Is that the sound of sleigh bells ringing? No, it’s January, and it’s the bleeping of the new smoke alarms that Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) have asked you to install at home.
The latest fire statistics show that you are 11 times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm in your home. That’s why this January; the Service is urging people to buy more smoke alarms to ensure they have enough to cover their homes.
Gail Muirhead, Prevention Manager at RBFRS, says: “There are no good reasons to not have enough smoke alarms for your home. The extra seconds of warning they can give you and your loved ones could make all the difference in an emergency.
“Remember, one smoke alarm is not enough to protect your home. You should make sure that you have at least one alarm on every storey of your home, preferably in hallways or on landings.
“To ensure that they are in good, working order, test them regularly so you can be assured that they will sound in the event of a fire.”
To ensure your home is prepared, follow these steps to set your smoke alarms up properly:
Installing Smoke Alarms in Your Home
- Make sure that you have at least one smoke alarm for every floor of your home, placing them in hallways and on landings where possible.
- Positioning is important. Try to install smokes alarm on the ceiling near the middle of the room.
- Consider fitting additional alarms in rooms where there are electrical appliances and near sleeping areas.
When to Use Alternatives
- Don’t put smoke alarms in kitchens, bathrooms or other places where there might be lots of smoke and steam.
- Instead, heat detectors are an ideal alternative to use in kitchens.
- There are specialist smoke alarms available to people with hearing loss. If you would like to find out more, contact the Service and request a Safe and Well Visit.
- As well as smoke alarms, make sure you also have a carbon monoxide alarm in your home if you have a fuel burning appliance.
Your Rights as a Tenant
- Landlords and housing providers are required by law to fit smoke alarms in all rented accommodation.
- Carbon monoxide alarms must also be fitted in rented properties with fixed appliances such as gas boilers or fires.
Read more advice on our smoke alarms webpage.