Alarms and Detectors
Most fire deaths occur in homes where there are no working smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help save your life. Smoke detectors can provide you with an early warning, so you can escape a fire before it reaches you. Without a smoke alarm, you may not be alerted on time to escape before being overcome by deadly gases in the smoke.
Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector Tips
Install on every level and in sleeping areas
- Install at least one smoke detector on every level of your home; consider purchasing a combination smoke–carbon monoxide alarm with a voice alert feature to protect you from both fire and carbon monoxide dangers.
- Whether you have a combination unit or separate smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, ensure that one of each is installed in a location that you can hear from all sleeping areas; consider installing these units in bedrooms if you sleep with your bedroom doors closed.
Check alarms/detectors regularly and change batteries
- Check smoke alarms monthly to make sure they are working.
- Change smoke alarm batteries in all detectors annually, even if they appear to be working.
- Check the age of every alarm in your home. If smoke alarms are 10 years or older and carbon monoxide alarms are five to seven years or older, replace them immediately. Read more about smoke alarms in the residential fire safety planning guide.
Read more about smoke alarms in the residential fire safety planning guide.
Unwanted or False Alarms
Unwanted or false alarms create a burden for the Fire Department and prevent the department from being able to respond to true emergencies.
Homeowners are billed for false alarms with fines of up to $500 per incident under the City of Pitt Meadows Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2405.
Smoke Alarm Sounds
What causes smoke alarms to sound, beep or chirp? Smoke alarm manufacturer Kidde explains what smoke alarm sounds mean.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
In addition to a smoke detector, you also need a carbon monoxide (CO) detector if you have any of the following in your home:
- a gas range or propane appliances
- an attached garage or carport
- a gas or oil water heater
- a gas or oil furnace
- a wood or gas fireplace
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas that is produced as a byproduct of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea and fatigue.
Go outside and call 911 if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and your carbon monoxide alarm is sounding.
Go outside and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 if you are not experiencing any of these symptoms and your carbon monoxide alarm is sounding. Open windows while you wait for FortisBC to arrive.
Alarm Recycling
AlarmRecycle is a recycling program for used or expired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Find a location to recycle your smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. Note that drop-off centres only accept a maximum of 40 units. Email BCalarms@productcare.org or phone 604.592.2972 ext. 233 to learn about AlarmRecycle.
Eight out of 10 fire deaths occur in the home. Installing fire sprinklers in residential homes can help save lives.
This home fire timeline shows the progression of a fire with or without sprinklers. Find additional resources on the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition website.
Home Fire Sprinklers
Residential fire sprinkler systems protect you and your home from the threat of fire 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and 12 months per year.
They complement smoke alarms and provide an early fire warning, which can allow you to escape from the fire and minimize damage to your home.
Residential fire sprinklers are designed to activate at the following temperatures:
- ordinary temperature ratings from 135F to 170F (57C to 77C) where maximum ambient ceiling temperatures do not exceed 100F (38C)
- intermediate temperatures from 175F to 225F (79C to 107C) where ambient ceiling temperatures are from 101F to 150F (39C to 66C)
They apply water at a minimum rate of 18 gallons per minute from any single operating sprinkler head, and not less than 13 gallons per minute from multiple head activation by design.
Maintaining Your Sprinkler System
As with any mechanical system, periodic maintenance is necessary. Follow these guidelines:
- Contact your monitoring company if your system is monitored.
- Test your system monthly. Open the test valve and listen for the bell or warning device to ring. If the bell or warning device does not ring, contact a sprinkler technician as soon as possible.
- Schedule an annual system flush and backflow valve test by a certified technician.
- Know your sprinkler system shut-off valve location and communicate this to all occupants of your home.
- Ensure you have replacement sprinkler heads and a sprinkler head wrench on hand.
- Any extensions or alterations of your sprinkler system must be approved by the Building Department prior to any work being done.
- Contact the Fire Department if any activation of your sprinkler system occurs. Do not turn off the sprinkler system in the event of a fire. Let the Fire Department do this.
- Do not do anything to your sprinkler system that would hinder its performance, such as painting or hanging objects from a sprinkler head.
- Never turn off or disconnect the system from its water source.
Phone the Fire Department at 604.465.2490 for more information.