Fire alarms are safety devices that help in the identification of smoke and heat within the building and produce a sound to notify the occupants of the fire. However, it is also important to note that fire alarms can go off accidentally in places like the kitchen because of smoke from food or dust. One has to have knowledge on how to switch off the fire alarms when the alarm is too loud. Below is a guide on how to switch off various fire alarms common in homes today, depending on their type.
Smoke Detector Fire Alarms
Earlier it was seen that smoke detector fire alarms are the most popular type that are installed in homes. They are fitted with a smoke detector that goes off when it comes across smoke particles in the surrounding environment. To switch this type of alarm off:
First step – find your smoke detector fire alarm. It is commonly placed on the ceiling or on a wall that is very high in the hallways, living rooms, basements, bedrooms and other places that are usually not easily accessible. A white plastic disc shaped device with slots on the side and a blinking light is what you should be looking for.
The second step is to wave off the smoke from the detector by using a towel or magazine if it was triggered by smoke. This will assist in making the smoke clear to mute the sound of the alarm. Some alarms have a feature that can turn off the alarm if smoke is no longer detected meaning that it may stop once there is no smoke.
Third step – This is the final step if waving the smoke does not turn the alarm off; then you have to switch off the alarm physically. To do this you need something to safely reach the alarm, such as a broom or an extended duster. Take the broom handle or duster and hold it in such a way that you can press the test hush button on the smoke detector cover. This will manually turn off the audible alarm.
Step four – never turn off the ADT alarm system for more than a few minutes to help you identify where the smoke is coming from Several new models come with a hush button which temporarily mutes the alarm for as long as one minute up to a maximum of ten minutes. This affords you some time to clear the smoke before the loud alarm starts ringing again. Avoid any remaining smoke throughout this period.
Check point five – Is there a low battery warning light on your smoke detector If so, change the smoke detector battery so that the detector will continue to function in the future. The batteries of the smoke detectors should be changed at least once every six months. One should never in any circumstances switch off an alarm that is showing a low battery warning light.
Heat Sensor Fire Alarms
In some homes, there are homes with the fire alarm systems that have heat detector sensors rather than smoke detectors or even along with them. Heat detectors give a warning when temperatures get high that might be due to fire. To silence this variety of detectors:
Step one - Determine which part of your fire alarm system is the heat detector. Heat sensors are usually white cylindrical in shape and are fixed at the ceiling. It comes in a compact design and has a flashing red light when in alarm mode. The fire control panel with system details may also be blinking and making noises.
The second step is to identify the source of heat that initiated the alarm. Switch off electrical appliances, open windows and doors, or switch off heating appliances in the respective room as far as possible to lower temperatures. It can be disengaged automatically by the alarm depending on the model and settings whenever temperatures decrease.
The third step – find the fire alarm control panel, it is mounted in a hallway, utility room, basement or garage. The main controls to disable the system are located in this box only.
Step four - The fire control panel box should be opened and this can only be done by using the passcode given or the panel key. This will allow access to system buttons and switches.
The fifth step is to go to the alarm silence disable button in the control panel and disable the alarm sound and light The label near the system buttons should indicate which one is for alarm silence. This will cancel the heat sensor alarms but leaves the system running for future alarms Pressing the button gives you a limited time say 10-15 minutes for you to get rid of the heat source such as an open oven door before the alarm starts blaring continuously as per system programming.
Smart Fire Alarm Systems
Some contemporary homes have incorporated intelligent fire alarms and security systems with interactive home automation. These high-tech systems integrate smoke, heat and other detectors with mobile applications and voice assistants for alerts and controls. To silence an alert from a smart fire system:
The first step – Launch the companion phone application of the smart fire and security system’s manufacturer. Alerts from triggered detectors in the recent past will appear on the home screen of the phone provided there is a sounding alert.
Step two – While using the app, the audible alarm should be toggled off by pressing the mute alarm button. This is usually referred to as sounder mute or notifications mute in the settings of the application. Muting is usually for approximately ten minutes depending on the model and settings after which the audible alarms are automatically restored if the sensors still sense any danger.
Step three – If your smart system allows voice control you can also tell the phones voice assistant or other integrated smart speaker to silence notifications and alarms. For example, you can say Turn off all the sensors in my home or Switch off Fire Alarm Sounds. Ensure the system has recognized the instructions and responds accordingly to mute or cancel the alarm through voice commands.
Step four – Similar to traditional systems, make sure that any detected threats such as smoke or high heat is not present during the disabled window. To confirm whether the selected alerts are active when muted, navigate to the apps dashboard or request a status from the voice assistant. If resolution is not done then maybe the muted alarms can start ringing after some time.
Like in any fire alarm system, do not turn off or disregard an alarmed system for more than a maximum of 5 minutes without addressing the issue that caused the alarm. Alarm mute features should only be used occasionally to address specific threats, and not as a way to ‘disable’ safety in your home. If fire alarms are not maintained or if they are disabled without considering and mitigating potential risks, there may be a possibility of experiencing burn injuries or loss of property due to fires or other upcoming dangers.
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