FIRE NEWS
NATIONAL & LOCAL FIRE NEWS
http://www.nafed.org/login/publications/Fire%20Wire%20July%202006%20v2.pdf
NATIONAL ARSON AWARENESS WEEK MAY 4-10, 2009
Following announcement provided on the Iowa State Fire Marshall's webpage
Iowa Department of Public Safety |
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| For immediate release: | Courtney Greene, Bureau Chief | |
| Thursday, February 5, 2009 | Public Information Bureau | |
| Des Moines, Iowa | (515) 725-6196 |
State Fire Marshal Asks Iowans to Focus on Safety to Slow Fire Fatality Rate |
Des Moines, IOWA--- The death of 25-year-old Benjamin Ziegenmeyer has officially been ruled a fire related fatality. The State Medical Examiner has determined Ziegenmeyer died of smoke inhalation sustained in the blaze along Story Street in the City of Boone on Tuesday morning. The death of Ziegenmeyer brings the total fire related fatality count for 2009 to 13. The number of lives lost this year is strikingly high compared to 2008, when seven individuals died in Iowa fires by the same calendar day. “The bad news is, it’s only February and we’re nearly one third of the way toward the total fire deaths for all of 2008,” commented Fire Marshal Jim Kenkel. “The good news is, it’s only February and we have time to stop this deadly trend before 2009 becomes a record year for fire deaths.” The Department of Public Safety’s Office of the State Fire Marshal is calling on all Iowans to take time this day to practice fire prevention in their homes. There are many things you can do to help protect your family from these deadly fires. Testing and updating your smoke detectors is a great place to start. Then, you can begin implementing safety habits in your every day routine. Click on the link below to find a list of ways you can prevent home fires and ways to safely escape when a fire erupts. Please take a moment to visit Dubuque Fire Equipment, Inc's Fire Prevention Page for Tips, Links, and games http://www.dbqfire.net/custom4.html The power to keep your family safe from home fires is within reach. Take time this day to educate every person living in your home on fire safety. |
The following is courtesy of the Iowa State Fire Marshall's webpage
NEW RESIDENTIAL SMOKE DETECTOR INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS FAQ
http://www.dps.state.ia.us/index.shtml
The State Fire Marshal intends to file administrative rules that will require all new residential construction to be equipped with dual sensor smoke detectors with the effective start date of October 1, 2009.
| Q) | Where can I obtain a copy of Iowa's smoke detector requirements? |
| A) | Code law granting authority to the State Fire Marshal to establish rules on smoke detectors are located under Chapter 100.18 of the Iowa Code and can be accessed from the Iowa General Assembly Web site. When this page appears, insert 100.18 in the search box and click "Submit." The new administrative rules regarding dual sensor detectors are found in 661 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 210. |
| Q) | What is a dual sensor detector? |
| A) | A dual sensor detector is a detector that has both a photoelectric sensor that protects best against slow, smoldering fires and an ionization sensor that protects best against fast, flaming fires. |
| Q) | So how are these detectors different from what I have in my home now? |
| A) | Most detectors in homes currently use 'ionization' technology to detect the smoke. Ionization detectors are best at the early detection of rapidly spreading, flaming fires. Some homes may have detectors that use 'photoelectric' technology to detect the smoke. Photoelectric detectors are best at the early detection of slow burning, smoldering fires. Dual sensor smoke detectors combine both technologies into one detector. |
| Q) | What if my detectors don't need to be replaced right now? |
| A) | If the ionization or photoelectric smoke detectors in your home currently meet all the manufacturer's recommendations, you are not required to immediately replace them with dual sensor detectors. However, when you have a detector that needs to be replaced, it must be replaced with a dual sensor detector. |
| Q) | For purposes of this new rule, what is a "residential property"? |
| A) | Residential properties include the following:
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| Q) | Will I notice anything different with the dual sensor detectors? |
| A) | Not really. The appearance, mounting instructions, maintenance, and testing procedures mimic the detectors you currently have in your home. It is important that you read and follow the manufacturer's recommendations that come with the dual sensor detector. |
| Q) | What is AC Power? |
| A) | AC stands for Alternating Current and is the power provided in your homes that is used to operate your utilities to include such things as your electric stove, TV, refrigerator, air conditioner, and your lights. |
| Q) | What is DC Power? |
| A) | DC stands for Direct Current; power that most commonly comes from a battery, such as your car, or your portable electronic equipment. |
| Q) | What does "powered by both AC and DC" mean? |
| A) | This means that the device is powered by both your house current and a back-up battery (most cases a 9 volt battery). |
| Q) | What does "Interconnect" mean? |
| A) | It means that the detectors are either electronically or hard wired together so if one detector sounds, all detectors interconnected together will sound. |
| Q) | What does the code mean when it says detectors "Other than dual sensor detectors may be installed"? And when can they be installed? |
| A) | If the conditions of the smoke detector requirements are met with dual sensor detectors, additional detectors may be added, such as a combination smoke/CO detector, or a smoke detector that has a strobe light for the hearing impaired. But remember, dual sensor detectors first! |
Please do your part to help reduce the number of fire injuries and death. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are the key to ensuring early notification in the event of a fire. This is critical to improving the chance of surviving in a fire!
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