Mains powered smoke detectors could save more lives

More than 100 lives a year could be saved if every house in the UK was equipped with a mains powered smoke detector, a Belfast conference was told today.

Clive Norris, Director of the Fire and Rescue Service Directorate at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, revealed to the opening sessions of the 3rd International Symposium on Human Behaviour in Fire held in the Europa Hotel that more than 20% of homes do not have a smoke alarm of any kind fitted.

Research has shown, he said, that mains powered alarms are more effective than battery powered ones. One reason is that more than half of battery powered alarms can be inoperable at any one time – mainly because batteries have not been replaced or checked.

But even if battery powered alarms were installed in every home that could cut the death toll in domestic fires by around 70 a year. Installing mains powered alarms would save around 106 lives annually.

It is estimated that 75% of fire deaths in the UK occur in the home. Mr Norris said that fatality rates are far lower among the elderly, geriatric and young people in homes with smoke alarms fitted than those who do not have alarms.

The Home Office mounted a major smoke alarm campaign from 1987 to the mid-1990s which contributed to a major increase in the use of alarms and a fall in domestic fire deaths of around 50 a year. About half of those lives were saved by mains powered alarms, although such alarms were in the minority.

He pointed out that although firefighters rescue some 1,650 people from domestic fires each year, around 345 lives are lost effectively before the Fire and Rescue Service is alerted to the outbreaks. “These deaths can only be prevented by fire safety measures other than firefighting intervention," he added.

During the three days of the conference, organised by the University of Ulster and Interscience Communications, some 44 papers will be presented by speakers from 12 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the USA and the UK.

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