Dec. 29, 2021 by Enyinna Anthony, PMP, CCM
When jotting down those New Year’s resolutions, make sure you place the job of habitually inspecting your smoke detectors and fire alarms on a regular basis.
Donald Duvall, MDTA Construction Safety Auditor for AMG says, “smoke detectors should be inspected every year.” He cites that the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) suggest January inspections as it’s the first of the year.
Smoke alarms were present in three-quarters (74 percent) of reported home fires in 2014-2018 and almost three out five home fire deaths were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms (41 percent) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (16 percent).
“When smoke alarms were present in reported fires considered large enough to activate them, they operated 89 percent of the fires, 73 percent of the deaths and 82 percent of the injuries,” Says Don, “However, the risk of dying in reported home structure fires is 55 percent lower in homes with smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked.”
AMG would like to remind you to please inspect your home smoke alarms. We want safety to be everyone’s top resolution this year and every year. For more information, NFPA offers this Smoke Alarm Safety Tip Sheet you can download and print.
