Today in most Australian states, it is obligatory to install working smoke alarms. According to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, a whopping 57% of people are more likely to suffer property loss and damage, 26% to suffer serious injuries and 4 times more like to die if there is a fire in a building that does not have a working smoke alarm. A smoke alarm gives a chance to fight before everything gets burnt to little fragments.

Types of Smoke Alarm

• • Ionisation Smoke Alarms – Ionisation smoke alarms are those smoke alarms that quickly detect invisible smoke by fast flaming fires. Fires that occur while cooking or through a flammable liquid and even paper are detected by this alarm. Ionisation alarms alarm when the ion flow in the detection chamber is affected by smoke particles.

• • Photoelectric Smoke Alarms – Photoelectric smoke alarms get triggered when smoke particles enter the light path in the detection chamber. These alarms use optical detection and are most responsive to slow, smouldering fires that occur at home while you sleep.

Australian Standards for Smoke Alarm

 Australian Standard AS 3786:2014 Smoke Alarms – Australian Government needs to be followed by manufacturer or smoke alarm designer. This standard applies to smoke alarms intended for installation within residential accommodation where connection to fire control stations is not required.

This standard specifies requirements for the design and performance of electrically operated smoke alarms containing both detection and alarm facilities. (Reference – https://ablis.business.gov.au/service/ag/australian-standard-as-3786-2014-smoke-alarms/3103)

If you are replacing a smoke alarm after January 2017, then must be of a photoelectric type which complies with Australian Standard (AS) 3786-2014.

Existing smoke alarms manufactured more than ten years ago must be replaced. (Note: Smoke alarms should have the date of manufacture stamped on them.) Smoke alarms that do not operate when tested must be replaced immediately. Existing hardwired smoke alarms that need replacement must be replaced with a hardwired smoke alarm. (Reference – https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/community-safety/smokealarms/documents/New-Smoke-Alarm-Legislation.pdf)