HSE: Test of smoke detectors

Smoke detectors save lives. If there is a fire in your home, having a well-functioning smoke detector will give you more time to vacate the house.

We encourage all employees to check their smoke detectors regularly!

The fires that take lives usually happen at night. All homes are required to have at least one functional smoke detector, which it should be possible to hear in every bedroom with the door closed. 

To protect yourself and your family, you should test the alarm with smoke. Hold something that evaporates smoke under the alarm, for example a match or a small gas canister made for testing smoke detectors, or a candle you just blew out. If that triggers the alarm then you know that the alarm is working properly and that the batteries work. 

By pressing the test button you are only checking if the alarm has power not if it goes off if there is a fire!

Here is what you need to know:

• Install smoke detectors in all bedrooms, outside each sleeping area in addition to one on each level of your home.
  
• Test your smoke detectors frequently.
  
• Replace batteries minimum once a year (tip: put a reminder in your calendar!).
  
• Replace all smoke detectors in your home minimum every 10 years.