One of the many responsibilities of a
home inspector is to check and verify the presence of smoke alarms in
the home and the fact that they are functioning and operating
properly. As most of us know, smoke alarms first became a
requirement back in the early 1970’s and since then the codes
pertaining to smoke alarm requirements have definitely changed.
Today, whether you are looking to buy a
home or sell your existing home, the code requires that there is a
smoke detector in every single sleeping room in the house as well as
on each level in the common areas of the home. With that said, the
alarms are required in each bedroom, on each floor of the home, and
in the hallways outside of any group of bedrooms located throughout
the house.
Every year there are a vast number of
home fires and deaths related to those fires. However, these mass
numbers have been reduced drastically since the smoke alarm codes and
requirements were updated and improved. There is an average of 10
people that die nearly every day from house fires, which is why it is
so critically important to inspectors to ensure that every home has
the appropriate number of smoke detectors and fire alarms installed.
We here at From the Ground Up Inspections take tremendous pride in
the services we provide to all our valued clients and agree with the
mandatory smoke alarm requirements knowing full well that they
absolutely save lives.
The Benefits of Smoke Alarms
Nearly all homes in the United States
have smoke alarms installed. However, statistics tell us that half
of all home fires that occur, occur in homes that have smoke alarms
that do not work and more than 50% of the people killed in fires are
victims of house fires without working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms
clearly give warning of a fire when people in the household are
asleep, or are in a different section of the home from where the
actual fire has started. They wake individuals when they are
sleeping should a fire occur during sleep hours and they give extra
warning time when people are awake.
Contrary to what many people think,
that they will smell smoke when sleeping and awaken from the smell,
many fires produce odorless gasses that are very toxic. When you are
asleep, you can be overcome by these toxic gasses and never wake up.
Thus, your smoke alarms provide you with a life-saving warning that
allows you to wake up and get out of the house before you become
trapped by the fire or overcome by the smoke.
Smoke alarms are remarkably
inexpensive. Battery operated smoke alarms for the home typically
cost less than $10 and the alkaline batteries required to operate
them cost a mere $2 and last for at minimum a year. In addition,
nowadays you can buy smoke alarms that have long life lithium
batteries that sell in the range of $20 and have lithium batteries
that can last nearly ten years.
Regardless of what type of smoke
detectors you opt to put into your home, the important thing is that
you make certain you have a sufficient number of smoke alarms to
protect your home and family at all hours of the day and night. At
From the Ground Up Inspections we provide professional, top of the
line home inspections of all types and surely confirming the
installation of the appropriate number of smoke detectors is at the
top of our checklist.
Here at From the Ground Up Inspections
we firmly believe that smoke detectors save lives. And remember, if
you are either selling your home or looking to buy a home, contact
our professional team of qualified and highly experienced inspectors
today. We look forward to being a part of your selling or buying
experience and to ensuring the safety of your home and family. From
our family to yours, we send along wishes for a healthy and safe
2017!
