Fire alarms in dorms are notoriously irritable. Doubtless, their intentions to stop everyone in the building from burning to a crisp are noble. However you risk suffering hearing damage after prolonged exposure to their screeching siren call.
In order to deactivate the alarms to avoid hearing loss, first ensure that the smoke situation is under control and there are no signs of a raging fire. Fire alarm models vary. Standalone models can be deactivated with a button marked “silence” or “reset”. You can also remove the cover from the smoke detector and remove and replace the battery. If the alarm system is hardwired, you may need to find the main power and circuit box and reset the thrown breaker that indicates a smoke detector has been tripped.
Alternatively, you can clear the smoke from the room. This can be done by opening windows, using a floor fan to suck smoke out of the area, or turning on the range hood. If the range hood is weak, remove the grate and check if the filter needs changing. Do not clear the smoke from the room by putting the smoking food in the oven, because smoke will come up through the heating elements.
If all else fails and your ears are ringing, you can temporarily fool the fire alarms by covering them with a plastic bag and rubber band, a shower cap, or cling wrap. Remember to remove the covering as soon as you have cleared the smoke. This is nonnegotiable.
Usually when an alarm gets to the point where it goes off with the slightest hint of smoke, it may require cleaning to remove dust that might trigger the alarm, moving the alarm a short distance to a more ventilated area, or replacing the alarm altogether. But these are not always viable options in student housing.
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