Everything you need to know about smoke alarms

October 7, 2024
Health, public safety and emergencies
Home and community

Feature story

All homes in Ontario must have working smoke alarms, but which style of smoke alarms are required? Where should they be located in your home? Read on to learn everything you need to know about smoke alarms – and a little bit more.

Smoke alarms vs. smoke detectors

Found in all of our homes, a smoke alarm is a single device that detects smoke and sounds an alarm to warn us of a potential fire.

Smoke alarms can be:

  • Hardwired to use household electricity as an energy source – be sure to install battery-powered smoke alarms as well to ensure continuous protection during a power outage,
  • Battery-operated with a 10-year sealed battery or a replaceable battery (typically AA or 9-volt)  that can be replaced annually, or
  • Dual powered to rely both on a household power and a replaceable battery.
A pair of hands testing a smoke alarm installed on a residential ceiling.

A smoke detector is part of the fire alarm system found in larger buildings, such as shopping centres and apartment buildings.

This device detects smoke and sends signals to the building’s fire alarm system.

A smoke detector installed on a concrete ceiling beam showing the wire-covered pipes that connect the device to the building’s fire alarm system.

Smoke alarms after 2014

The Ontario Building Code regulates the location and type of smoke alarms installed in your home based on the year it was built.

In Ontario, all homes built after 2014 must have a working smoke alarm on every level and inside every sleeping room. Homes built before 2014 must have a working smoke alarm on every level and outside every sleeping area.

For all homes, no matter when they were constructed, smoke alarms should be installed:

  • On or near the ceiling, or as instructed by the manufacturer, to detect rising smoke
  • Away from ceiling fans and windows to prevent interference
  • Away from bathrooms and heating and cooking appliances to prevent false alarms

These smoke alarms must also:

  • Be interconnected to each other, meaning all alarms throughout the house will sound when smoke is detected,
  • Have a battery back-up that lasts for at least seven days in case of a power outage, and
  • Include a visual signaling component, such as a strobe light.

In homes built before 2014, smoke alarms do not need to be interconnected, have a battery back-up or include a visual signal – however, these upgrades are highly encouraged to help protect you and your family.

Smoke detection technologies

Smoke alarms detect smoke through ionization or photoelectric technologies. Both technologies detect all types of fires that commonly occur in the home and conform with Canadian safety standards.

Ionization smoke alarms are recommended throughout your home as they are:

  • The fastest type to respond to flaming fires
  • Available with a hush or temporary silence feature that allows silencing without removing the battery
  • Available with a battery that will last the length of the smoke alarm

Photoelectric smoke alarms are recommended near kitchens and bathrooms as they are:

  • The fastest type to respond to slow, smouldering fires and white or grey smoke
  • Less prone to nuisance alarms from cooking, mist or steam from showers

Smoke alarm testing and replacement

Smoke alarms don’t last forever.

At home, you must make sure that your smoke alarms are working. The best practice is to:

  • Once a month, push the “Test” button to make sure the alarm is working,
  • Once a year, replace the batteries to make sure your home has continuous protection, and
  • Once every seven to 10 years, or as instructed by the manufacturer, replace the smoke alarm; replacements must be labelled as meeting “ULC” or “CUL” safety standards.

In a rental, your landlord must make sure that there are working smoke alarms in the units. Renters should:

  • Test the alarms in their unit once a month
  • Report any issues with the alarm to their landlord immediately

For more fire safety tips and resources, visit Ottawa Fire Services’ Fire safety, prevention and education page or contact the Fire Prevention and Education Team.

 

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