Published 8th December 2015
Smoke alarms provide early warning of a fire in the home, potentially saving residents’ lives. It can take just minutes for a fire to reach flashpoint in a modern home. Residents that take longer or require assistance to respond in a fire, including older people, children, and people with disabilities, are at greatest risk. It is essential to have smoke alarms rapidly detect fire smoke, and awaken and alert residents, so they can escape safely.
Smoke alarm regulations have led to increased uptake of smoke alarms in Australian homes, but fire authorities and researchers recommend that more be done. Residents in new dwellings are safeguarded by regulations for hard-wired and interconnected smoke alarms. However, the majority of residents living in older dwellings have less regulatory protection; most states and territories require a minimum of just one battery-powered smoke alarm, and some have no requirement for smoke alarms. Even when smoke alarms are installed in dwellings, many are not operational due to lack of maintenance and disconnection to avoid nuisance alarms.
This second edition of Summary Bulletin: Fire Safety – Smoke Alarms responds to recent Australian regulatory changes for smoke alarms in dwellings, advances in smoke alarm devices, and current smoke alarm recommendations of fire authorities and researchers. It examines the function and use of contemporary smoke alarm devices and details the applicable national and state/territory regulations for different dwelling types. Recommendations are made for smoke alarm selection, placement and maintenance, to detect fire smoke whilst avoiding nuisance alarms; alert residents of all ages and abilities when fire smoke is detected; and ensure reliable smoke alarm functioning in a fire.
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This publication is accompanied by Consumer Factsheet: Fire Safety - Smoke Alarms - See more here
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