Fire safety
 

Tonight there was a bang on the door it was 2 firemen - 1 hunky 1 not so hunky... I knew they were coming there was a letter through my door from Rawtenstall fire station that they'd be calling either tonight or tomorrow night to check fire alarms and fit them if there isnt any fitted etc. Well i had one fitted by the fire service a couple of years ago at the top of the stairs. Now they fit one at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. So they fitted one at the bottom of the stairs for me. Then they went through a form. I thought i was pretty good - i unplug the dryer and microwave after ive finished using them, i dont overload the sockets, i know my way out of the house, shut the doors at night, well i scored very high!!! By the time they'd finished - they picked up on my medication, that i smoke, and i have an adaptor in one of the sockets - not a line adaptor. Theyve left me a few leaflets and because i scored very high a line adaptor - to take the adaptor out of the socket!!!

Ok something for you to ask yourselves - are you a fire risk?

There was stuff he was asking me that i never really thought about - like leaving the tv on standby (yes i do), but my medication - does it make you drowsy (yes some of it does), do you take more than 4 different medications a day (yes i do) that all alters everything, and in fact it was the medication that pushed me into the high bracket - ok the smoking does as well - but he said it is actually the medication that pushed me over.

So it gives you something to think about. They gave me a dvd to watch as well.

You could have this - the firemen round - ring the local fire station and they'll fit a smoke alarm if you dont have one and ask you all sorts of questions and tell you if you are a low risk (under 5) medium 5 -8, high 9- 11, over 12 is very high - i got 12.

I recommend that you do it - made me think over a few things as well and thats without watching the dvd!!!

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Sounds like they provide a good service Jen.

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I thought they only did it for people on benefits!!:eek:

wheres that number............................................ .......??:p

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It's a valuable service without a doubt, we did have a thread about it a while back, the freephone number to call is 0800 169 1125 to arrange a visit !

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Men in uniform............... :D

Only had my new ones fit a few month back but might give them a ring ;)

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I told them that i had one fitted at the top of the stairs by accy firemen - and they said well we'll check it and they said that they also fit them at the bottom of the stairs now as well - and fitted one there as well. They were here for roundabout 20 minutes asking questions etc. They also had some of the medication tubs the lions are giving out if you take medicines that you put a copy of your repeat prescription in - and stickers. I didnt get one of them though - because ive got a necklace with all my details in anyway. I have an SOS necklace.

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oooh i love men in police uniformsAttachment 11166

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TVH fitted them in all of their houses when they did them up 6 years ago

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Im just not fussy ........... lol

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These are fireman though panther - mind you they are in their off duty uniforms navy shirt and navy trousers with lancs fire brigade on them.

By the way - these came from Rawtenstall - seeing as i am in Rossendale though i am on the border so if anyone does ring them yours would come from accrington.

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I have got rid of my battery smoke alarm and now have one which charges itself from the mains lighting - test by just flicking the light switch on and off fast - much easier
Fire Angel Smoke alarm, fireangel smoke alarm, fire angel, fireangel, smoke alarm, smokealarm

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Mine seem to be connetcted to the mains somehow, wondered how they worked, thanks

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they connected them to the mains in all new house builds now under regulations so that if you take the battery out they still work!

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Our's is supposedly connected to the mains but when we flick the switch off when it goes off when we are cooking it doesn't do anything!
Has anybody else got this problem or are we being a bit thick?
By the way we always turn it back on immediately!

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Those type of rechargable alarms are not recommended, continual heat from the light bulb, damages the printed circuit board and the transistors,
I've come across them before.

Ring Accy Fire Station.

Retlaw
Retired Firman.

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Oh dear!- The shade is an open chandelier type so there is no heat build up - in the hallway so not in continous use -low energy bulb emits less heat -just hope it lasts until Hyndburn Homes install the newer type

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It shouldn't be in the hallway, by the time smoke sets it of there, your house could be smoke logged, if you are in your bedroom you will be unable to see where your going.
If you don't think it gets hot, try touching it after its been on for 1/2 hour, I think you will find its quite hot to the touch, try touch the light bulb if you don't think it gets hot. Just because the are low energy means nothing, all types of household light bulbs generate heat.

Ring Accy Fire Station they are fitted entirely free.
The battery's are lithium, with a ten year life span.
Dont wait for H.H., you could be dead by then, they can't stop the Fire Brigade from fitting alarms.

Retlaw.

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Mine are wired into the mains too - the downstairs smoke alarm is wired with the upstairs lights and vice versa - maybe yours will be similar.

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You are being just a little think yes :D

They have a rechargeable battery in them so they still work in a power cut.

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The light at the top of the stairs can often be on the downstairs circuit if there is a two way switch - one up and one downstairs.

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I can see that you are genuinely concerned Walter, and I appreciate it.

The hallway is the central point of my flat, and the one bedroom leads directly off it, as do the lounge and bathroom.
The kitchen is accessible from the lounge only and I always close the kitchen door at night.

I have had one of those 10 year battery alarms but it only lasted 6.
This one is less than a year old, so I hope it will last until a mains supply type is put in by HH - I will mail them to ask if it will be done during the rewire which is due this year.

Your expert info on this subject is appreciated -karma due

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I am sure Walter will clear this up for me.

I thought the reason smoke alarms were fitted flush to the ceiling was to do with the way the smoke rises up and then follows the ceiling as it spreads out. By having a smoke alarm hanging 6" from the ceiling it may take longer before it activates.

I know the instructions tell you how close you can fit them to walls and the corner of rooms due to the way the smokes "flows".

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I must admit I never did like the look of the light bulb ones.
The rising heat from the lamp will cause a large air flow through the light shade and the smoke detector. I suspect this will lead to them getting dirty inside much faster than if they were not above the lamp.

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That is logical -- and the maintenance instructions advise vaccuuming the dust off it regularly -- though I doubt that many people will.

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When I had the oxygen system installed in my flat the Fire Brigade had to come and check everything was okay, things like double sockets are band, the block ones but the plug in trailing sockets are okay. Mind you girls you don't always get your own way in things like this I got a fireman and a firelady:rolleyes: They also put me a new smoke alarm in a 10 year one with no batteries, ou jst have to test it each week and use the suction hose on it every week. They spent around an hour and inspected all my appliances, and gave me a good talk on fire safty, to me a very worthwhile exercise

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I check my smoke alarms regularly.............................























I cook :D

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Your right Neil. Smoke does rise to the ceiling level thats why the Fire Brigade fit the ceiling flush ones. But in a small space it soon fills up, I always told people to get their nose to the carpet in thick smoke.
Ours is a fairly big house and I practiced walking round with my eyes shut, to see if I could identfy the position of things, and if I can put my hand on
the door handles first try, I also have door keys in both pants pockets and a set on a hook behind the front and back doors.
When you've seen the things I've seen you can't be too careful.

Retlaw.

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Margaret, if and when H.H., rewire and fit alarms with rechargable batteries, make sure the are not cadmium batteries, I wouldn't recommend them, they have a fault, which is referred to as memory, if they are charged up without having been fully used, the life of the battery becomes shorter and shorter, then one day you may have a power cut and the battery is no good. Go for the stand alone with lithum batteries, even 6 years is better than the alkaline battery which only lasts 9-10 months and they are FREE.
Retlaw.

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Smoke alarms should not and do not have rechargable batteries in them for exactly the reason that retlaw states, they are unreliable. I urge everyone to bin dodgy smoke alarms and get free fitted ones from your fire service. As for the light fitting type I wouldn't touch them with a barge poll.

Also if you are hard of hearing or know anyone who is, Lancs Fire & rescue will arrange for special detectors to be fitted free for you, they have flashing lights on and also a vibrating pad under your pillow which will shake you if the alarm goes off

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My smoke alarms are at the bottom and top of my stairs, should I have one in the kitchen??? from the bottom of my stairs you've to go through the living room to get to the kitchen

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You don't want one in the kitchen, it could go off every time you start cooking, some are very sensitive, I was soldering a joint on my daughters central heating system, the smoke alarm was 8ft up and 6ft left and the fumes from the flux when the solder melted set the alarm off twice, talk about ginger skid marks, nearly.

You could put one on the living room ceiling about 2 - 3ft from the kitchen door, if the kitchen door was to be closed when a fire broke out, it would be a while before the alarm went off, if it was in the kitchen and all the doors were closed, would you hear it anywhere in the house. If in doubt ring the Fire Brigade its entirely FREE, and Firemen don't bite.

Retlaw.

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Awwww :rolleyes: lol - will give them a ring i think

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I have one in the hallway and one at the top of the stairs, the one in the hallway goes off nearly everytime I use the toaster or open the oven door, I forever wafting it with the tea towel.

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Kieth Lard makes a great Fire safety officer, i have his number if anyone is interested.(as long as you don`t have a dog) LOL:D:D

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I DO!!!!!!!! :s_angry:

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The ones who visited my house didnt!!!

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How many feet away is the one in the hallway from the kitchen. Sounds like you need an extractor fan in the kitchen, or give over burning the toast.

Retlaw.

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Put up with it, proves its working.

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When they came here they arrived in a fire engine - parked up outside my house and visited all the people on the avenue.

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Well, they came to mine last year.

It was through my son. They were on the street doing other houses and they asked my son to come and ask if I would like them to pop into mine!!
I said " yes " thinking another day or something, and I was still in my dressing gown after just having a shower :eek::eek:

Imagine Gingers face when he turned up, his wife in her dressing gown with firemen up stairs :D:D

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The firemen put us one in and the one at the bottom of the stairs is driving me nuts. feel like taking an hammer to the flippin stupid thing. If i have the dryer on I have to keep the kitchen door shut or the alarm will sound. Even steam from the kettle has been known to set it off.
Burn toast and it stays silent. Mmmm

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Well since ive had the one at the bottom of the stairs ive managed to burn my tea a few times - spugs the culinary expert not me!!! and it hasnt gone off yet. Have had the dryer on - thats not set it off either. :D:D

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At least you had your dressing gown on this time when he came home :rolleyes::D

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:surprise::indeplus: