Residential

Fire Alarm
PR Handbook
Promote Sensible
Fire-Prevention Measures in the Community!
Supervised by: Fire and Disaster Management Agency,
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

住宅用火災警報器
PRハンドブック

婦防Japan Fire Protection Association

Why should I installa residential fire alarm?

What is a residential
fire alarm like?

Legislation and background

Residential fire alarms: types and mechanisms◎The installation of residential fire alarms
is required in every home.

◎What kinds of residential fire alarms areavailable?

Previously, only some homes in Japan, such as large-scale
apartment complexes, were required to install residential fire
alarms, so the present situation is that almost no individual houses
or small-scale apartment buildings have them.
In June 2004, however, the Fire Service Law was revised, andmunicipal ordinances now stipulate, amongst other things, theplaces where residential fire alarms must be installed. (As aminimum requirement, a residential fire alarm must be installed in a
bedroom and, if the bedroom is on the second floor or higher, on
the staircase.)Also, starting on June 1, 2006, the installation of residential firealarms became compulsory for newly built houses. And for existinghouses as well, the date of compulsory installation is determined
pursuant to the ordinance of the municipality where they are built.
So from now on residential fire alarms must be installed in every
home.

What is a residential fire alarm like?
Residential fire alarms now commercially available can be roughlyclassified into the following two types: the type that reacts to smoke(Smoke type) and the type that reacts to heat (Heat type).
Also, smoke alarms can be divided into photoelectric types andionization types. When installing a residential fire alarm, you shouldchoose a smoke (photoelectric type) alarm, but choose a heat alarm
around the cooker in the kitchen.

Smoke type

◎What are the statistics of residential fire
fatalities?

90% of people
who lost their lives
in building fires
died in house fires.

Of them,about 60%
are old people
aged 65
or over.

Heat type◎How can I install a residential
fire alarm?
You can install a residential fire alarm on a ceilingor wall. Contact a shop that sells residential firealarm for details or read the instruction manual toinstall them in the right places. In particular,
please note the following points:

How do I install a residential
fire alarm? What kind ofmaintenance is necessary?

《How to install a residential fire alarm (example)》

Installation and maintenanceInstallation on the celling

DbvujpoOver 60cm

Over 60cm

When
there isa beam

When
there isno beam

In general, a residential fire
alarm will not be activated by
the smoke of a cigarette
under normal circumstances,
but it may false alarm if smoke
is blown directy into it.

Where should I install residential fire
alarms in my home?
It is stipulated that residential fire alarms should be installed, primarily and as a minimum condition,in bedrooms and also on the staircase if the bedroom is located on thesecond floor or higher.
(If the bedrooms are located on the first floor, it is not compulsory to install one on the staircase
or in a corridor on the first floor.)
Residential fire alarms should be installed on the ceiling or wall as a general rule, and this also applies when installinga residential fire alarm on a staircase. First, they should be installed in rooms used as bedrooms, as well as in corridors
and on staircase that will serve as evacuation routes. Safety is enhanced by installing them in other rooms as well,where necessary.

Residential fire alarms are critical in times ofemergency, but they may go out of order or needreplacement, like home electrical appliances, whena long period elapses after their installation.
Therefore, it is recommended that they are
maintained by paying attention to the following
points to ensure that they go off when a fire happens.

Three points in maintaining residential fire alarms

Jotubmmbujpo
sfrvjsfnfou

1 residential fire alarm is a dry-cell type.

If your residence has bedroom
on any floor other than the firstfloor,a residential fire alarmneeds to be installedon the stairway aswell.

Dry-cell residential fire alarms must have their batteries
replaced. It is recommended that you inspect the operationof the residential fire alarm at regular intervals and replace
the batteries immediately if you suspect that they are flat.
Also, a short time before the batteries go flat, residential fire
alarms alert you to the need to replace the batteries by signal
such as sound or lighting.

Replace the batteries if theJotubmmbujpo
sfrvjsfnfou
Residential fire alarms
should be installed, as aminimum condition, inrooms that serve as
bedrooms in your home.

Note:Install the residential fire alarm by keeping a distance of
60 cm or more between its center (sensing parts) and thewall. If there is a beam on the ceiling, keep a distanceof 60 cm or more between the center of the residentialfire alarm and the beam.

◎What about maintenance?

Residential fire alarm equipment needs

2 to be replaced after around 10 years of use.
A sticker attached to the residential fire alarm specifies thetime for replacement. Alternatively, the residential fire alarm
alerts you to the need to replace it with a bleep or suchlike
when the time arrives. The operating life of a fire alarm isgenerally around 10 years.
For details, check the instruction manual supplied with theresidential fire alarm when you at the time of purchase.
Requiresreplacement
after around10 yearsOver 1.5m
epble

When
there isan airconditioner

Sticker
specifying
the time forreplacement

Test the residential fire alarm at

3 regular intervals to check if it works.

Note:Keep a distance of 1.5 m or more around the exhaustarea of an air conditioner or ventilation fan.

Test the residential fire alarm at regular intervals to check if it
goes off (once a month is an indicative standard). Also, whenleaving your home for an extended period, test the residential
fire alarm to check that it is working properly.
The inspection method may differ according to the type.
Some residential fire alarms are inspected by pulling a string
attached to the main body, while others are inspected bypushing a button. Therefore, you should check the inspection
method at the time of purchase.

Installation on the wall

Dbvujpo15〜50cm
Wallmounttype

Note:The center (sensing parts) of the residential fire alarm
should be located between 15 to 50 cm of the ceiling.

If a residential fire alarm is
installed in the kitchen, it may
false alarm in case that noventilation is provided whencooking. Also, when a smoke
fire alarm is installed, make surethat it is installed in a place
where no smoke or vapor willreach the residential fire
alarm when cooking.

Inspection
at regularintervals※ Places of obligatory installation may differ according to municipal ordinances, so you
should check with the local fire-service headquarters or fire department.

◎Where can I buy one?
Residential fire alarms are sold together with fire
extinguishers, etc at stores that handle household goods.
Note that approval by the Japan Fire Equipment
Inspection Institute is available to provide quality assurance
for residential fire alarms. As an indication when purchasinga residential fire alarm, you should choose one with the NS
mark as shown below.

Aside from these outlets, to find a shop that sells
residential fire alarms and similar items, contact your local fire
department or the Residential Fire Alarm Consultation Office(tel.: 0120-565-911). Alternatively, check one on the following
home pages:
Housing Fire Protection Measures Promotion Council
Shops distributing residential fire alarms are listed on the website.
(Note: The contents of the website are written in Japanese only.)

URL http://www.jubo.go.jp/index2.html

Japan Fire Protection Association
5th Floor, Nissho Hall, 2-9-16 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001
Tel.: (03) 3591-7121, Fax: (03) 3591-7130
URL: http://www.n-bouka.or.jp/