Req 5e–5f — Smoke & CO Alarms

Smoke and CO alarms are the difference between escaping a fire and not. They give you precious minutes to evacuate. But they only work if installed correctly, maintained, and not expired.

Local Requirements

Fire codes vary by location. Some municipalities require smoke alarms in all bedrooms and hallways; others require CO alarms only in homes with fuel-burning appliances.

Research your community:

• Call your local fire department and ask: “What smoke and CO alarms are required in homes in our area?”
• Check your city or county website for building code information.
• Ask your homeowner’s insurance company. They often provide guidance on safety equipment requirements.
• Talk to your parents/guardians. They may already know what’s required.

General guidance:

Most fire codes recommend:

• Smoke alarms on every level of the home, inside every bedroom, and outside sleeping areas.
• CO alarms in every home with a furnace, water heater, or fireplace. At minimum, one on each level.

Types of Smoke Alarms

Ionization Alarms

Detect fast-flaming fires (fires that spread quickly with visible flames). These use a small radioactive element to ionize air in a chamber. Smoke particles disrupt the ionization, triggering the alarm. Good for paper and wood fires, but slower to detect smoldering fires (like a cigarette in furniture).

Photoelectric Alarms

Detect smoldering fires (slow-burning fires with lots of smoke and little flame). They use a light beam; smoke particles scatter the light, triggering the alarm. Slower than ionization alarms for fast-flaming fires but better for smoldering fires.

Dual-sensor Alarms

Combine both technologies. They detect both fast-flaming and smoldering fires effectively. These are the most reliable choice.

Interconnected Alarms

Some alarms communicate with each other via wires or wireless. When one detects smoke, all alarms in the home sound. This is especially valuable in larger homes or homes with bedrooms far from the kitchen.

Types of CO Alarms

Electrochemical Alarms

Use a chemical sensor to detect CO. Reliable and affordable. Most common in homes.

Metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) Alarms

Use a chemical-sensitive material. Also reliable, sometimes used in commercial applications.

Most CO alarms for homes are electrochemical. The key is that they display CO levels and alarm when concentration reaches dangerous levels.

Finding Alarms in Your Home

Walk through your home systematically:

• Check ceilings and walls in hallways, bedrooms, kitchen, and living areas for smoke alarms. (Most are white or beige circular discs on the ceiling or high on a wall.)
• Check for CO alarms near bedrooms, near furnaces, or in central locations.
• Open the cover or check the back to see the alarm type and expiration date. Most alarms are good for 7–10 years.
• Note the location and type in a list.

Example list:

Maintaining Alarms

Monthly testing:

• Press and hold the test button on each alarm for 5–10 seconds.
• The alarm should sound loudly. If it doesn’t, replace the battery or the alarm itself.
• Test every alarm in the home once monthly.

Cleaning:

• Use a vacuum cleaner hose to gently remove dust from the cover and vents of each alarm. Dust accumulation can interfere with sensors.

Battery replacement:

• Most alarms use 9V batteries. Replace them annually, in the fall (same time you reset clocks for daylight saving time). This makes it easy to remember.
• Some newer alarms have non-replaceable batteries and must be replaced entirely when expired.

Replacing expired alarms:

• An alarm is expired if it has reached the end-of-life date (typically 7–10 years after installation).
• Purchase new alarms (check the package for type: ionization, photoelectric, dual-sensor, CO).
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install (usually mount on ceiling or high on wall).
• Write the installation date on the new alarm with a marker.

What to Do When an Alarm Sounds

If a smoke alarm goes off:

1. Assume there is fire somewhere in the home.
2. Leave immediately. Do not investigate.
3. Close doors behind you as you leave (slows fire spread).
4. Once outside, call 911.
5. Meet at your family’s designated meeting spot (see Req 5g).

If a CO alarm goes off:

1. Move everyone to fresh air immediately (outside or to a window).
2. Call 911 from outside.
3. Do not re-enter the building until authorities clear it.
4. Have the home inspected for CO sources before returning.

Now let’s plan for evacuation. What will you do if fire strikes your home?