Q. I want to install a fire sprinkler in my new home and my home builder does not have any information on fire sprinklers. Where can I find more information?

A. If your home builder is not familiar with contractors that install residential fire sprinklers, you still have several options.

• Look in your local Yellow Pages under "Sprinklers, Fire"
• Contact the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association for names of residential sprinkler contractors
• Search for "fire sprinkler installers" on the Internet

Q. What should I do if my home builder or architect has questions or says I don't need fire sprinklers?

A. Most fire chiefs around the country will recommend fire sprinklers, as they have witnessed first-hand their benefit to life and property safety. Some, but not all architects and builders are educated, at least partially, about residential fire sprinklers. If your builder and architect are not familiar with these systems, have them contact the organizations below for information.

• Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association
• FireSafe Ontario
• Uponor

Q. How much should I expect to pay for my fire sprinkler system?

A. If installed during new home construction, home fire sprinklers often cost no more that 1 to 1.5 percent of the total building cost, which is about what you'd pay for an upgrade in carpeting. The investment in your family's fire protection may be slightly lower or higher, depending on the location and complexity of the home.

Q. How long should installation take? Can other construction work continue while the sprinklers are going in?

A. Again, fire sprinkler installations are like electricity, plumbing or any other operational systems in your home. The total time involved will depend on the size and complexity of your home.

Certain portions of the system (i.e. water piping) are more easily and cost-effectively installed in the earliest stages of construction, while the actual finish (i.e. installing the fire sprinkler devices, testing the system, etc.) will take place after the house is framed. Fire sprinkler systems are often completed prior to the other systems in your home, but other mechanical trades may work alongside the sprinkler contractor if necessary.

Q. How do I take care of my fire sprinkler system?

A. A residential fire sprinkler system is basically maintenance free. The only testing required on a regular basis is opening the drain/test valve to check the alarm operation. The rest of the system is designed to operate properly for 20 years or more without any maintenance.

Some basic precautions to safeguard your fire sprinkler system are:

• Avoid painting or otherwise covering the fire sprinkler devices, as that will affect their sensitivity to heat.
• Do not hang decorations, plants or other objects from the sprinkler or pipe

Q. Will my insurance premiums go up?

A. No. Generally insurance rates will go down because fire sprinklers will keep damage low. Shop around; the savings vary by insurance company.

Q. Why do we need smoke alarms?

A.Smoke alarms can save your life and those of your family. Most fatal home fires occur at night, while people sleep. Fire produces toxic gases and smoke that actually numb the senses. If you're asleep, or become disoriented by toxic gases, you may not even realize that there is a fire. You can't rely on your own senses to detect a fire.

Q. Is there proof that smoke alarms save lives?

A. Yes. Almost every day, news reports across the country tell of cases where smoke alarms have saved lives. In several instances, the battery-operated alarms were not mounted, but still alerted families to fire. Fire officials continually cite smoke alarms as life savers in home fires.

Q. What do I look for when choosing a smoke alarm?

A. Look for the following when selecting your home smoke alarm:

• It should display the marking of a recognized independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Lab (UL) etc. and be listed and approved for sale, installation and home use.
• It should have a warning signal that warns you when bulbs or batteries need replacing.
• The batteries and bulb should be readily available for purchase and easy to replace.
• The smoke alarm's alarm must be loud enough (85 decibel or louder) to wake a sleeping person behind a closed door. Special alarms are available for hard of hearing persons.

Q. Where should I install a smoke alarm?

A. At the bare minimum, you should have one alarm for each level in your home. A alarm needs to be placed within 10 feet of sleeping areas, since most fire deaths occur at night while people are sleeping. The alarm should be mounted on the ceiling or high on the wall -- six to twelve inches below the ceiling. It should never be placed in the dead-air space, such as where wall and ceiling meet or in a corner. Nor should it be placed near heating ducts or cold air returns. The air flow around these areas could prevent the smoke-filled air from collecting in the alarm in sufficient amounts as to activate it. Avoid installing a alarm near bathrooms with showers. Steam can sometimes cause false alarms and the moisture can rust metal components of the alarm. Also avoid areas where nominal amounts of smoke may normally be present, such as kitchens or other cooking spaces, furnace rooms, or near fireplaces or wood-burning stoves.

Q. What about a heat alarm? Do I need one of those, too?

A. Heat alarms are no substitute for smoke alarms. They set off an alarm in response to heat only. They do add protection and can be helpful in basements, kitchens, attics and garages. But for life safety purposes be sure your home is protected by a smoke alarm.

Q. Should I test my smoke alarm? How often?

A. Every alarm comes with testing instructions. Activating the testing mechanism once a month should be sufficient. Always test battery powered alarms after a vacation or having been away from home for a week or more. The battery may have gone dead and you may have missed its warning alarm.

Q. How should I care for a smoke alarm?

A. Vacuum the alarm once or twice a year to remove any dust or cobwebs. This will cut down on false alarms. Most battery powered smoke alarms will 'chirp' sporadically when the battery is weak. We recommend that batteries be changed once a year, perhaps a significant day -- your birthday, January 1st or when you change your clocks in the spring or fall.

Q. Which is better, battery-powered or AC-powered alarms?

A. It really is a matter of preference. They both have benefits and drawbacks. The key point to remember is that whichever model your choose, be sure to maintain it according to manufacturer's directions. Hard-wired alarms (AC-powered) are powered by the current in your house wires. This is appealing because you never have to worry about battery replacement. Multiple alarms can be wired together so that if a fire starts in the basement of a two story house, all the alarms will sound immediately. There can be a problem with hard-wired alarms, however. If there is a power failure due to storm, fire, etc., the alarms will not sound without electrical power. There are now AC powered units on the market with a battery backup. As an alternative, install a battery powered unit near each AC-powered unit. This dual power source method also provides additional detection!

Q. I've heard that there are different types of smoke alarms? Can you explain the differences? Is one better than the other?

A. You are probably referring to ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms. Both types are approved by nationally recognized testing laboratories. Ionization models respond slightly faster to open flaming fires while photoelectric models respond faster to smoldering fires. Ideally, a home should be protected by at least one of each. If you can afford just one type of alarm, a photoelectric is recommended. Photoelectric smoke alarms use either an incandescent light bulb or a light emitting diode (LED) to send forth a beam of light. When smoke enters the alarm, light from the beam is reflected from the smoke particles into a photocell sensor and the alarm is triggered. The ionization chamber smoke alarm has a small radiation source that produces radioactive material, electrically charged air molecules called ions. These ions cause a small electric current to flow in the chamber. Smoke particles entering the chamber attach themselves to the ions, reducing the electrical flow. The change in current sets off the alarm.