Major Advantages of Installing Smoke Alarms

Quick Action

• Smoke alarms are loud, and their ability to startle can incite quick action allowing you to respond to the alarm as quickly as possible. An alarm gives you a chance to attempt extinguishing the fire, prevent it from spreading, or leave the premises. Smoke alarms alert you to a fire more quickly than your nose.

Fire Location

• When multiple smoke alarms are installed in a home or building, a smoke detector can alert you to the location of the fire in the house. The loud sound produced by the smoke alarm will help you identify the location of the fire, allowing you to take quick and decisive action.

Early Detection

• Because smoke rises, installing smoke detectors high up on the walls allows for the alarm to detect a fire as soon as smoke is produced. Early detection allows more time for everyone to escape from the property. Early detection allows you to make timely decisions regarding how you will react to a fire. Because fire spreads fast, early detection is vital in extinguishing or escaping from the flames.

Audibility

• Another major advantage of installing smoke alarms throughout a home or building is that everyone can clearly hear them, no matter where they are. The piercing noise that the alarm creates is designed to grab attention of everyone on the property. When you hear the sound, there is no uncertainty that there is a fire and that you must take action. The loud noise that the smoke alarm creates is designed to grab attention no matter where you are in the house.

Required in Many Areas

• Many localities require the use of smoke detectors throughout the home. Check with your local fire department about their recommendations or requirements. Carbon monoxide detectors are also required in many states, and many people opt for dual detectors.