Facts & Figures

In 2007, 46 Minnesotans lost their lives in fires. Residential fire deaths represent approximately 80% of these fatalities.

In 20% of the casualties in structures, smoke alarms were absent or non-operating.
In another 34% of the dwelling cases, it was not possible to determine whether a smoke detector was present or operating.
U.S. telephone survey found that 96% of the households surveyed had at least one smoke alarm.
Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires in the small percentage of homes with no smoke alarms.
Homes with smoke alarms (whether or not they are operational) typically have a death rate that is 40-50% less than the rate for homes without alarms.
In one-quarter of the reported fires in homes equipped with smoke alarms, the devices did not work. Households with non-working smoke alarms now outnumber those with no smoke alarms.
Why do smoke alarms fail?

Most often because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries.

What can I do?

Working smoke alarms are needed in every home and residence.

Test and maintain your smoke alarms at least once a month, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Replace batteries at least once a year.

Selecting an alarm

There are two types of technology used in smoke alarms today:

When smoke enters a photoelectric alarm, light from a pulsating light source in reflected off the smoke particles onto a light sensor, triggering the alarm.
When smoke enters an ionization alarm, ionized air molecules attach to the smoke particles and reduce the ionizing current, triggering the alarm.

While photoelectric smoke alarms generally respond faster to smoldering smoke conditions and ionization, smoke alarms generally respond faster to flaming fire conditions, both types provide adequate protection against fire.

Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on your household electrical current. They can be interconnected so that every alarm sounds regardless of the fire's location. Alarms that are hard-wired should have battery backups in case of a power outage, and should be installed by a qualified electrician.
If you, or someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration and/or sound.

Combination smoke alarms featuring both photoelectric and ionization technology, as well as many other options are available at hardware, department and home improvement stores.

Cut your family's risk in half

Maintaining smoke alarms and practicing a family fire escape plan will double your families chances of survival.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be interconnected.
Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm near the ceiling's highest point.
Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could keep the alarms from working.

Maintaining an alarm

Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low.
Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm.
Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound.
Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms, following the manufacturer's instructions, can keep them working properly.
Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's probably time for a new one.

Fire Sprinkler Systems

The United States has one of the highest fire loss rates of the industrialized world - in both terms of fire deaths and fire losses. This unenviable status has mystified world fire service experts because the solution to significantly reduce the fire death rate is available and affordable. The simple solution to minimize our nation’s fire death rate is residential fire sprinklers.

How do sprinklers operate?

Automatic fire sprinklers are individually heat-activated, and tied into a network of piping with water under pressure. When the heat of a fire raises the sprinkler temperature to its operating point (usually 165ºF), a solder link will melt or a liquid-filled glass bulb will shatter to open that single sprinkler, releasing water directly over the source of the heat.

Why are sprinklers so effective?

Sprinklers operate automatically in the area of fire origin, preventing a fire from growing undetected to a dangerous size, while simultaneously sounding an alarm.
Automatic fire sprinklers keep fires small. The majority of fires in sprinklered buildings are handled by one or two sprinklers.

Why are sprinklers important for life safety?

Sprinklers do not rely upon human factors such as familiarity with escape routes or emergency assistance. They go to work immediately to reduce the danger.
Sprinklers prevent the fast developing fires of intense heat which are capable of trapping and killing dozens of building occupants.

What about smoke?

Smoke, a by-product of fire, is generally the cause of death to building occupants. Although smoke is produced as sprinklers extinguish a fire, such quantities of smoke are less than those which would be produced by an unsprinklered fire permitted to grow.

How much does a new sprinkler system cost?

The cost of a complete sprinkler system depends on many factors, such as the building type and construction, availability of public water supply, and degree of hazard of the occupancy. For new construction, systems usually cost from $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot, less than the cost of carpeting.
Retrofit installations in existing buildings can be expected to cost somewhat more than for new construction, depending on the difficulty of installation and other factors. A general rule of thumb is to add 50%.

Aren't sprinklers ugly?

Due to advances in sprinkler technology, sprinklers look better than ever, if you can see them at all. Sprinklers can be concealed behind ceilings, out of sight until needed to extinguish a fire. Sprinklers are also available in a range of colors and sizes to blend into the background of any room.

What about water damage?

Reports of water damage due to fires in sprinklered buildings are often exaggerated due to comparisons with the small fire loss which occurs thanks to the sprinklers.
The amount of water which is put on a fire by fire department hoses in an unsprinklered building fire is nearly always tens to hundreds of times more than that which sprinklers would have discharged. During a fire, only those sprinklers closest to the fire activate, limiting the total amount of water needed. The fire damage, as reflected by insurance claims, is also many times greater.