Since moving house, I thought it was time to take the bull by the horns at protecting me, the wife and children against smoke and fire.

The kidde smoke alarm is designed to detect combustion using the ionisation technique. It contains 0.9 microcurie of Americium 241, which apparently is a radioactive material. The smoke alarm uses an extremely small amount of radioactive element in the ionisation chamber.

- You should locate the first alarm (as it is
recommended that you buy more than one) in
the immediate area of the bedrooms. Try to protect
the exit path as the bedrooms are usually the
farthest from the exit. If there is more than one
sleeping area, locate an alarm in each sleeping
area.
- Locate additional alarms to protect any stairway as
stairways act like chimneys for smoke and heat
- Locate at least one on every floor
- Locate an alarm in every bedroom where a smoker
sleeps.
- Locate an alarm in every room where someone sleeps
with the door closed.
- Locate an alarm in every room where electrical
appliances are operated (heaters and humidifiers)
- Smoke heat and combustion products rise to the
ceiling and spread horizontally. Mounting the
smoke alarm on the ceiling in the centre of the
room places it closest to all points in the room.
Ceiling mounting is preferred in ordinary
residential constructions.
- For mobile home installations, you need to select
the location carefully to avoid thermal barriers
that may form at the ceiling.
- Kidde models 0916, 0916ll and 0918 are suitable for
mobile home installation.
- When you mount the alarm on the ceiling, you need
locate it at a minimum of 12” (30cm) from the side
wall and two feet from any inside corner.
- When you mount the alarm on the wall, which I would
not recommend, you need to use an inside wall with
the top edge of the alarm at a minimum of 6” and a
maximum of 12” below the ceiling and at least 2
feet from any inside corner.
- Put smoke alarms at both ends of the bedroom
hallway or large room if the hallway or room is
more than 30 feet long.

- In the garage. Products of combustion are present
when you start your car.
- In front of forced air ducts used for heating and
air conditioning, near ceiling fans or other high
air flow areas.
- In the peak of an “A” frame type ceiling.
- In an area where the temperature may fall below 40
degrees F or rise above 100 degrees F.
- In dusty areas. Dust particles may cause nuisance
alarm or failure of the alarm.
- In very humid areas or near a bathroom. Moisture
or steam can cause nuisance alarms
- Near florescent lights. Electronic noise may cause
the alarm to go off.

1) Remove the mounting plate from the back of
the alarm by holding the mounting plate and twist
the alarm in the direction indicated by the “off”
arrow on the alarm cover
2) To ensure aesthetic alignment of the alarm with
the hallway or wall the “a” line of the mounting
plate must be parallel with the hallway when
ceiling mounting or horizontal when wall mounting
3) After selecting the proper smoke alarm location as
described above, attach the mounting plate to the
ceiling, using the screws provided, or place the
mounting plate on the wall.
4) Battery installation instructions are provided,
which is very easy.
5) When installing the battery (9v), press the
battery reminder finger down into the battery
compartment and install the battery.
6) Alignment marks are provided on the edge of the
trim plate and the alarm. After installing the
mounting plate, place the alarm on the mounting
plate with the alignment marks lined up. Twist
the alarm in the direction indicated by the “on”
arrow on the alarm cover until it locks in place.
7) The alarm also has a tamper resist locking pin, to
avoid anyone tampering with it. This will deter
children from removing the alarm from the mounting
plate.

The packaging is ok and has a clear cover, in order for you to see the size and look of the detector. In terms of price, it is average. Most detectors range from a fiver to a tener. But all in all they serve a very good purpose.

Other hints cover what to do in case of a fire suggesting that you stay close to the floor and if the inside of a door is cool, place your shoulder on it to open it and be ready to close it quickly if there is a fire.