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PULL-UI SETIONWHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1981, PAGE 21 CONSUMER BEAT Smoke alarms: a rnatter of life, death and dollars Few fre-safetv products have ever received as much publirity and press attention as sumo11ke detectors. Thou- sands oif consumers in Ontario have responded hv instailing the i in lbouse-s and apart- mientit. andi with good reason- they are relatively cheap, easy to instal and provide ant effective early wa rning system that saves lives and property. Part of this effectiveness lies iii the fact that most (ire fatalities occur at night when the occupants are asleep. Where smnoke alarms have licen installed and properly naintained thev were found t<i be 99 per cent reliable and effective in arousing occu- pants within minutes. In fact, the Ontario Building Code require.s the installation of smnoke -detectors in ail new homnes hegun afterianuary 1, 1976, and in ail units in uew a1)artinent buildings begun after Deccnher 31, 1979. However, a small number oif failures do occur. usually because the iinits were n(>t properlv installed or main- tained. 1Itsa matter of cormon sense - once a smoke alarni leaves the dealer*s shelf, the resp<)nsibilitv us still ini the bandit of the consumer. Jonization and photoclectrie Smnoke detectors are flot to be confuscd with heat detec- tors.- The latter are usually installed in commercial and industrial buildings, but for the bomne tbey are flot ade- (Watc substittes for smoke alari as -early warning systemit. There are three types oîf srnOke alarms available for home use - ionization, photo- electric, and a combination of the tw'î - wîth prices ranging from $ 15 to $40. lonization devices contain a very small amount of radio- active material that 'ionîzes' the air inside the chamber, creating a weak electrical curren When smoke particles or other products of combus- tion enter the chamber, they impede the flow of current, which then sets off an alarmn. The radiation given off by ionizatiou units is less than that frorn a luminous wrist- watch or color television. Photoelectric smoke alarmit consist of a light source and a light-sensitive photoceil posi- tioued inside a chamber. Wheu smoke entent, it scatters the ligbt beam n ad again sets toff an alarni. When activated, both types of smoke alarrn emit a sound loud enough to wake people in nearby rooms. lu more sophisticated smoke detection svstems, a number of inter- connected units will ail sound wh en any anc detects srnoke. And in battery-operated units, another signai is set off when battery strength us low. This is usually both an audible and visual signal, cither a warning light or a flag that popit out. Because they operate on different principles, ionizatiou and photoelectric smoke alarms also react differently to varions fine situations. Joui- zation devices are generally effective in detecting fast- hurning fines before smoke us visible, while tests have showr, photoelectric devices to be somewhat faster in responding to smokey or srnouldering ires. 1(1 Izisure greater protection and reliability in anv (ire, a third type bas become popul.ar in the past few months: a photo-ion combination smoke alarm. which combines both the photoelectric and the îoni- zation smoke detection methods. At last report two conî-panies, Wells Fargo and Guardion, were narketing this product. AIl types, however, should bear the ULC label which means that the product has jîassed the strict require- rients of the Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada standards. Electric or battery-operated Smoke alarms mav he bat- terv-operated, pluigged into the wall outlet or conneeted into the house wiring. Battery units are the easiest to instaîl since their placement is not affected by the location of electrical outiets tir houise wiring. Thev are uisuallv sup- plied with a batterv that lasts about one year. PIug-in units have the dis- advantage of a fixed-length cord that limits their place- ment. Thev are also easilv unplugged unless special pre- cautions are taken and will not operate if a fuse blows. On the (tber hand. tbey elim- mnate the inconvenience of battery replacement. House-wired svstemit over- corne these disadv'antages through direct wiring to the eleetrical systen. As well, a number of ýnits inay be inter- connected. However, a blown fuse will also render these -systerns inoperative. Power failures because of the outbreak of fire are un- likelv. However, if von live in a rural area proue to power failures, you rnight want to consider the advantages tof battery-operated devices. Installation and maintenan ce Most people prefer to instal batterv-operated and plug-in units themitelves, following the manufacturers instructions. House-wired systems, though, shonld always be installed by a qualified electnician. luI general. smîîke alarns are nost effective whiemîiii- ,;talled on tir near a ceiling. WlX'ere t,îlv one unit is tused. nîost experts recommiend that it he placed near the bledromn or I)etween l)edrtooils anti liv- îîg quarters. Wlieréa~dditi.înal units are zivaîlable. theN iîa% al.so lie positi.ined uear th;> bead of the stairs b <aeh floor. Check withi vomir local fire departîrnent lor adi" "on"lN' our specifte net ds. .Sinoket alarnîs do> a' t re- quire elaI)orate maintenance. but thev shoîîld he cecked and cleaned regularIy. Di)ust paricles cat i bcrein<îved front, the chaniber by ait ovcasiuînal vactitmniing. and the unit (,ai be tested for proper oî>eraîtioîî by in troduintg sioke - fronm a cigarette or a snuffed candie - and setting off the alarni. Batterv-operated tnuit.s do proî- vide a batterv-st rengtlî warn- ing; however. the' % arning signal înav last onlv a few days. If voit are aNçav froru homne for ain extende<1 period of timne. 1w sure ti clwek the snoke alari wihen pas return. Know the lacts There is a great deal more to ire prevention thau the installation of sitioke alarnis; reducing ire risks and estah- lis'hing ire etscape routes are stili important ini proterting lives and propertv. More details on reducing fire hazards ini the home are contai ned ini the free informa- tion slîeet, Smo/w 4larms: worth the Price?. avail ale- froun the Consuiner Informa- tion Centre, (>)ntario Ninistry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. 5.33'longe St., Toronto, Ont. M "iA 2H16.tele- phone (416) 963-1 11Il.-roi- Iect. The Manufacturers of the Door with four weather seals' (Patent Pending) now present the deluxe storm window. STANDARD (With haif co.rner reinforcement) DELUJXE (Full corner reinforcement anchored with 6 rivets) DELUXE WINDOW A T TUE PRICE 0F THE STANDARD WINDOWi Introductory offer good til October 31/1981.buy directly from the factory. SUNRISE ALUMINUM 1626 C harles St. Whiby, Ont. 668-7602 bain 4pým Mondi>-Frday lOiai 4p Sru-7a PULL-OUT SECTION MOU