Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thebektionary]

Does anyone know how I'd go about getting a smoke detector installed? My boyfriend's apartment is really, really old and there's only one way out from the door. The window has bars on it. It concerns me a little bit so I'd like to get a smoke detector installed in there for him.

Could I get one at E-Mart? How do you install it?

[Swampfox10mm]

You might find them at e-mart. If you don't there are a few stores selling them south of Hyewha/daehangno, just a block or two past Seoul Open University. You can find them on G-market, last I looked.

Installing them is easy. Just buy it and screw it into the celiing in a certain location (not too close to cooking or bathroom steam). They usually have a diagram that shows good locations.

Truth is, most Korean apartment are so small, if enough smoke appears to set one off, you're already in pretty deep doo-doo anyway.

[Kimchifart]

[jrwhite82]

Most smoke detectors are just a lick em and stick em double sided tape. Some you might need to screw in the base to the ceiling. Check that it is ok to do this with your landlord.

Next, when you choose one make sure to place it out a meter from any walls. There will be a dead spot in corners and along the edge of the walls and ceiling where smoke will not collect.

Test the battery.

Also, most apartments have sprinkler systems. These usually have a little filiment in them made from a special kind of metal that has a low melting point. When the air temperature sorrounding the filiment reaches a certain point it melts and opens the sprinkler.

Furthermore, some smoke detectors also have CO (carbon monoxide) detectors. These CO detectors are not very effective. And are usually just included to help the manufacturer sell more devices. 2 is better than 1 right? Because of how air mixes with the gas. There are so many variables to take into account (speed of leak, source of leak, how much natural airmovement you have in the house, temperature of the air and gas, etc...) that its very hard to position them correctly to protect from both smoke and carbon monoxide at the same time. Smoke always rises because it is produced by fire which is hot. Some CO and gas leaks are not produced by heat sources and will actually sink near the floor and rise up slowly. If you move around the room or have a small draft the air will mix more thoroughly. Therefore, CO detectors on a ceiling might not help you until it is too late.

But anyway, it's better than nothing. Use double sided tape, test the battery every couple of months and keep it a meter out from corners and where the wall meets the ceiling.

[thebektionary]

[thebektionary]

Do you think a crowbar could bust out the bars? I don't know why but I'm really worried about this. His apartment is a piece of shiat.

[andrewchon]

While you're concerned about fire, have you checked where the climb down rope is located? If he's using a gas cooker, tell him to use the gas cut-off valve ( a red colored twist valve) everytime he cooks. I mean open the valve only when cooking, other times have it closed. Personally I don't see what the fuss is about but in all the places I've been to, the landlords would treat me like pyromaniac whenever they saw an open valve.

[thebektionary]

[Squire]

I know it's a good safety measure, but bear in mind a small Korean studio style apartment is not like a western house where a fire could be raging downstairs while the family sleep upstairs, unaware. I'd just give him a fire extinguisher if I were you

[Swampfox10mm]

here ya go:

http://item.gmarket.co.kr/DetailView/Item.asp?goodscode=235941442&GoodsSale=Y&jaehuid=200002673


Or just see these sites:

www.firefox119.co.kr

http://www.sobang119.co.kr


Personally, if you are worried about a fire starting at the oven/gas burner, then get one of those big metal balls that hangs on the ceiling above the cooking area. When those go off, they shoot a rush of gas that extinguishes flames.

Like this: http://www.sobang119.co.kr/goods_detail.php?goodsIdx=2826

[Kimchifart]

[Kimchifart]