Change Smoke & CO Detector Batteries This Weekend

Published on: 2013/10/28 - in Featured Releases

Kingston Fire & Rescue reminds citizens to change smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm batteries when moving clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, November 3.

“It is critical to have a home escape plan and working smoke alarms to provide occupants with enough early warning to safely escape a residential fire,” says Assistant Chief and Director of Fire Prevention Paul Patry. “The law in Ontario requires properly functioning smoke alarms on every storey of each home and outside sleeping areas.”

Hard wired (electric) smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms should also be tested monthly. To guarantee alarms will work properly, always install new batteries in detectors and press the test button to confirm the devices are operational.

Smoke alarms and CO alarms have a maximum life expectancy of 5 to 10 years and should be replaced as per the manufacturers’ instructions.

Tenants should contact their landlord immediately if their rental property does not have the required number of smoke alarms. It is against the law for tenants to remove smoke alarm batteries or tamper with smoke alarms in any way.

Failure to comply the Ontario Fire Code smoke alarm requirements may result in a ticket of $235 or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals, homeowners, and tenants or $100,000 for corporations.

DROP OFF OLD BATTERIES

If you need to replace your batteries drop off the old ones for proper disposal at one of these locations:

City Hall, 216 Ontario St.; the INVISTA Centre, 1350 Gardiners Rd.; Rideaucrest Home, 175 Rideau St.; Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, 53 Yonge St.; or the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC) at 196 Lappan’s Lane.

—————————————————————————————————————

Release source: KF&R via City of Kingston | Photo: Nick Holloway (cc)