their home.
“Tennesseans must be diligent in installing and maintaining their smoke alarms,” McPeak said. “All too often an alarm or its battery is removed and not replaced, putting a home’s occupants at risk. There’s no way to predict when a fire will occur, so even one night without an operational smoke alarm can be hazardous.”
Here are some additional guidelines on residential smoke alarms:
- Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home, including the basement. For best protection, smoke alarms should be installed inside and outside sleeping rooms. Make sure everyone can hear the alarm and knows what it sounds like.
- Install smoke alarms away from the kitchen to prevent nuisance alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance.
- For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual-sensor alarms. Interconnect the alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound.
- Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are available and are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps on these units, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
- For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year (preferably twice a year during daylight saving time). If that alarm chirps, replace only the battery.
- Remember, even alarms that are hard-wired into your home electrical system need to have their battery back-ups maintained in case of electrical power outage.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning to keep smoke alarms working well. The instructions are included in the package or can be found on the internet.
- Test alarms once a month using the test button. Replace the entire alarm if it's more than 10 years old or fails to sound when tested.
- Devise a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a designated outside meeting place. Share and practice the plan with all who live in the home, including children.
- When a smoke alarm sounds, get out of the home immediately and go to your pre-planned meeting place to call 911.
For more information on making your home fire-safe, download and print the State Fire Marshal’s home fire safety checklist.
About the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance: TDCI is charged with protecting the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for a broad array of industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Our divisions include the Athletic Commission, Consumer Affairs, Tennessee Corrections Institute, Emergency Communications Board, Fire Prevention, Insurance, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Peace Officers Standards and Training, Regulatory Boards, Securities, and TennCare Oversight.
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