Have you checkedyour smokealarms lately?Smoke Alarm Guide

Remember: You need a working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO)alarm. Smoke alarms will protect you during a fire, and CO alarms willprotect you during a carbon monoxide leak. If the alarm doesn’t work,it can’t protect you!

Why do I need a working smoke alarm?

On average, peoplehave 2-3 minutes toescape a burninghome because of thematerials used inconstruction and theitems in the home. The faster you knowthe fire is there, thefaster you can getout.

Smoke alarms cangive you time to

escape.

When a fire startswhile you are asleep,the smoke and fumescan kill you before yourealize there is a fire,but smoke alarms canwake you up, givingyou more time toescape.

Smoke alarms canwake you up.

Smoke/CO alarms area cost effective,widely available wayto protect your familyfrom being injured orkilled in a fire.

Smoke & CO alarmsare widely available.

Smoke/CO alarmsare an importantpart of the law. Smoke alarms arerequired in everyhome in Oregon.CO alarms arerequired in everyhome built orrenovated after2011.

Smoke & CO alarmsare important.

Have you checked yoursmoke alarms lately?

Do I need a carbonmonoxide (CO)

alarm?Install a CO alarm ifyou have a home with acarbon monoxidesource, such as anattached garage, acooking source thatburns fuel (wood, coal,petroleum, etc.), or aheat source that burnsfuel (fireplace, furnace,or heater).Install a CO alarm inany home built afterApril 1, 2011, even ifthere is no specific COsource.

Do I need a new smoke alarm?Test smoke alarms every month. If the smoke alarm needs a newbattery, replace it with the same type of battery you removed.If it is older than 10 years, replace it. Check the alarm to find thedate of manufacture.Smoke alarms installed in your home should sound when you pushthe test button. If it doesn’t, it no longer functions, and you shouldreplace it.

Have you checked yoursmoke alarms lately?

Types of smoke alarms

What should I buy to replace an oldsmoke or carbon monoxide alarm?

You can buy smoke & CO alarms atmost hardware and big-box stores oronline.Look for a third-party seal ofapproval.

IonizationSmoke particlesinterrupt a flow ofions fromamericium-241.These work bestfor flames or fast-moving fires.

Dual SensorUses bothtechnologies to detectsmoke in the air.

PhotoelectricSmoke particlesinterrupt a beamof light to soundthe alarm.These work bestfor smoldering orslow-movingfires.

Have you checked yoursmoke alarms lately?

Different alarms detect smoke in differentways. Research what works best for yourhome.

Must do's for landlords:

Must do's for tenants: Test the smoke & CO alarms monthly.Replace batteries as needed.Notify the landlord of any operatingdeficiencies, so the landlord can replace thealarm.Never tamper with or remove the alarm.

Install working smoke alarms, whichinclude batteries, with written instructionsat the tenant’s first possession. Thenumber of smoke alarms depends on thecodes at the time of construction.Replace a malfunctioning alarm (except if itis due to a dead battery).Provide appropriate equipment for tenantswho are Deaf/Hard of Hearing tenants.

Must do's for everyone: Ensure that you have correctly installed and workingsmoke alarms.Know what to do when the alarm sounds. Get out,stay out, and call 911.Maintain your smoke & CO alarms using themanufacturer's information.

Have you checked yoursmoke alarms lately?