Smoke alarms save lives and it’s your responsibility to keep your family safe. Although in Britain installing smoke detectors is required by law, many of them (especially in rented properties) are outdated.
These gadgets do get old and their efficiency reduces with time. We’re often told that we have to perform the battery test often. Yes we do – at least once a month. The truth is that battery test alone doesn’t guarantee that the smoke alarm would work when it’s crucially needed. The best way to test if yours is up to the job is to light a match while standing underneath it. If it takes too long for it to respond, you might want to get a new one.
Always remember that one smoke alarm is not enough unless you live in a studio flat. In case you normally keep all the internal doors open, you need one alarm for each storey, however, if you keep the doors shut (like bedroom doors, for example), you need one extra detector for each such room.
Optical Smoke Alarms Vs Ionisation Smoke Alarms
It’s a long debate – which one to choose? There are two main types: optical and ionisation. The good old ionisation type is slightly radioactive but it doesn’t pose a danger to your health. It uses radiation to detect small particles that are created with fire. Its more modern cousin – the optical smoke alarm – detects fire by shining a thin ray of light onto a sensor.
Because of the way these things work, the optical detector will struggle to detect extra small particles. What it means is that the ionisation smoke alarms are better at detecting flame fires while the optical gadgets are better at detecting smouldering fires.
You can always go for an upmarket model that includes both detectors under the same housing. You can even get an industrial detector that will be able to sniff non-fire related carbon monoxide sources, however, remember that both domestic types are recognised and certified by the Government. They’re both good enough to get you out of a dangerous situation. Me personally? I’d go for an ionisation detector simply because it’s more sensitive (yes, and it will inevitably produce false alarms). And remember, don’t get the cheapest one. If your detector costs less than £20, there should be a reason why it’s so cheap!
Remember that even the best smoke alarm won’t help if you haven’t planned an escape route in case of a fire. It’s easy – spend time with your family and together decide which are the quickest and safest escape routes out of different parts of your house.
