Fire Safety Equipment

Fire Safety Equipment

Being knowledgeable about fire safety equipment - including carbon monoxide alarms, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and automatic sprinklers - improves your confidence and ability to help keep yourself and your family safe.

Automatic Sprinklers

Automatic sprinkler systems have proven to be effective at protecting life and property. For more information visit Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association (CASA).

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that you can not smell or taste "the silent killer". CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels. For more information visit Hawkins-Gignac Foundation for CO Education.

Portable Fire Extinguishers

In the event of a fire, you need to be able to react. A fire extinguisher may provide the means of putting out a small fire. Learn about fire extinguishers and how to use one.

Remember the acronym PASS:

PULL the pin;
AIM the nozzle at the base of the fire;
SQUEEZE the trigger;
SWEEP the extinguisher from side to side until it is empty.

Smoke Alarms

In a fire, seconds count. Early detection is important. Only working smoke alarms provide those important seconds for you and your family to safely escape.

Smoke Alarm Facts

Early detection saves lives:

Fatal fires occur at night when people are asleep. Smoke alarms provide that all important early detection allowing you the opportunity to wake up and escape.

How many smoke alarm are enough?

You need one on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas, and perferably in each bedroom. Visit the Office of the Fire Mashal for Smoke Alarm FAQ's or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for Smoke Alarm Installation & Maintenace information.

Its the law

The Ontario Fire Code requires that every home have working smoke alarms on each floor. If you are a landlord it is your responsibility to comply with this law. If you are a tenant it is your responsibility to notify your landlord immediately if your alarm(s) is/are not working.

Maintain your smoke alarm

Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years or as required. Change your batteries spring and fall or as often as required.

Smoke Alarm Maintenance

Change your battery

Install a new battery every year or as required. If the low battery alarm sounds replace the battery immediately.

Keep it clean

Carefully clean the smoke alarm around the outside vents using a vacuum.

Regular testing

Test your smoke alarms at a minimum once a month by pushing the alarm test button.

Replace your out of date smoke alarms

Smoke alarms require replacement in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations, at least every 10 years.

Types of Smoke Alarms

Features

Smoke alarms are available with pause or hush buttons that can be used to temporarily silence the alarm for several minutes before resetting itself unless overridden by continuous smoke. Smoke alarms are also available with auditable voice commands and/or visual signaling devices, such as strobe lights, to ensure everyone, including those with hearing or visual impairments, are able to escape to a safe location.

For more information on smoke alarms visit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or the

Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM)

Styles

Battery-operated smoke alarms can be powered by a 9-volt battery or 3-4 double A batteries or a 10 year sealed lithium battery.

Hardwired smoke detectors are wired directly into the homes electrical system.

Interconnected systems activate all alarms within the residence through radio frequency for a higher level of safety.

Types

Photoelectric smoke alarms consist of a light emitting diode with a light sensitive sensor causing the alarm to sound when the light beam is scattered by combustible products.

Ionization smoke alarms ionize air in the sensing chambers sounding an alarm when the conductivity of the chamber air decreases.

For more information on the types of Smoke Alarms, visit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

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