0
Fire and Smoke Alarms
Fire, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have become critical for personal safety and property protection at home, at work, while out to a show or any other indoor event. How do they work, which ones do you need, where should they be installed, what are the different components, technical details and standards are found here.
872 Questions
How many kwh would a smoke detector use that is 120 VAC 60 HZ 80mA?
To calculate the kWh used by a smoke detector, you need to convert the current from mA to A because kWh is a measure of power consumed over time. Given 120 VAC and 80mA, first convert mA to A (80mA = 0.08A), then calculate power (P = V x I) which is 120V x 0.08A = 9.6W. To find kWh, multiply power by the number of hours used. For example, if the smoke detector is used for 24 hours, kWh = 9.6W x 24 hours / 1000 = 0.23 kWh.
Are smoke alarms the only way people can be warned of a fire?
No, there are lots of ways to warn people of fires, some of them automatic and some of them require human input.
Human input: Someone shouting "fire" while pounding on your door often indicates that someone thinks there may be a fire. Pulling a manual alarm activation can trigger the fire alarm. Hearing fire-engine sirens stopping in front of your building is sometimes worth exploring further. There are numerous other ways.
Automatic: In addition to smoke detectors, there are also heat detectors that can activate an alarm. They may be set at a fixed temperature or may react to a rapid "rate of rise" of heat in the surrounding air. There are also flame detectors, which detect an IR or UV (or both) flickering light. One other sensor for automatic fire alarms is the water-flow alarm (meaning a sprinkler head is running).
What does a beeping horn in your smoke detector mean and a red flash?
A beeping horn and red flash on a smoke detector usually indicate a low battery or a malfunction. It's important to replace the battery or the entire unit to ensure the detector functions properly in case of a fire.
There are many different types of system sensors. These can detect anything from heat, fire, dust, and smoke. There are many different manufacturers as well.
What happens to automatic doors when a fire alarm is activated?
Automatic door systems and the fire alarm systems are linked together. Automatic doors are held open by strong magnetic type devices, that are activated(turned on) during normal activity. When the alarm is activated, the devices are shut off and the doors close. These doors are programmed to close in an effort to keep smoke and flames from spreading too far(these doors are usually strongly fire resistant.) Once the alarm is shut off/reset, the devices will be activated again and will remain open once somebody opens the doors back up.
Another type of "automatic door" is a fire door that slams shut (springs, counterbalances, gravity, etc) when the heat-sensitive link melts, or when a fire alarm is activated. These heavy doors are NOT intended to be opened during a fire for means of escape, so there must be other doors accessible for people to escape the area safely.
Can you block an fire pull station?
It's probably a violation of your local fire code to do so.
Technically, the fire code probably requires that there be at least one fire pull for every so many square feet, or so many for every fire control zone, or some other specification like that, and if you happen to have more than the fire code requires, you could probably block one without violating the law. But it's generally never a good idea to block a fire pull station.
Hard wired smoke detector versus battery operated smoke detector?
Hard wired detectors are generally better. Some have back up power sources should the city power go out. It depends on how much you want to spend. Hard wired detectors are more expensive to install and are generally built better.
What does fire in the heart sends smoke into your head mean?
Fire in the heart sends smoke into the head
How loud is the first alert CO and smoke alarm?
Like anything else, that would depend upon where you measure the sound, among other variables. Many devices are calibrated according to how "loud" it is when measured 3 meters (10 feet) away, with standard temperature and pressure, in ordinary air.
The UL standard for CO and residential smoke alarms is a minimum of 85 decibels at 10 feet. If they are installed in a hallway, with carpeting on the floors, bedroom doors closed, and ordinary air seal around the door (i.e., not thoroughly insulated), this may not be enough to waken someone inside the room, in which case an additional alarm (or other alarm annunciator) should be installed inside the bedroom.
Should you go upstairs during a fire alarm?
The answer depends upon your situation! If you are in a basement of a dwelling, and the fire exit is upstairs, then it would be wise to go upstairs to exit when the fire alarm sounds. If you are below decks in a ship, going upstairs may also be the only way to get to safety when an alarm sounds.
In other situations, where you are already at the ground floor or above, going upstairs may be a poor choice.
However, there are high-rise alarm systems that will, in fact, direct some people "upstairs" away from a fire, at least temporarily. In theory, this allows firefighters time to enter and put out the fire. In reality, it may put occupants at a higher risk by moving them further from the only workable exits, at the ground floor.
How often should smoke detector batteries be changed?
When the smoke detector first starts signaling low battery with short widely spaced high pitched chirps, or if when you press the test button the alarm does not trigger.
After replacing the batteries, press the test button. If the alarm does not trigger with fresh batteries, replace the smoke detector.
How do motion detector alarm systems operate?
Motion detector alarm systems operate by using light sources. A beam of light is aimed at the light sensor and anyone who passes causes the sensor to register.
What is the ADA height requirement of fire alarm pull stations placement in NJ?
48" from floor to the middle of the pull station
