Smoke Alarm Installation
A licensed electrician can install or replace smoke detectors to provide the best all round warning for fires in the home.
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Why Are Smoke Alarms Important?
Smoke alarms are devices that alert occupants of potential fires which gives them a chance to either evacuate or try to control the source of the smoke.
These devices are extremely important when the occupants of a home are sleeping, especially in winter when it is cold and heaters are turned on to keep warm or when using electric blankets, and even at Christmas time when festive spirits take hold and decorative lights are installed all over the house.
Smoke Alarm Keeps Beeping?
If your smoke alarm is beeping quietly every few minutes, this indicates that either the mains power supply to the smoke alarm is off or the back-up battery is dead.
It is recommended to change the battery of your smoke alarms once every year. Most people choose to change them on April 1st (April fool’s day) as it is easy to remember and no one wants to be a “fool” when their family’s lives are at potential risk.
How Often Should A Smoke Alarm Be Replaced?
Smoke alarms do have expiry dates and are required to be changed every 10 years to ensure the smoke alarm’s functionality and your family’s safety.
Smoke alarms are recommended to be tested via the ‘test button’ every month and replaced by a licensed electrician if the smoke alarm fails to activate. When selling a residential home, smoke alarms MUST be less than 10 years old, hard wired or have a 10-year battery life if unable to hard wire. https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy/smoke-alarm-laws-0
Complete Smoke Alarm Installation In Perth
The purpose of a smoke detector is to sound an alarm when there is a fire in the house. There are two basic types of smoke alarms: the ionisation model and the photoelectric model.
The method of detecting smoke differs radically. Due to its inability to consistently detect smouldering fires and the use of a small amount of radioactive material in the switch, ionisation smoke detectors are no longer compliant with current legislation. The photoelectric type is the only permissible smoke alarm system in Perth, as it provides the best all-around warning about fires in the home.
Why You Need An Electrician For Smoke Alarm Installation In Perth
It is both recommended and required that a licensed electrician installs or replaces the smoke detectors in your home, even though it is quite possible for the DIY enthusiast to handle the job. A quick rundown of the reasons will convince you that it is a better solution to use a qualified electrician:
- Legislation states that all electrical work, such as connecting smoke detectors to the mains, must be done by a licensed electrician. This ensures correct installation and that safety standards are maintained. As existing smoke detectors are replaced due to reaching the age limit of ten years, they must be replaced with new units that conform to all relevant standards.
- It is critical that the smoke alarms are correctly placed throughout the home. The legislative requirements are quite comprehensive, so it is always advisable to have a licensed smoke alarm electrician, who understands the specifications and can decide on the best location. Failure may create ineffective detection.
- Current smoke detectors can be interconnected so that a single alarm that detects smoke in one part of the house will trigger the other sensors to sound the alarm. It is also vital that the alarms maintain the capacity to indicate the location of the fire for safe evacuation.
- In Western Australia, and in many other countries around the world, regulations mandate the installation of smoke alarms in various types of properties. Regulations are structured according to specific requirements, including detection type (Ionisation or Photoelectric), power supply (240V, 12/24V, or battery), and integration with fire suppression or monitoring systems.
- DFES recommends a heat sensor alarm in the garage due to potential nuisance alarms from modern vehicle exhaust. While not mandatory, it is highly advisable. Heat alarms must comply with AS1670 regulations.
- With battery solar systems and electric vehicles becoming more common, fire risk during sleep hours increases. A smoke alarm near these areas helps minimise property damage and saves lives.
- These regulations exist because smoke alarms are vital in providing early fire detection, giving occupants time to evacuate safely and minimise property damage.
Why Smoke Alarms Are Essential
- Early Detection Of Fires: Smoke alarms detect smoke early—often before flames are visible—allowing time to evacuate and take action before fires escalate.
- Life Safety: Early warnings can be life-saving, especially in homes while occupants are asleep or in buildings with many people such as schools and commercial sites.
- Property Protection: By detecting fires early, smoke alarms help reduce property damage and enable faster emergency response.
- Legal Compliance: In Western Australia and many other jurisdictions, installation and maintenance of compliant smoke alarms is mandatory. Failing to comply can lead to fines or legal issues.
- Reliability: Smoke alarms degrade over time. Components wear out, sensors lose sensitivity, and batteries fail. That’s why they must be replaced every 10 years.
- Technological Advancements: Newer alarms offer better detection and features. Periodic replacement ensures safety and optimal functionality.
- Regular Testing and Maintenance: Test alarms monthly, clean them regularly, and change batteries annually. A popular reminder is “April Fools Day”—don’t be a fool about fire safety.
- Compliance with Regulations: WA laws require smoke alarms to be tested and maintained. Neglecting this could result in liability if a fire occurs.
- Conclusion: Proper installation, maintenance, and timely replacement of smoke alarms are crucial. Stay compliant and protect your property—and life. Don’t risk it.
Legislative Requirements
View these on the DFES website:
https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/fire-in-the-home/smoke-alarms#smoke-alarms-and-the-law
- Local governments can fine or prosecute property owners under the Building Act 2011 and Building Regulations 2012 for failing to install compliant smoke alarms before selling, transferring, renting, or hiring a dwelling.
- Since 1 July 1997, mains-powered smoke alarms are mandatory in all new residential buildings or extensions in WA.
- Since 1 October 2009, mains-powered alarms must be fitted in all existing residential buildings before transfer of ownership, rental, or hire.
Smoke Alarms Must:
- Be positioned according to the Building Code of Australia
- Comply with Australian Standard AS 3786:2014 (for all alarms installed after 1 May 2017)
- Be permanently connected to mains power (if available)
- Be interconnected for homes built after 1 May 2015
Requirements for Single-Level Homes:
- Install smoke alarms on or near the ceiling:
- In hallways leading to bedrooms, or
- If no hallway exists, in an area near the bedrooms
- Electrical requirements from AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clauses 4.6, 7.2.6, 7.2.1.1
Requirements for Multi-Level Homes:
- Install smoke alarms on every level:
- In hallways or areas near bedrooms
- In stairways or exit paths on levels without bedrooms
Requirements for Small Guest and Boarding Houses:
- Install alarms on or near the ceiling:
- In every bedroom
- In hallways or areas near bedrooms
- On every level
- Install evacuation lighting triggered by smoke alarms, either:
- Integrated into the smoke alarm, or
- Installed in corridors or hallways served by the alarm
Requirements for Selling, Renting, or Hiring Property:
- Alarms must be:
- In working order
- Less than 10 years old from installation date
Battery Powered Smoke Alarms:
- Allowed only when:
- Mains power is not available
- No space exists to run mains wiring (e.g., concrete ceilings)
- Any other use requires local government approval
- Must have a non-removable 10-year lithium battery (9V removable batteries not allowed)
- Important: If only the lower floor ceiling is concrete, upper levels must still use mains alarms if possible
Contact us today about how we can assist you with smoke alarm replacement in Perth.
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