How many of you know How many of you know what TYPE of smoke what TYPE of smoke

alarm you have?alarm you have?

Does it Matter?Does it Matter?

Based on industry information, Based on industry information, what has the fire service been what has the fire service been

promoting for 30 years?promoting for 30 years?

In spite of their differences, either In spite of their differences, either one of the two types of smoke one of the two types of smoke alarms is acceptable for home use.alarms is acceptable for home use.

Find the Find the least expensiveleast expensive smoke smoke alarm that is alarm that is UL ListedUL Listed..

Smoke Alarm HistorySmoke Alarm History 1970 - 11970 - 1stst battery smoke alarm (Apx. $30) battery smoke alarm (Apx. $30) 1977 - National Institute of Standards &1977 - National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) conducted smokeTechnology (NIST) conducted smoke alarm testingalarm testing 1980’s - 75% of homes had smoke alarms1980’s - 75% of homes had smoke alarms 2004 - 96% of homes had smoke alarms2004 - 96% of homes had smoke alarms 2008 – 96% of homes had smoke alarms, 2008 – 96% of homes had smoke alarms, 20% of homes do not have a 20% of homes do not have a workingworking smoke alarm.smoke alarm.

IONIZATION: Contains a small amount of radioactivity that conducts electricity. Ionization alarms are more sensitive to the tiny particles of combustion that can’t be seen or smelled, those emitted by FLAMING FIRES.

Ionization alarms are more PRONE TO FALSE ALARMS from cooking and steam from bathrooms.

PHOTOELECTRIC: Contains a beam of light and a photocell within the chamber. Photoelectric alarms are more sensitive to the large particles of combustion emitted by SMOLDERING FIRES.

The Difference Does The Difference Does Matter.Matter.

Here Is What We Have Here Is What We Have Learned…Learned…

Andrea Dennis, Kyle Raulin,Al Schlessman, Erin DeMarco,and Christine Wilson

These five students died atOhio State University onApril 13, 2003 (Palm Sunday)

Julie Turnbull, Kate Welling & Steve Smith died in this house on April 10th, 2005 (Palm Sunday) at Miami University

Some of the Many StudiesSome of the Many Studies

International Assn. of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) International Assn. of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) study-1980study-1980

Texas A & M-2 1/2 year study: 1990’sTexas A & M-2 1/2 year study: 1990’s

National Institute of Standards & Technology National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) sponsored private industry study-2001(NIST) sponsored private industry study-2001

NIST study-2008NIST study-2008

The ResultsThe Results

Have been consistent…Have been consistent…

Ionization alarms sounded tens of seconds Ionization alarms sounded tens of seconds faster than photoelectric alarms in flaming faster than photoelectric alarms in flaming fires in many of the tests.fires in many of the tests.

Photoelectric alarms sounded tens of Photoelectric alarms sounded tens of MINUTES faster in smoldering fires in many MINUTES faster in smoldering fires in many of the tests.of the tests.

Ionization smoke alarms Ionization smoke alarms failed to sound at failed to sound at allall in some smoldering fires tests. in some smoldering fires tests.

The ResultsThe Results

Ionization smoke alarms are more Ionization smoke alarms are more prone to nuisance false alarms from prone to nuisance false alarms from normal cooking and steam from the normal cooking and steam from the bathroom/shower.bathroom/shower.

These false alarms cause residents to These false alarms cause residents to remove the batteries. The batteries remove the batteries. The batteries do not get replaced.do not get replaced.

What if a resident has only What if a resident has only ionization smoke alarms?ionization smoke alarms?

Educate them on the sensor differences.Educate them on the sensor differences. Recommend they replace their Recommend they replace their

ionization smoke alarms with ionization smoke alarms with photoelectric or add photoelectric photoelectric or add photoelectric smoke alarms in addition to their smoke alarms in addition to their ionization alarms per our guidelines.ionization alarms per our guidelines.

Remind them to maintain all of their Remind them to maintain all of their existing smoke alarms until they replace existing smoke alarms until they replace them.them.

How do you tell what sensor How do you tell what sensor you have?you have?

National statistics:National statistics: 90% of homes in the US are equipped with 90% of homes in the US are equipped with

Ionization smoke alarms only.Ionization smoke alarms only. 20% of homes have non-working smoke 20% of homes have non-working smoke

alarms.alarms. 53% of these non-working alarms were due to 53% of these non-working alarms were due to

missing/removed batteries; the leading reason missing/removed batteries; the leading reason being nuisance alarms.being nuisance alarms.

Non-working smoke alarms were found in 23% Non-working smoke alarms were found in 23% of home fire deaths.of home fire deaths.

Investigations of fires in (Your City Here), at Investigations of fires in (Your City Here), at the minimum, support these national statistics.the minimum, support these national statistics.

By the way…What types of By the way…What types of alarms are being used to alarms are being used to

protect our most vulnerable protect our most vulnerable citizens? citizens?

Photoelectric smoke Photoelectric smoke detectors are now the detectors are now the onlyonly

type being utilized in type being utilized in allall commercial buildings commercial buildings

including hospitals, nursing including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, day cares & homes, schools, day cares &

apartments!apartments!

Final ComparisonFinal ComparisonSensorSensor PhotoelectriPhotoelectri

ccIonizationIonization

EnvironmenEnvironmentt

Light Light SourceSource

RadioactiveRadioactive

False False AlarmsAlarms

FewFew FrequentFrequent

More More Responsive Responsive toto

Smoldering Smoldering FiresFires

Flaming Flaming FiresFires

LocatedLocated Commercial Commercial BuildingsBuildings

90% of 90% of HomesHomes

PricePrice $12$12 $8$8

Your City HereYour City Here

The majority of home fires occurring within The majority of home fires occurring within Your City Your City are of the slow burning are of the slow burning smoldering type creating heavy smoke.smoldering type creating heavy smoke.

In the past In the past XXXX years all but one fire fatality years all but one fire fatality occurring in occurring in Your City Your City were caused by were caused by smoke inhalation.smoke inhalation.

Fire investigations conducted by fire Fire investigations conducted by fire department personnel have found department personnel have found operational smoke alarms that failed to operational smoke alarms that failed to operate in smoke conditions.operate in smoke conditions.

Fire Department Fire Department RecommendationRecommendation

Based on this information, the Fire Based on this information, the Fire Department is already recommending Department is already recommending thatthat Photoelectric Photoelectric smoke alarms be smoke alarms be placed in all the recommended areas placed in all the recommended areas throughout the home.throughout the home.

Amend the city ordinances that require Amend the city ordinances that require smoke alarms to require smoke alarms to require photoelectric photoelectric smoke alarms as the primary alarm.smoke alarms as the primary alarm.

The passage of this legislation The passage of this legislation is important for promoting and is important for promoting and enhancing the life safety of the enhancing the life safety of the

residents of residents of Your CityYour City, , furthering our continued furthering our continued

commitment to exemplary commitment to exemplary service and safety for our service and safety for our

citizens.citizens.

Questions?Questions?