It's that time of the year again. Cold weather = space heaters, wood stoves, fire places, dangerous furnaces, and HOUSE FIRES. Night after night on the evening news - house fire, people die, NO smoke detectors.

In the recent "seatbelt laws" thread, the poll was about evenly split. Just about every argument about seatbelt laws can be applied to smoke detector laws. It would be easy enough to do - one or two local firemen could stop be everyone's house yearly. Five or Ten minutes would be all that was required to see that smoke detectors were properly placed and maintained. Simple steps to save lives and insurance premiums for everybody.

Would the same people who voted yes for seatbelt laws also vote yes for smoke detector laws? If not, why not - what would be the difference? Would homes be different than cars when it comes to safety laws?

marc

 

The cost and logistics would be astronomical. I think it would be a great idea for the insurance companies to send out a representative to do this as it would be in their interest monitarily. $$$ You know, what makes the world go round. Now there's an incentive for safety.
Firemen are way too busy to go door to door in my opinion.

If insurance Co's would find violations in your home, or were denied entry for an inspection, then you would pay a penalty for breech of contract w/ them.

 

I cannot think of a reason not to have a smoke detector.the only thing about a few of them is they seemed to be sensitive to my ex-wifes cooking.they save lives.are very inexpensive and once again i would rather be safe than sorry.fires can be a very confusing disaster,espically for younger children.with a good fire drill in your home the fire detector will allow for an orderly escape.

 

They are required in all new houses. Building code requires them in all bedrooms and at the highest point.

Also, with some states, if you remodle, all smoke detectors in the house have to be upgraded to the current standard.

Cheap insurance if you ask me.

 

nonsense...i think the logic formed in the seatbelt law stated that anything that the government could do to save lives should be thrown out to afford personal stupidity to bloom......j/k.....

smoke detectors are a great idea...and should be building code..

 

Another thought on the difference between smoke detectors and seat belts. Smoke detectors have no effect on you until you need them. If they work, they only have a positive effect.

A seat belt is always there and you notice it more. Also, it can effect you either negitively or positively pending on the situation

 

smoke detectors most certainly do have an effect...their annoying when your burning food on the stove, you have to change batteries when they die and they look stupid.....

and if you can't tell...i'm being sarcastic

 

That is just how you tell the dinner is done. Just like a timer on the stove

 

The new homes now in my area are required by building code enforcement to have them (sd's) before final inspections can be passed . The S/D 's are invaluable and if you have a natural gas furnace and water heater, the carbon monoxide detector is invaluable. As to the HO (homeowner) insurance people coming in to our homes for inspections, might ought to rethink that one. A MAJOR slippery slope, because once that ruling was passed for SD"s then how soon would it be before all the other " home safety issues" were found as noteworthy for making a HO non insurable by a insurance company ? Lets see, there is all those doors we have that dont have safety glass in them, stairs steps with rise / run violations, flammables stored in non - ul listed containers, insecticides/ pesticides not stored properly, inadquate ventilation/filter system to meet clean air exchanges, inadequate overloaded electrical systems, on and on enuff, cheers

 

Looks like I am the only "No" vote. It's the word "required" that I have a problem with, not the that fact that smoke detectors are such a good idea that I have 3 of them in my home.

Has the US become such a nanny state that we need the Govt. ordering us around like a bunch of pre-schoolers? What is happening to free will? People don't realize that Every Law we have is ultimately enforced at gunpoint.

Don't believe me? Ignore paying the next traffic ticket you receive, then ignore/resist the police officer that intends to arrest you on the outstanding warrant.

 

Greg79f150

Problem is, is stupid people who don't change the batteries in their smoke detectors, die, taking their families and valuables with them, which costs insurance companies $$$$, which costs the rest of us $$$$. If stupid people are interupted from being stupid, and made to comply with a contract for safety, then the only penalty to them and to us, who change sd batts, would be a rise in their insurance premiums. Not ours.
It was just a thought for a possible solution. I know very well the value of smoke alarms, believe me. I just DON'T think that firemen would be the logical policing system to ensure they are maintained. Too much Govt interference in our lives too.
1) Change your sd batts in the spring and also in the fall, without fail. Where daylight savings time is used, this is a good time to change them as it would be part of the routine (like setting clocks)
2) Have an escape plan for all of your family and make it clearly understood by all members.
3) Have a redezvous point for family members to meet so nobody goes back in to a burning building for another, when they have actually already made it out but not been seen.
4) Once out, don't go back in and ensure this is understood by all. Most that do, don't make it back out.
5) Call 911

 

Laws are ment to protect the "Law abiding" people. Granted some laws are questionable, but I feel for the most part, a law is put in place with the right intentions in mind.

Obey the law, you won't get your traffic ticket, you get home safely, you enjoy the rest of your day.

 

I've got a better idea than making it manditory....lets just get rid of stupid people...and then everyone else will have smoke detectors....

 

I agree Olford, there is not much hope for all of us paying for others mistakes, except keep paying. I see your passion about loss of life in fires, and well noted. As a hospital maintenance employee for 12 years of my 30 in public service, I have been WELL versed in fire /safety training. We were responsible for a BIG house full of sick people that couldnt run outside, and had the most advanced technology in fire protection / suppression systems ,with safety inspections done by the state authorities quarterly. With all the natural disasters hitting homes anymore, I just dont know where our HO insurance is headed, they have paid out major $$$$$$$$$ in the last decade in the USA, and it looks like the costs will be shared by all probaly. I guess that is why the "HO insurance inspector suggestion just kind of got my attention, ha, I am insurance poor now, cheers

 

Yet another example of Natural Selection being kicked squarely in the gonads. The meek shall not inherit the Earth, the Stupid shall!