According to research, a sleeping person cannot respond to odours, be it smoke, gas, or anything else in their vicinity. In recent years, there have been many incidents where families could not detect gas or smoke in their home, only waking up at the last minute or even not waking up at all.
Avoiding this situation starts with overcoming the notion that "it won't happen to me". Whenever you think that preparing for a calamity beforehand is being pessimistic, remember G.B Shaw's saying: "The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute. Both are necessary and contribute to society".
Around 75 per cent of house fire emergencies occur in winter due to increased use of heating appliances. In order to prevent property damage or loss of life, you must install smoke alarms according to the new rules set by the Queensland Government so that you will have plenty of time to take action and leave the building before the fire takes hold.
Why are smoke alarms important and what are the benefits?
Smoke alarms are crucial for the safety of any building. Industrial sector buildings and business stores keep their smoke alarm systems up to date because they care for their business and property. Early warning is critical to prevent loss of life and damage to business equipmentand stock.
In households, smoke alarms are even more critical because it's not just stock and equipment at risk, it's the lives of your family. That is why it's crucial to update your smoke alarm system! It will alert you about minor fire incidents before it turns into a disaster.
Immediate alert system: Smoke detectors are handy devices you can install everywhere in your home. They are interconnected and are loud enough to inform all the members in each corner of the house about a fire incident. Whether evacuating safely or calling fire emergency services, you will have the upper hand in any situation.
Mental relaxation while sleeping: Home is where you peacefully close your eyes and rest your head. Securing your home allows you the peace of mind to always know it is protected against fire. With the smoke alarm system in your home, you can feel safe at night while resting, knowing that you will be woken early in case of any minor fire.
Entire house installation system: Smoke alarms can be fitted in each corner of your house, leaving no "dead spots". They come both in wired and wireless forms. If one alarm detects smoke, all the devices will notify you so you can take immediate action.
Smoke alarm rules on the Sunshine Coast – updated:
For better safety conditions in your home, you must know the latest knowledge about the rules of installing smoke alarms on the Sunshine Coast. The Queensland Government has updated its legislation about smoke alarms, which applies to all properties, including rentals.
The updated law has further restrictions on the type of smoke alarms compulsory for all property, the location of device placements, and how they need to be interconnected.
Below are the mandatory conditions specified by Queensland law. Please check whether your home smoke alarms meet these requirements or if they need to be upgraded.
From 1st JAN 2022, smoke alarms must meet the following requirements:
- They must not be older than ten years
- They should function properly when tested
- They must be photoelectric smoke detectors (AS 3786-2014)
- They should be interconnected so that they all set off together if one alarm goes off.
- They must either be attached to non-detachable ten-year battery power or hardwired.
- They must have an ionisation sensor.
They must be installed:
- in all the bedrooms
- living room or hallway, which leads to every bedroom and kitchen
- in case where there are no hallways between the bedrooms, one alarm must be installed from where you exit the building.
Queensland Smoke alarm rules for different properties:
Rules for Homeowners:
Homeowners must have their old smoke alarms checked by a certified electrician. Testing the smoke alarm yourself is not enough. If your smoke alarms are eight to ten years old, they must be checked and replaced by the new type of smoke alarm recommended by Queensland legislation.
Recommended smoke alarms are photoelectric ones, and they must be hardwired and interconnected so that no matter where the origin of the smoke is, you will be notified in time.
Rules for Landlords when they sell their property:
From 1st Jan 2022, photoelectric, hardwired, and interconnected smoke detectors are mandatory for the homes being sold or rented. If you cannot install hardwired smoke alarms, you can use ten-year non-detachable battery power as a substitute.
Rules for new buildings:
You must include recommended smoke alarm installation in your electrical plan while building a new property. The plan must be made according to the conditions of Queensland’s updated law.
DNA Queensland Electrical provides smoke alarm installation services according to the new legislation standards. We have certified electricians who help you decide where and how to install smoke alarms and what kind of plan you should follow if your building material is highly inflammable in some regions of the house.
Home Smoke Alarms:
Surveys have shown that most household fire emergencies are caused by electrical appliances, heating systems, and wood-burning fireplaces. If you have not updated your home smoke alarm systems, not only will you face damage in case of a fire, but insurance companies may also not cover your loss.
It is crucial that you install the latest smoke alarm systems recommended by the Queensland government. The legislation clearly states that no smoke alarm system will be allowed other than photoelectric smoke detectors.
Photoelectric Smoke Detectors
Common smoke alarms are slower in responding to smoke and only detect fast blazing fire, but photoelectric smoke detectors are quick to respond to dark smoke coming from foam-filled furniture and other fires usually experienced in households.
In Queensland Photoelectric smoke alarms are always recommended because:
- They are quick in detecting dense smoke and blazing fire
- They are not susceptible to the kitchen fire
- They do not have any radioactive substances
Home Smoke alarm installations
Where to install?
Queensland law has clearly stated the placement of smoke alarms in houses, but one thing should also be taken into consideration; the areas which are highly prone to catching fire should also be covered by smoke detectors.
For multi-storey dwellings, smoke detectors should be placed on each level, in the halfway, and in each room. When deciding on locations, please do not make the common mistake of installing a smoke detector near the kitchen or in the garage because it can result in frequent false alarms.
What should we do for kitchen fire emergencies?
Heat alarm installation
Photoelectric smoke alarms are less suitable to kitchen areas because sometimes unintended smoke from cooking can cause unwanted triggering of the smoke alarm.
We do not want everybody to know we are burning dinner, right? So, the best option is to install a kitchen heat alarm.
A heat alarm is manufactured to detect only excessive thermal energy, which is best for the kitchen and garage area. When the temperature increases to an extent, it goes off and is not affected by car smoke/carbon monoxide or kitchen smoke.
Smoke alarms installation for Rental Houses
You must adhere to the following rules before the start of leasing:
For homeowners:
- You should clean the smoke alarms and test them before renting out your property
- You should check the battery of smoke alarms and replace it if needed
For renters:
- Frequently clean your smoke alarms and test them once a year
- Change the battery if needed
- Or inform the homeowner about the functioning of smoke alarms if the battery is not the issue
- Do not cover smoke alarms with paint to make them visually appealing
- If the homeowners want to check the functioning of smoke alarms, allow them entry.
Why you should not install smoke alarms yourself:
If you are a keen DIYer, you may be considering installing smoke alarms yourself, but here are some obvious reasons why you should reconsider.
Smoke alarm installation has a lot to do with the wiring of your house. A broken smoke alarm can do serious damage your house's electrical wiring, cause sparks, or even cause a home fire.
A certified electrician first checks the condition of the device and tests it. They have the equipment needed for this task, and if anything goes wrong with the wiring, they know how to handle and repair it.
Do not leave things to chance. Maintain your home smoke alarms by getting them checked yearly by professionals and stay safe.
