It’s time to change your clocks and smoke alarm batteries

For Immediate Release: March 12, 2010

BURLINGTON, ON – Daylight Savings starts on March 14, 2010 and the Burlington Fire Department recommends that residents change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks.

“In order for smoke alarms to do their job, they need to have working batteries,” said Burlington Fire Chief Shayne Mintz. “Changing the batteries is simple and quick and could save lives.”

The Fire Code requires working smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas. Residents can be fined if they fail to have a working smoke alarm. For added protection, the Burlington Fire Department recommends installing smoke alarms in all bedrooms. It is illegal to tamper with your smoke alarm or to remove the batteries.

Follow these tips to maintain your smoke alarm:

Vacuum the smoke alarm

• Gently vacuum the alarm every six months to remove dust and small insects that can reduce the effectiveness of the alarm or cause false alarms.

Check the age of the smoke alarm

• Most manufacturers of smoke alarms recommend replacing them after 10 years.
• When replacing alarms consider purchasing units with features such as silence buttons for false alarms, remote controls for easy testing and silencing, alarms that utilize both ionization and photo-electric detection technology or even wireless interconnected smoke alarms.

Consider additional smoke alarms

• The Ontario Fire Code mandates smoke alarms next to sleeping areas and on all levels of the home.
• If you sleep with the bedroom door closed, consider installing an alarm in the bedroom in addition to the one that must be located in the hall outside the bedroom door.

Managing nuisance alarms

• Many residents disconnect or remove alarms due to repeated false alarms. Nuisance alarm prevention tips can be found at www.makeitstop.ca

Tenants of rental units

• Owners of rental properties are required to install and maintain working smoke alarms in the unit however tenants are prohibited from disconnecting or tampering with an alarm and must advise their landlord of any problems with the alarm.
• Landlords and tenants can be held accountable for failure to comply with these requirements with set fines (tickets) of $235 or further prosecution under the Ontario Fire Code with fines of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment.

Test alarm after changing battery

• Always test the alarm after replacing the battery to ensure it is working properly

For more information please visit www.burlington.ca/fire

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Communications contact:
Monika Rejnowicz
Communications Advisor
City of Burlington
Office: 905-335-7600, ext. 7879
E-mail: rejnowiczm@burlington.ca

Media contact:
Ben Rotsma
Fire Prevention Officer
Mobile: 905-971-4949
E-mail: rotsmab@burlington.ca