Community Risk Reduction Weekend! Know The New Smoke Alarm Law

This weekend, May 14-15, has been designated by the State Fire Marshal, the Maryland Chief’s Association and the Maryland State Fireman’s Association as a Statewide “Community Risk Reduction” weekend for fire departments across the State.

Fire departments across Maryland will be engaged in community outreach, education and canvassing neighborhoods to provide smoke alarm and fire safety information and education. The focus of the campaign is to increase awareness regarding Maryland’s new Smoke Alarm Law (effective January, 2018) and to remind all residents that smoke alarms older than 10 years need to be replaced with new ones.

All MCFRS personnel and stations, to support the State’s campaign, will be engaged in community outreach and education at every opportunity over the course of the weekend. You may see our firefighters in your neighborhood to include athletic and park venues, as well as grocery, home improvement, and big box stores.

If you happen come across one of our firefighters, you will more than likely receive the below handout. Please take a brief moment to review this important, and potential lifesaving, information.

We also want to remind every Montgomery County family to plan and practice your escape routes together to help ensure everyone knows how to get out safely in the event a fire occurs in your home. Go here to learn more: Home Fire Escape Planning

Maryland Updates Smoke Alarm Law

Maryland’s new smoke alarm law requires the replacement of all BATTERY-ONLY operated smoke alarms with units powered by sealed-in, 10-year long-life batteries.

Homeowners have until January 1, 2018 to comply with the new law.

Please check out more below:

For a pdf or Word copy of this, please EMAIL HERE

When 10 Years Is Too Old

Many homes in Montgomery County have smoke alarms that are too old. All smoke alarms are manufactured to last 10 years. Then they need to be replaced. Working smoke alarms can provide the critical early warning needed to save lives.

Summer of Safety - Smoke Alarms and Child Passenger Safety Seats

As part of Montgomery County's Summer of Safety, this week we will be providing information as it relates to smoke alarms and child passenger safety seats.

Speaking of smoke alarms; have you tested your lately?  If not, why not?  Ideally, smoke alarms should be tested at least once a week to ensure they are working.

In addition, if your smoke alarm is 10 years or older it needs to be replaced - regardless of whether it works, or not, when you push the test button.

For more information on smoke alarms, please find a very comprehensive list of information on the County's Summer of Safety web site.

Time to "Retire" Your Old Smoke Alarms?

Courtesy of NFPA

I wanted to make sure all of you knew that smoke alarms need to have a retirement plan - as most of us do. Once your alarms reach the ripe old age of 10, they are eligible for "retirement" and need to be replaced by a new generation of smoke alarms.

Even if your 10 year old, or older, smoke alarm still sounds when you push the test button, it should be replaced.

To learn more about smoke alarms, please go here: Smoke Alarms

To learn how to properly dispose of a smoke alarm, please go here: How to recycle/dispose of smoke alarms

For those with battery powered alarms, please go here to learn about Maryland's Updated Smoke Alarm Law.

Stay Safe!

BD

Smoke Alarm Facts

How effective are smoke alarms?
Residential fire deaths have decreased steadily as the number of homes with smoke alarms increased. Reports from the National Fire Protection Association indicate that working smoke alarms double the chance of surviving a fire in homes equipped with the recommended number of smoke alarms.
 

When do I need to replace my smoke alarm?
Smoke alarms do not last forever and units that are 10 years old are near the end of their service life and should be replaced.  Just like any electrical appliance, the circuitry and components of smoke alarms wear out over time. When a smoke alarm reaches 10 years of use, the potential of failing to detect a fire increases substantially and replacing units after 10 years reduces the likelihood of failure.

My smoke alarm units are wired into my electrical system. Do I need to replace them as often as battery-operated alarms?
Yes. Both hard-wired and battery-operated alarms are equally affected by age.
Note: the legislation signed into law on July 1, 2013 applies to battery-only powered alarms.   

How many smoke alarms should I have?
Under the provisions of the law for all new residential units constructed after July 1, 2013, at least one smoke alarm must be installed in each sleeping room, in the hallway or common area outside of sleeping rooms, and in the hallway or common area on each level within a residential dwelling unit, including basements and excluding specified unoccupied spaces such as attics.  Various requirements for smoke alarm type and placement exist for different time periods in Montgomery County. For specific requirements, please see Residential Smoke Alarm Requirements.

Is there anything new I need to know if I am selling my house?
The residential property disclosure form provided to the purchaser of specified single-family residential real property must include whether the smoke alarms (1) are over 10 years old and (2) if battery-operated, are sealed, tamper-resistant units incorporating a silence/hush button and use long-life batteries as required in all Maryland homes by 2018.

Why is the “hush” feature important?
Smoke alarms are available with a “hush” button that can be used to temporarily silence the alarm. This is a convenient way to deal with nuisance alarms, such as those caused by burning toast or opening smoky ovens, without disabling the alarm. The hush button will silence the alarm for several minutes and then automatically reset itself. Smoke alarms with this feature discourage the dangerous practice of removing the battery or disconnecting the power source as a method of dealing with frequent nuisance alarms. If smoke continues to build from an actual fire while the alarm is in hush mode, the smoke will override the silence feature and the smoke alarm will reactivate.

How can I test my alarm?
Every smoke alarm comes with a test button. MCFRS recommends that people test their alarms at least once a month.

I want to know more!

Please visit our website at www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe or montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-info/

It's Fire Prevention Week!

It's Fire Prevention Week!  Please help us to spread the safety message and share this page with friends and family!

Click on the photo below for more information.

Home Smoke Alarm Basics

As part of our Summer of Safety outreach this summer, the theme this week is "Get Alarmed Montgomery!" This week highlights the importance of having and maintaining working smoke alarms in your home.

Below is a video from our partners in safety at the NFPA that provides some great basics.

Time to "Retire" Your Old Smoke Alarms?

Courtesy of NFPA

I wanted to make sure all of you knew that smoke alarms need to have a retirement plan - as most of us do. Once your alarms reach the ripe old age of 10, they are eligible for "retirement" and need to be replaced by a new generation of smoke alarms.

Even if your 10 year old, or older, smoke alarm still sounds when you push the test button, it should be replaced.  

To learn more about smoke alarms, please go here: Smoke Alarms

To learn how to properly dispose of a smoke alarm, please go here: How to recycle/dispose of smoke alarms

For those with battery powered alarms, please go here to learn about Maryland's Updated Smoke Alarm Law.

Stay Safe!

BD