Why Install Smoke Detectors in Your Home?

There are three obvious reasons why you need to have at least one smoke detector installed in your home:

  1. It’s the law
  2. It can save your life
  3. It can save your property

A home is full of fire hazards. Electrical faults, gas leaks and human error are just some common causes of house fires.

Queensland homes must have at least one smoke alarm installed – and that includes rental properties. The minimum requirement is to have a nine-volt battery-operated smoke alarm, but the Building Code of Australia states that homes built after 1997 should have a 240-volt hard-wired smoke alarm. The 240-volt alarms are more expensive, but they are considered superior to nine-volt detectors. They are usually more reliable and can be connected to other alarm systems in the house. They do need to be installed by a qualified electrical contractor, so residents should make sure they don’t try and install this type of alarm themselves.

The main function of a smoke detector is to alert sleeping residents that a fire has broken out, so they have more chance of evacuating safely. As such, smoke alarms must be strategically placed to alert residents at the earliest possible time. Usually this means on the ceiling and in a hallway that connects to the bedrooms. On storeys with no bedrooms, a smoke detector should be installed in the path of the residents’ evacuation plan. Try to avoid having smoke detectors installed in places that can cause regular false alarms (e.g. the kitchen), or areas that will make it more difficult to detect smoke (e.g. near ceiling corners, windows or air conditioners).

Maintaining Your Smoke Alarm

Your smoke alarm should be tested regularly to make sure the battery and alarm sounder is in good working order. You should also regularly clean your smoke alarm with a vacuum cleaner to remove dust particles that can interfere with the performance of the alarm. Aim to do this at least once every six months. Alkaline batteries should be replaced every 12 months, while lithium batteries won’t need to be replaced for about 10 years.

It’s vital to have working smoke detectors in your home, but it’s even more important to take measures to avoid fires occurring in the first place. This means taking precautionary measures in high-risk areas such as kitchens. Ensure flammable objects are not near open flames, and don’t leave cooking unattended. Do not use appliances that are not working properly. Any electrical device that is faulty should be unplugged. Damaged electrical cords should not be used.

To be truly fire safe, you also need to have a fire evacuation plan that all family members are familiar with. Practice the plan regularly, and ensure there is both a fire extinguisher and fire blanket easily accessible.