Fire safety

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Those type of rechargable alarms are not recommended, continual heat from the light bulb, damages the printed circuit board and the transistors,
I've come across them before.

Ring Accy Fire Station.

Retlaw
Retired Firman.

Oh dear!- The shade is an open chandelier type so there is no heat build up - in the hallway so not in continous use -low energy bulb emits less heat -just hope it lasts until Hyndburn Homes install the newer type

[Retlaw]

It shouldn't be in the hallway, by the time smoke sets it of there, your house could be smoke logged, if you are in your bedroom you will be unable to see where your going.
If you don't think it gets hot, try touching it after its been on for 1/2 hour, I think you will find its quite hot to the touch, try touch the light bulb if you don't think it gets hot. Just because the are low energy means nothing, all types of household light bulbs generate heat.

Ring Accy Fire Station they are fitted entirely free.
The battery's are lithium, with a ten year life span.
Dont wait for H.H., you could be dead by then, they can't stop the Fire Brigade from fitting alarms.

Retlaw.

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Oh dear!- The shade is an open chandelier type so there is no heat build up - in the hallway so not in continous use -low energy bulb emits less heat -just hope it lasts until Hyndburn Homes install the newer type

[nikkival]

Originally Posted by Loz

Our's is supposedly connected to the mains but when we flick the switch off when it goes off when we are cooking it doesn't do anything!
Has anybody else got this problem or are we being a bit thick?
By the way we always turn it back on immediately!

Mine are wired into the mains too - the downstairs smoke alarm is wired with the upstairs lights and vice versa - maybe yours will be similar.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Loz

Our's is supposedly connected to the mains but when we flick the switch off when it goes off when we are cooking it doesn't do anything!
Has anybody else got this problem or are we being a bit thick?

You are being just a little think yes

They have a rechargeable battery in them so they still work in a power cut.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by nikkival

Mine are wired into the mains too - the downstairs smoke alarm is wired with the upstairs lights and vice versa - maybe yours will be similar.

The light at the top of the stairs can often be on the downstairs circuit if there is a two way switch - one up and one downstairs.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

It shouldn't be in the hallway, by the time smoke sets it of there, your house could be smoke logged, if you are in your bedroom you will be unable to see where your going.
If you don't think it gets hot, try touching it after its been on for 1/2 hour, I think you will find its quite hot to the touch, try touch the light bulb if you don't think it gets hot. Just because the are low energy means nothing, all types of household light bulbs generate heat.

Ring Accy Fire Station they are fitted entirely free.
The battery's are lithium, with a ten year life span.
Dont wait for H.H., you could be dead by then, they can't stop the Fire Brigade from fitting alarms.

Retlaw.

I can see that you are genuinely concerned Walter, and I appreciate it.

The hallway is the central point of my flat, and the one bedroom leads directly off it, as do the lounge and bathroom.
The kitchen is accessible from the lounge only and I always close the kitchen door at night.

I have had one of those 10 year battery alarms but it only lasted 6.
This one is less than a year old, so I hope it will last until a mains supply type is put in by HH - I will mail them to ask if it will be done during the rewire which is due this year.

Your expert info on this subject is appreciated -karma due

[Neil]

I am sure Walter will clear this up for me.

I thought the reason smoke alarms were fitted flush to the ceiling was to do with the way the smoke rises up and then follows the ceiling as it spreads out. By having a smoke alarm hanging 6" from the ceiling it may take longer before it activates.

I know the instructions tell you how close you can fit them to walls and the corner of rooms due to the way the smokes "flows".

[Neil]

I must admit I never did like the look of the light bulb ones.
The rising heat from the lamp will cause a large air flow through the light shade and the smoke detector. I suspect this will lead to them getting dirty inside much faster than if they were not above the lamp.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Neil

I must admit I never did like the look of the light bulb ones.
The rising heat from the lamp will cause a large air flow through the light shade and the smoke detector. I suspect this will lead to them getting dirty inside much faster than if they were not above the lamp.

That is logical -- and the maintenance instructions advise vaccuuming the dust off it regularly -- though I doubt that many people will.

[jaysay]

When I had the oxygen system installed in my flat the Fire Brigade had to come and check everything was okay, things like double sockets are band, the block ones but the plug in trailing sockets are okay. Mind you girls you don't always get your own way in things like this I got a fireman and a firelady They also put me a new smoke alarm in a 10 year one with no batteries, ou jst have to test it each week and use the suction hose on it every week. They spent around an hour and inspected all my appliances, and gave me a good talk on fire safty, to me a very worthwhile exercise

[emamum]

I check my smoke alarms regularly.............................























I cook

[Retlaw]

Your right Neil. Smoke does rise to the ceiling level thats why the Fire Brigade fit the ceiling flush ones. But in a small space it soon fills up, I always told people to get their nose to the carpet in thick smoke.
Ours is a fairly big house and I practiced walking round with my eyes shut, to see if I could identfy the position of things, and if I can put my hand on
the door handles first try, I also have door keys in both pants pockets and a set on a hook behind the front and back doors.
When you've seen the things I've seen you can't be too careful.

Retlaw.

Originally Posted by Neil

I am sure Walter will clear this up for me.

I thought the reason smoke alarms were fitted flush to the ceiling was to do with the way the smoke rises up and then follows the ceiling as it spreads out. By having a smoke alarm hanging 6" from the ceiling it may take longer before it activates.

I know the instructions tell you how close you can fit them to walls and the corner of rooms due to the way the smokes "flows".

[Retlaw]

Margaret, if and when H.H., rewire and fit alarms with rechargable batteries, make sure the are not cadmium batteries, I wouldn't recommend them, they have a fault, which is referred to as memory, if they are charged up without having been fully used, the life of the battery becomes shorter and shorter, then one day you may have a power cut and the battery is no good. Go for the stand alone with lithum batteries, even 6 years is better than the alkaline battery which only lasts 9-10 months and they are FREE.
Retlaw.

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I can see that you are genuinely concerned Walter, and I appreciate it.

The hallway is the central point of my flat, and the one bedroom leads directly off it, as do the lounge and bathroom.
The kitchen is accessible from the lounge only and I always close the kitchen door at night.

I have had one of those 10 year battery alarms but it only lasted 6.
This one is less than a year old, so I hope it will last until a mains supply type is put in by HH - I will mail them to ask if it will be done during the rewire which is due this year.

Your expert info on this subject is appreciated -karma due

[firefighter753]

Smoke alarms should not and do not have rechargable batteries in them for exactly the reason that retlaw states, they are unreliable. I urge everyone to bin dodgy smoke alarms and get free fitted ones from your fire service. As for the light fitting type I wouldn't touch them with a barge poll.

Also if you are hard of hearing or know anyone who is, Lancs Fire & rescue will arrange for special detectors to be fitted free for you, they have flashing lights on and also a vibrating pad under your pillow which will shake you if the alarm goes off

[emzy]

My smoke alarms are at the bottom and top of my stairs, should I have one in the kitchen??? from the bottom of my stairs you've to go through the living room to get to the kitchen