Apartment Fire Safety Tips For Our Community

An apartment complex is a large community of families and individuals sharing the same living space. It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent fires, know how to escape from fires, and help keep all the residents safe. You have to think about what you do and how if effects everyone one you live with in the complex.

Fire Protections systems

It is imperative that all of the residents are familiar with the fire protection system in their building so they know what to do in case there is a fire. The fire protection systems in apartment complexes have different fire safety features in place. Below are some brief descriptions of common fire protections systems. The type of fire protection system that is in place will depend on where and when the apartment complex was built. The apartment complex was built to meet the fire code that was in place at the time of construction.

Apartment complexes with residential sprinkler systems are the optimal places to live. If a fire should occur in an apartment, the sprinkler system can put out the fire or control it until the fire department arrives. A residential sprinkler system prevents deadly flashover so people can escape from a fire safely. You and your belongings will not get wet if there is a fire in another apartment. Only the fire sprinkler heads that are the closest to the fire will activate.

Pull stations are normally by an exit door in the apartment complex. It is important that all the residents know where the pull stations (if their building has one). In some apartment complexes the pull station may be the only way to sound the alarm and alert other residents that there is a fire.

Many apartment complexes have hard wired/interconnected smoke alarms and/or heat detectors in the hallways, common areas, mechanical rooms, and laundry rooms. All the alarms will sound if one alarm is activated.

Smoke alarms in individual apartments are not always wired to a central alarm system and are not connected to the smoke alarms in the hallways, common areas, laundry, or mechanical room. If you have a fire in your apartment, GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. Pull a pull station (if they are installed in your building) and call 9-1-1.

Fire extinguishers are required in all apartment complexes. As a resident living in an apartment complex it is your responsibility to know where the fire extinguishers are, how to access them, how to use them, and when to use them. You should not attempt to use a fire extinguisher if you do not know how - get out and call 9-1-1. You should never put you life in danger to fight a fire with a fire extinguisher.

Preparing to Escape a Fire

Now that you know a little about the different types of fire protections systems you can understand how important it is that you have a Fire Escape Plan. The time in which you are alerted of a fire in the building depends on the type of fire protection system that is in place. You may have minutes or only seconds to escape a fire. You must be prepared.

Know the layout of your apartment complex -

• How many levels
• Locations of stair cases
• Nearest exits
• In case it is dark, know the number of doors between your apartment door and the closest exit

Be prepared to exit quickly once the alarm sounds:

• Be prepared for the weather - have your family’s boots, hats, mittens, and coats in a place where they can always be found.
• Keep blankets in your vehicle. If you have a storage unit that is separate

from the complex, keep blankets and other necessities in the unit.

• Always know where the keys to your apartment are so they are readily accessible. Try to take them with you.

Being Prepared

In the event of a fire, you will have to get out and stay out, leaving many items behind. In some cases the fire department will allow you to go back to your apartment and gather some necessities. Most likely you will only be allowed back in your apartment for a limited amount of time.

Keep your medications together so they area easy to find and accessible

If you have small pets, purchase a carrier if you do not have one. Keep a blanket to cover the carrier with it at all times. You never want to carry a small pet out of your apartment after a fire has occurred in the building. The smell of the fire, noise from the fire trucks, the firefighters in gear, and other fire suppression activities will spook even the easiest going pet. For these same reasons, all dogs should be on a leash when they are removed from the apartment complex.

Reacting to a fire if there is a fire in your apartment or apartment complex

Have a Safe Escape Plan and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. You must practice with everyone that lives in your apartment.

• Practice two ways out
• Practice rolling out of bed
• Practice crawling low under the smoke
• Practice feeling the door as high as you can reach and practice feeling for the doorknob with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, don’t open it. Use your second way out.

If you live on a floor too high to escape from take the flowing steps to get help –

• Call 9-1-1 to report what unit number you are in
• Get a light colored sheet, pillow case, or piece of clothing
• Go to a window and open it
• Pop out the screen
• Place the light colored item on the window sill and close the window on it so that it is hanging from the outside of the window
• Stay by the window

You should be protected from the fire long enough to be rescued by the fire department as long as your main door is closed tight.
If your main door is cool to the touch –

• Get down low and open the door very slowly. If heat and/or smoke rushes in, close the door and follow the instructions above.
• If the hallway is clear, evacuate. Be aware there could be fire on the other side of the fire doors.
• Close the door behind you. A closed door can prevent fire from spreading to your apartment and protect you belongings from heat and smoke damage.
• Pull a pull station if they are installed in your complex
• Leave the building using the stairway. Do not use the elevators.
• Go to a meeting place. Your family or fellow residents should have a meeting place away from the complex. You do not want to be in the way when firefighters arrive.
• If you know of anyone trapped or missing in the building let a firefighter know.

Things to know and to think about
It is important that every able bodied resident gets out and stays out. Firefighters should be concentrating on fire suppression efforts and rescuing people who are handicapped or trapped.

If you do not evacuate and the fire department comes to your door, you will be asked to leave immediately whether you are prepared for the weather outside or not.

If you burn food and set off the alarm system, call 9-1-1 and let the operator know your address and unit number. The dispatcher will inform the fire department and they can respond accordingly.

Fire doors and the door for the mechanical room, boiler room, and laundry rooms can not be propped open. These doors are made to slow down or prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the complex.

The smoke alarms in your apartment are to keep watch over you. Keep watch over them by making sure the batteries are changed in them every six months and that they are replaced every 8-10 years. Test them once a month when you pay your rent. The lease agreement may indicate the responsibility of the smoke alarms is of the property owner or manager, but you are ultimately responsible for ensuring your own safety.

It is illegal to remove, damage, or disable a smoke alarm. This includes removing the batteries at any time for any reason.

Hallways must be kept clear. No shoes, floor mats, or other items can be kept in the hallway at any time.

No combustible items can be hung on apartment doors.

If you are a renter you should have renter’s insurance. At a minimum, renter’s insurance will cover losses to your personal property from a variety of situations including fire .You will be covered for fire damage to your belongings whether the fire occurred in your apartment or an another apartment. Some carriers even provide temporary housing. The cost of renter’s insurance can be as low as $120 a year.

If you own an apartment complex that does not have emergency lighting, illuminated exit signs, or hard wired/interconnected smoke alarms it is highly recommend that you invest in both to increase the safety of your residents.

For information on fire prevention go to www.excelsiorfire.org and for more information contact the Excelsior Fire District at 952-960-1692 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

1-6-2011

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Residential Smoke Alarms:
“What You Need To Know”

This article will go over residential smoke alarms. The most important thing you can do when purchasing a smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), or gas alarm/detector is to read the manufacturer’s instructions completely. Follow the instructions on where and how to install them, what is needed to maintain them, and when to replace the alarm/detector. There are many types of smoke alarms as well as different types of detectors, such as heat and flame. This article will cover residential smoke alarms.

Smoke Alarm Basics

There are two common household types of smoke alarms: ionization alarms and photoelectric alarms.
Ionization Detectors
Ionization detectors respond more quickly to flaming fires with smaller combustion particles.

Ionization smoke alarms sound when electrically charged ("ionized") particles released in a fire interfere with the electrical current that flows through the alarm's detection chamber. The disruption in the current causes the smoke alarm to sound.

Flaming fires result from the ignition of items such as flammable liquids, wood or paper; cooking accidents; or from open flames such as candles that ignite other items. They produce large quantities of flames and lesser visible amounts of smoke.

Ionization models are best suited for rooms that contain highly combustible
materials that can create flaming fires. These types of materials include
flammable liquids, newspapers, and paint cleaning solutions.

In brief, ionization detectors are:

1. Fastest type to respond to flaming fires
2. Lowest cost and most commonly sold

Photoelectric Detectors
Photoelectric detectors respond more quickly to smoldering fires that create a lot of smoke. Photoelectric smoke alarms sound when smoke particles interfere with and reflect the alarm's light beam that travels through the alarm's detection chamber. The presence of suspended smoke particles in the chamber scatters the light beam. This scattered light is detected and sets off the alarm.
Smoldering fires most often occur when smoking materials, such as cigarettes, are left unattended. In general, they initially produce minimal amounts of flames and larger, visible amounts of smoke.

Photoelectric models are best suited for living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. This is because these rooms often contain large pieces of furniture, such as sofas, chairs, mattresses, counter tops, etc. which will burn slowly and create more smoldering smoke than flames.

The choices are not simple and will require additional research for you to do on your own. The one thing that is for sure - a working smoke alarm is better than a non-working alarm or no smoke alarm at all.

In review, photoelectric detectors are:

1. Fastest type to respond to smoldering fires and white or gray smoke
2. Less prone to nuisance alarms from cooking

Styles of Smoke Alarms
Battery Operated Smoke Alarms are the most common alarms found in residential homes. These alarms rely on a battery for power. The prices for these alarms can range from $1.00 to $100.00.
Long Life Smoke Alarms with a 10-year, non replaceable lithium battery are available and easy to find.
Hardwired with Battery Back Up Alarms are wired directly into your home's electrical system. The battery is a backup to ensure alarm works during power outages.
Interconnected Hardwired Smoke Alarms with battery back up. These are the type of alarms that are required in all new homes. These alarms are wired together and when one alarm goes off all the alarms in the home will sound.
Wireless Smoke Alarms with battery backup. These work like interconnected alarms and do not require wiring or an electrician to install.
Voice Smoke Alarms have an alarm and a pre-recorded voice that may say, “Fire! Fire!” or similar message to alert occupants. There are studies showing that the traditional, high pitched siren of a standard smoke alarm cannot be heard by the hearing impaired and an alarm alone will may not awaken a child in deep sleep in time if at all.
Vocal Smoke Alarms with an alarm and a recording device. The alarm allows you to record a personalized alarm message and provide personal escape instructions to your child, and have it replayed when the alarm sounds.
Vibrate or Shaker Smoke Alarms use a vibrating device to shake a bed or chair to awaken and alert a deep sleeper, a hearing impaired or deaf person.
Strobe Alarms use an extra bright strobe light to alert a deep sleeper, the hearing impaired or deaf of a fire. Some strobe alarms also include a vibrator device.
Dual Detectors come with the ability to alert occupants of smoke, Carbon Monoxide (CO), or hazardous gas. These detectors are cost efficient, but make sure you are aware of the recommended replacement life of the alarms/detectors. One draw back of dual detectors is that the Carbon Monoxide alarm generally needs to be replaced every 5 years (60 months) as well as natural and propane gas detectors. Smoke alarm usually do not need to be replaced for 8-10 years. If you purchase a duel detector you will have to replace it in 5 years. The recommendation for CO alarm placement may differ from smoke detectors placement. Smoke detectors should be in bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of the home. Co alarms should be 10 feet out side of sleeping areas so they can detect the CO and alert the occupants. Alarms that detect all three are prone to false readings and malfunctions. Most dual alarms/detectors do not have as many features and do not have the ability to display the levels of CO or gas when it is detected.
Most smoke alarms mentioned in this article can be found at your local hardware store, large retail stores, big box and discount stores, on the internet, or a certified electrician.
Maintenance
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations on how to maintain your smoke alarms. All types of smoke alarms require regular testing. The fire service recommends that they should be tested once a month and the batteries changed at least once a year.
Some manufacturers will indicate which brand of battery to use in the alarm. Some alarms can malfunction if the batteries not recommend by the manufacture are used.
Smoke alarms should be replaced every 8-10 years. It is good practice to write the purchase date on the back so you know when to replace them. Remember each type of alarm has its own replacement schedule. Alarms should also be replaced when the they have been exposed to dust caused by construction, aerosols, certain chemicals, smoke from contents or a structure fire of any size, and any exposure to materials that may coat or damage the detection chamber.
To clean a detector, carefully vacuum the inside of a battery powered unit using the soft bristle brush. If electrically connected, shut off the power and vacuum the outside vents only. Restore power and test unit when finished.
Under no circumstances should you paint any part of your smoke alarm.
Features
Smoke alarms come with a variety of features. No one fire alarm comes with all the features that are listed. Here are some of the common features found on most smoke alarms today - test alarm function, hush buttons, battery life indicator, and an easy-access battery drawer. Here are a few not so common features - directional speakers, escape lighting, missing battery guard (insures a battery is placed inside the smoke alarm), remote-controlled alarm testing and silencing, and a tamper resistance alarm that comes with a pin to lock the battery and unit in place.
There are countless type of smoke alarms and other detectors and alarms out there from which to choose. It is up to you, the consumer, to do your home work and decide which smoke alarm will work best for your home and help protect your loved ones.
To read more about smoke alarms, go to www.excelsiorfire.org
04-8-2011

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