Smoke alarms
October 15, 2024
I was really impressed with Adan Shaikh’s article about Smoke Alarms on October 1.
Finally, someone is reporting the importance of having the two types of smoke detectors along with the CO detector. The fire and life educator Jeff Knopf outlines things right, but I wonder if most readers picked up on the subtle recommendation of having all three detectors installed in their homes.
I am writing to you because I think there’s room to push the subject further.
How many times have we heard that a house/condo/apartment was on fire and the occupants reported the smoke detectors did not sound? We read about it and roll our eyes with our first thought being “the batteries in the detector probably had never been changed” or “the detector was probably expired and no one checked”! What if the real reason was that the detector was the wrong kind to detect the type of smoke and therefore didn’t sound? This is a fact that is always left out of the reporting and therefore people assume then forget.
I was one of those who thought that way until 2012 when there was a fire at my brother’s brand new house. We were very fortunate that no one was injured. The detectors were never heard, never sounded.
Following the incident, my brother conducted his investigation as to why brand-new detectors did not wake them up (because of course it happened during the night). We started reading the fine print on manufacturers’ boxes and realized they all suggest installing both types. My brother contacted the manufacturers. He asked them why they did not make an all-3-in-one unit (ionization, photoelectric and CO). They obviously are aware of the issue, but responded it was up to “marketing” (basically the demand from consumers) to request that. But if the consumer is not aware to demand it, how is it going to change?
My brother also tried to get the building code changed to mandate the installation of all three types. It didn’t work so far. No change has been made on this subject.
In 2014, during a basement development inspection at my house in Edmonton, I was reprimanded no less, for installing two units side-by-side to cover all bases. I argued with the inspector and suggested he reads the fine prints for himself. Clearly he was not educated to know better.
My daughter is a red seal electrician. At no point during her education was there a mention of what would be best practice. They were only instructed to meet code.
In my opinion, the more emphasis put on the subject is the only way to reach more people and eventually get the code to save more lives.
– Chris Lemay-Dionne, Camrose
I was really impressed with Adan Shaikh’s article about Smoke Alarms on October 1.
Finally, someone is reporting the importance of having the two types of smoke detectors along with the CO detector. The fire and life educator Jeff Knopf outlines things right, but I wonder if most readers picked up on the subtle recommendation of having all three detectors installed in their homes.
I am writing to you because I think there’s room to push the subject further.
How many times have we heard that a house/condo/apartment was on fire and the occupants reported the smoke detectors did not sound? We read about it and roll our eyes with our first thought being “the batteries in the detector probably had never been changed” or “the detector was probably expired and no one checked”! What if the real reason was that the detector was the wrong kind to detect the type of smoke and therefore didn’t sound? This is a fact that is always left out of the reporting and therefore people assume then forget.
I was one of those who thought that way until 2012 when there was a fire at my brother’s brand new house. We were very fortunate that no one was injured. The detectors were never heard, never sounded.
Following the incident, my brother conducted his investigation as to why brand-new detectors did not wake them up (because of course it happened during the night). We started reading the fine print on manufacturers’ boxes and realized they all suggest installing both types. My brother contacted the manufacturers. He asked them why they did not make an all-3-in-one unit (ionization, photoelectric and CO). They obviously are aware of the issue, but responded it was up to “marketing” (basically the demand from consumers) to request that. But if the consumer is not aware to demand it, how is it going to change?
My brother also tried to get the building code changed to mandate the installation of all three types. It didn’t work so far. No change has been made on this subject.
In 2014, during a basement development inspection at my house in Edmonton, I was reprimanded no less, for installing two units side-by-side to cover all bases. I argued with the inspector and suggested he reads the fine prints for himself. Clearly he was not educated to know better.
My daughter is a red seal electrician. At no point during her education was there a mention of what would be best practice. They were only instructed to meet code.
In my opinion, the more emphasis put on the subject is the only way to reach more people and eventually get the code to save more lives.
– Chris Lemay-Dionne, Camrose