Smoke detectors

[BUNNY]

I'm about to put smoke detectors up,but I'm not sure where to position them.I live in a 3 story traditional Victorian terrace.I was going to put one outside the living room at the foot of my stairs,but am aware that smoke will rise quickly up a staircase.However my bathroom is at the top of the stairs and I don't think its good to put them near steamy areas.Any advice on whether to go for the top or bottom of the stairs?

[andy hughes]

Steam will not affect your alarms, so don't worry about that. Best places for alarms are at the top and bottom of each staircase.

[RAYMAN]

i disagree i fitted a detector next to my bathroom and steam did set it off had to resite it ,if one is fitted to the lower staircase at least you will have early detection of a fire on that level.

[Robinia]

Yes, steam sets my alarm off too - you have to nip out & quickly close the door.

The downstairs one is very good at telling my neighbours I've burnt my toast, sausage etc under the grill!

(Having said this I think they are in the best places, i.e. bottom & top of stairs)

[Jenny Tools]

Steam will affect most smoke alarms (though you can now purchase ones for kitchens & b/rooms) one fitted down stairs will pick up a fire quicker if the fire is down stairs but will not alert you if the fire is upstairs, best too have one at the top (outside bedroom door) and down stairs (at bottom of stairs) also make sure alarms are fitted horizontal and not at a angle.

[Oneeyedvic]

Why not put one in every room - if any give you false signals constantly try resiting them.

 

Better to have too many than too few

[andy hughes]

I'm really surprised - we have one on our ladning, outside the bathroom door, and steam has never set it off. I stand corrected, and apologise for giving (in good faith) incorrect information to Bunny.

[gazzawazza]

As a firefighter, a large part of my working routine is now spent putting up smoke alarms and advising members of the public on fire safety in their homes.  We usually recommend one smoke alarm per floor to be located in the hall and landing areas.    We now fit alarms which have a silencer button for "false alarms" such as steam. 

Downstairs, I usually put them about six feet from the kitchen door and this (more often than not) puts it at a postion where the householder can reach it from the stairs for easy testing.  Upstairs (on the landing) I go for a central position ensuring that they don't have to lean over the stairs to test them. 

Alarms should be fixed on a horizontal surface (the ceiling!) at least 300mm (1 foot) away from vertical surfaces (walls) and tested regularly.  If people don't want to stand on chairs or steps to test them they can use a stick to press the button.  You should have received some instructions along with the alarms, but if you're still undecided, ring your local fire station and they will be only too happy to come out and help you out. 

Sorry if this is too late for you, I tried to post yesterday but for some reason the site wouldn't let me.  One more thing, you may have noticed that I've mentioned testing the alarms regularly a couple of times already, this is my method of subliminally getting this message across before I finally remind everyone to test their alarms regularly! they really are lifesavers.

[apricot2]

My local Fire Brigade came out and assessed my home for fire safety and they installed a further 2 smoke alarms completely free.  Get the experts in.

[Oor Wullie]

I agree with the last two posts Phone your local fire station.

I have 4 in my house and have had detectors since they first came out. 2 are fitted to the mains with battery back up. And 2 are battery powered. They are positioned. ! in the Living Room, 1 At the bottom of stairs, 1 at the landing upstairs and 1 in the roon where all my PC stuff is.

As for testing I do mine on the 15th of each month.. This is where many people make a big mistake. They do not test. You must test regularly.

Will

ex-firefighter.

[Hammer]

Does anyone think I should test mine, then?

[BUNNY]

Thanks for all your advice guys.I'll give my local station a call and get there help.I didn't realise they would come out and do that but if the advice is there I'll definately use it.

[woofgang]

My mum does test hers but can't get up a ladder to renew batteries (she presses the test button with the end of a walking stick) so when I visit in november each year I change the batteries as a routine. In the US, they used to suggest that the batteries were changed annually at thanksgiving, so that people remembered to do it.