By Robert Hess

By now everyone knows that smoke detectors are a must have in your home as a first line defense against fire. Or do they? You may be surprised to find out that according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), almost half of all home fires in the U.S. occur in homes without smoke detectors. They go on to say 60% of residential fire deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors. These are pretty alarming figures, but they only begin to tell the tale.

If you’re like me, and you have smoke detectors installed in your home, you probably feel secure in the knowledge that you’ll get an early warning at the first hint of smoke. That may not be the case. The fact is there are more homes with smoke detectors that don’t work, then homes without smoke detectors.

These days’ builders are required to install smoke detectors in new homes. They must be hard wired, with battery back up, and interconnected in such a manner as to activate all detectors whenever one has triggered. Even if your home was built before this was a requirement, you are still required to have battery operated ones in all the same locations:

•One in every bedroom
•One in every hallway leading to a bedroom
•At least one on every story, including the basement.

If you currently rent and do not have operating smoke detectors in your home or apartment, it is the owner’s responsibility to put them in.

Thankfully, smoke detectors are inexpensive and easy to install. Test and maintain them regularly, remembering to check the batteries.

If you think fire can’t happen to you, take it from me. My home burned down in 2006. There was no one home at the time, so I don’t know if my smoke detectors functioned properly or not.........I’d like to think they did.

NYS Dept of State, Div of Code Enforcement Technical Bulletin


Warmest Regards

Bob Hess

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