Smoke Alarms

Installation and Maintenance

This booklet has been developed in the interest
of public safety to provide Industry and Retailers
with the correct information and advice that can
be given to their customers.
For more information phone the information hotline number:
1300 369 003 (the cost of a local call) or go to the Queensland
Fire & Rescue Service website at www.fre.qld.gov.au
Information for Retail and Industry.
New Legislation commences 1 July 2007.
3
Introduction
The government has announced that new
legislation will commence on 1 July 2007
that makes it compulsory for all homes in
Queensland to have smoke alarms installed.
Since 1 July 1997 all new homes have been
required to have smoke alarms installed when
they are built. There is currently no legal
requirement for homes built before 1 July 1997
to install smoke alarms. The new legislation
will fll the gap and require older homes built
before July 1997 to install smoke alarms.
The new legislation:
j States Smoke Alarms must comply with
Australian Standard AS 3786.
j States where smoke alarms are to be
located (page 17); and
j Sets out the rules that apply to landlords
and tenants for the installation and
maintenance of smoke alarms (page 16).
The level of protection against fre increases
with the quality, type and number of smoke
alarms installed. This booklet will assist you
in giving reliable information to customers to
help them choose smoke alarms wisely.
smoke alarms
Protecting Queenslanders
Families Life - Property
Some Facts
j Smoke alarms are early detection devices that save lives.
j The risk of death from fre is three times higher in homes without
smoke alarms when compared to homes with smoke alarms.
j 100% coverage of working smoke alarms in domestic residences could
save 106 lives over 20 years.
j In Queensland between 1997 to 2005, 78% of all fre deaths occurred
in homes without smoke alarms.
j 15.8% of Queensland homes do not have any smoke alarms, and nearly
8% of homes have alarms installed which do not work, usually because
batteries have been removed or are fat.
j Between June 1997 and July 2005 the Queensland Fire and Rescue
Service attended 321 house fres where smoke alarms were installed
and not working because batteries were removed or fat.
j In Queensland between January 2004 and June 2006, 15 people
including 4 children have died in house fres that did not have smoke
alarms or had smoke alarms that did not work because batteries were
removed or fat.
These tragic statistics emphasise the serious risks presented by house
fres and show why smoke alarms are a necessary safety device.
2
For more information
phone the information
hotline number:
1300 369 003
(the cost of a local
call) or go to the
Queensland Fire
& Rescue Service
website at
www.re.qld.gov.au
4 5
Smoke kills
Toxic smoke and fumes kill. In a house fre, it is the fames
that do the structural damage, but smoke is the main
danger to people. The majority of deaths in fres come
from smoke poisoning.
Modern homes contain many materials, such as wood,
wool, nylon and plastics which, when burning, give out
heavy smoke and toxic fumes such as carbon monoxide and
cyanide gas. These materials can smoulder for a long time,
emitting a lot of smoke and fumes before they burst into
actual fames.
If you are asleep when a fre starts, you could suffer
from smoke inhalation before you wake up. In fact, the
combination of toxic smoke and reduced oxygen in the air
can make waking up more diffcult. So it is important to
have a smoke alarm that rapidly detects smoke.
Recent research indicates that house fres today burn faster
and kill quicker than house fres 30 years ago. Research
in the 1970s showed a safe escape time of 17 minutes.
In 2005 this has decreased to an escape time of only 3
minutes. The drastic drop in escape time is due to the
contents of modern homes (such as furnishings) that burn
faster and more intently.
What is the difference between
smoke alarms and smoke detectors?
Smoke alarms are defned as self-contained, single or multiple-station
smoke-sensing devices. Smoke alarms may include two or more single
station units wired to operate in conjunction with each other. Alarms have
a detection device and sounder.
Smoke detectors are defned as smoke-sensing devices that are not
self-contained, that are intended for use in conjunction with a fre alarm
system control panel. Detectors only have a detection device.
A computer monitor is thought
to have sparked a house fre
yesterday that caused an
estimated $160,000 damage.
Three university-age people
were out at the time when the
house fre broke out. A man
who had been in the lounge
room near the monitor smelled
smoke about an hour before fre
crews were called, A fre service
spokesperson said yesterday.
But he thought it was the
woodheater they had tried to get
going a couple of days ago, the
spokesperson said. He left the
house. A young girl sleeping out
the back woke up around the same
time -- she also smelled smoke
about 3 oclock then went back
to sleep. It wasnt until later,
3.45am or 4 oclock, she found
the smoke was quite thick. The
batteries of a smoke alarm had
been removed because a blocked
heater fue caused the alarm to
go off whenever the occupants of
the house lit a fre.
6 7
Ionisation Smoke Alarms
These smell the smoke. This type detects invisible particles of combustion
e.g. from cooking toast. They activate more quickly for fast, faming fres
and little visible smoke.
Advantages:
j Cheaper than other types
j Very good with fast faming fres with little visible smoke
j Suitable for general use
j Less prone to false alarms due to dust and steam
Disadvantages:
j Very susceptible to nuisance alarms due to cooking
j May be slow to respond to slow smouldering fres
j Contain radioactive material
Photoelectric (Optical) Smoke
Alarms (highly recommended)
These see the smoke (optical). This type detects visible particles of
combustion e.g. smouldering cigarette smoke. They respond to a wide
range of fres, but they are particularly responsive to smouldering fres
and the dense smoke given off by foam flled furnishings or overheated
PVC wiring. This type is highly recommended for the family home.
Advantages:
j Good for smouldering fres and dense smoke
j Not as prone to cooking nuisance alarms
j Contain no radioactive material
j Suitable for general use
Disadvantages:
j Prone to nuisance alarms from dust and insects must be kept clean
j More expensive
Protection against fre increases with the quality and type of smoke
alarm that is installed. Research indicates that photoelectric smoke
alarms are generally more effective than ionisation types across a
wider range of fres experienced in homes.
For this reason, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS)
recommends that photoelectric smoke alarms be installed,
especially if you are installing only one alarm. If you already have
ionisation smoke alarms installed, QFRS recommends that you
supplement the existing alarms with photoelectric types, especially
between sleeping areas and exits from your home (e.g. hallways);
and at the end of the service life of existing smoke alarms, replace
them with photoelectric types.
Smoke detectors in a house where
two sisters, aged 5 and 8, died in
a fre had been disconnected,
an all-too-common occurrence,
investigators say. They were
trapped in an upstairs back room
of the house early Saturday and
could not be reached by their
father because of heat from the
fames. He and his wife managed
to get their other children, a
7-month-old boy and a 3-year-
old girl, out safely. A Fire and
Rescue spokesperson said smoke
alarms in the home had been
disconnected and therefore
were not working. Had they
had working smoke alarms in
the structure, it would have
assisted greatly in a more rapid
detection of the fre. All fve
people who have died in house
fres in the state during the
past seven months have been in
homes without working smoke
alarms. Some people just dont
realize the importance of having
a smoke alarm in the house.
8 9
Why choose photoelectric
(optical) alarms?
Photoelectric smoke alarms are much faster at detecting the majority of
dangerous situations than ionisation alarms. Studies have shown that
photoelectric alarms typically respond to smouldering fres within three
to fve minutes, while the level of smoke is still fairly low and escape is
relatively easy.
Most ionisation alarms take much longer by which time there is enough
smoke to signifcantly reduce visibility, making escape not impossible
but much more diffcult. The fast-faming, relatively smokeless fres that
ionisation alarms detect quickly are not as common in most domestic
situations. When such a fre starts, it is usually in the kitchen while
someone is there and can do something about it. Even if no one is there,
other nearby material usually catches fre quickly giving out smoke.
Photoelectric and Ionisation smoke
alarms are classed according to
power supply
240 volt (hardwired) Smoke Alarm is connected to a
homes electrical system and has battery back-up power supply either long
life lithium or 9 volt short term. This type is available as a photoelectric
or ionisation alarm. The photoelectric 240 volt type of alarm is highly
recommended for all homes.
Advantages:
j More reliable than battery alarms
j Early warning occupants alerted in the shortest possible time
j Uses a battery to provide back-up power if the AC power fails
j Models can be interconnected which sound alarms in all connected units
j May come with a long life Lithium Battery built-in and tamper proof
j Power-on indicator
j In some models a hush button exists to stop nuisance alarms
j Test button to ensure correct operation
j Tested by Scientifc Services Laboratories to comply with AS3786
j Some can be purchased with a rechargeable battery (non-replaceable)
Disadvantages:
j More expensive
j Need to be installed by a qualifed electrician
In Queensland, hardwired smoke alarms are required to be
installed in all new properties and those properties that are
being signifcantly renovated (i.e. renovations exceeding more
than 50 percent of the original building, measured over the roof
and the external walls).
An early morning fre in the state
sends one woman to the hospital
and leaves a man dead. The blaze
broke out just before 4am at an
apartment. Authorities say that
ffty year old male fell asleep on
a couch and a lit cigarette caught
the couch on fre. A state fre
investigator says the apartment
did have a smoke alarm, but it
wasnt operational.
10 11
10 year Battery Smoke Alarm is stand alone and
operated only by a 9 volt long life lithium battery. This type of alarm is
recommended for all homes. This basic alarm is available as photoelectric
or ionisation. It is recommended that a photoelectric be installed as this
type of alarm is particularly responsive to smouldering fres.
Advantages:
j Easy to install
j No need to change battery (10 year battery lasts the life of the alarm)
j Test button
j Available with tamper proof battery (battery cannot be removed)
j Considered very reliable
j Can be interconnected with other alarms
Disadvantages:
j Nil
9 Volt Smoke Alarm is stand alone and operated only by a 9 volt
battery. This basic alarm is available as photoelectric or ionisation. It is
recommended that a photoelectric be installed as this type of alarm is
particularly responsive to smouldering fres.
Advantages:
j Easy to install
j Test button to ensure correct operation
j Low battery indication
j In some models a hush button to stop nuisance alarms
j Battery missing indicator
j Tested by Scientifc Services Laboratories to comply with AS3786
j Some models can be interconnected
Disadvantages:
j Battery needs to be replaced regularly (usually at 12 month intervals).
A Queensland Fire and Rescue
Service investigator said a fre
broke out in a second storey
unit (of a three storey bock of
12 units) on the Gold Coast. The
spokesperson said a woman and
man, both aged in their twenties,
were asleep in the lounge room
of the unit when the blaze
broke out. About 20 frefghters
fought the blaze, which did not
spread to any of the other units.
The woman sustained serious
burns to her airways, upper
chest, arms, back and face, while
the man has serious burns to his
hands and face. The pair were
airlifted to the Royal Brisbane
Hospital. The spokesperson said
that the pair was not alerted to
the blaze until the unit was well
engulfed because there was no
smoke alarm.
Research indicates that a primary reason why smoke alarms do not
operate when needed is because batteries have been removed after
repeated false alarms.
False alarms are often caused by steam from bathrooms or by
cooking fumes.
Research indicates that photo-electric alarms are less prone to false
alarms from cooking fumes.
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Other options include:
j Alarms for the hearing impaired
j Alarms with emergency lights
j Special models for kitchens and caravans
j Inter-connectable models which sound alarms in all connected units
Hearing impaired options
For people who would not be able to hear a conventional smoke alarm
there are special smoke alarms available for the hearing impaired which
make use of a vibrating pad and/or a fashing light in addition to the
audible warning. These may not be readily available from retail outlets
but are available from smoke alarm suppliers. Suppliers are listed in the
yellow pages under Fire Protection Equipment.
Maintenance advice
Test smoke alarms regularly and follow the manufacturers instructions.
240 volt (hardwired):
Do not replace the supplied battery back up with one of a different type,
in particular replacing a zinc carbon or alkaline with a non-rechargeable
lithium type. The use of the incorrect batteries can deteriorate the
performance of the smoke alarm. There is a safety concern when retroftting
lithium batteries into 240 volt smoke alarms. If a non-rechargeable lithium
battery is placed in a 240-volt device and is subjected to a charging current
then it will explode.
10-year lithium battery:
Some models come with a pre-installed 10-year lithium battery.
This eliminates the need to replace the battery every year, as the lithium
battery will last for the life of the smoke alarm.
12 Month 9 volt batteries:
Should be changed at least once a year. Decide on a memorable day such
as an anniversary, birthday or public holiday, a suggestion could be to
program the change date into a mobile phone or calendar.
Smoke alarms should be cleaned each month using the fne nozzle
of a vacuum cleaner or soft brush.
Smoke alarms must never be painted.
A fre consumed around 99 per
cent of a Gold Coast home. A Fire
Investigator said that the fre
spread very quickly after a candle
had been placed in a fbreglass
bathtub. If theyd had smoke
alarm ftted they may have got
earlier warning of the incident
and may have been able to put
the fre out themselves, the
spokesperson said.
14 15
Choosing a smoke alarm
Protection against fre increases with the quality and type of smoke alarm
that is installed.
240 Volt (Hard-wired) photoelectric smoke alarms are preferable to battery
operated smoke alarms.
When Purchasing smoke alarms, select models that display one of these
symbols: Australian Standard (AS), Scientifc Services Laboratory (SSL).
Smoke alarms can be installed either stand alone or interconnected.
Interconnection allows all smoke alarms to sound simultaneously
should any one alarm activate. All occupants are alerted,
maximising the opportunity for escape. Childrens bedrooms should
have a smoke alarm, and be connected to the parents bedroom
because children sleep more soundly than adults. A signifcant
percentage of residences ftted with smoke alarms remain
unprotected due to depleted or missing batteries.
How many smoke alarms
are required?
Legally required minimum:
As a legal minimum requirement, a smoke alarm must be installed on or
near the ceiling on any storey;
j Between any area containing bedrooms and the rest of the house or
unit e.g. hallways.
j On a storey not containing bedrooms on the most likely evacuation
route from the storey.
Recommended by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service:
j Smoke alarms in single dwellings should be located in all sleeping
areas and in all paths of travel between sleeping areas and exits to
the open air.
j Smoke alarms in buildings containing 2 or more separate dwellings
should be located in all sleeping areas and in all paths of travel
between sleeping areas and exits to common corridors.
j Smoke alarms in multi-level dwellings, in addition to the above
provisions should be located in the path of travel between each level
in such dwellings.
j Due consideration be given to the effect on smoke alarm performance
by air conditioners, heaters, fans and other temperature control
devices, smoke alarms should be located where these devices will not
compromise the effectiveness of the smoke alarms.
j Whenever possible, smoke alarms should not be installed in close
proximity to kitchens and bathrooms.
16 17
Near bedrooms and on every
storey of a multi-level house.
* Minimum by law from
1 July 2007.
Additional alarms are needed
in homes with separated
sleeping areas.
* Minimum by law from
1 July 2007.
* Minimum by law from
1 July 2007.
Inside the bedroom if you are
a heavy sleeper or if you close
the door.
* Additional recommendation
for added safety (not law).
Ideal Locations: Advice on Landlords, Tenants
and Sellers requirements
j Smoke alarms complying with Australian Standard 3786-1993
to be installed in houses and units.
j Smoke alarms to be located outside sleeping areas and one on
each level (the same as the location requirements for homes built
since 1997 under the Building Code of Australia). The typical
home will require 1 or 2 smoke alarms.
j Lessors to install alarms, replace them when necessary, and
clean, test and, if necessary, change batteries, before the start of
a tenancy.
j Tenants to test and clean every 12 months and replace batteries
as required during the tenancy.
j The seller of a home must give written notice to the purchaser
before settlement advising whether smoke alarms are installed in
the home. The seller is also required to give notice to this effect to
the Queensland Land Registry. This must be done within 90 days of
settlement. A standard form (24) is available from the Queensland
Land Registry.
Between the bedrooms and
the rest of the house.
18
Customer Copy Customer Copy
Properly located smoke alarms
are only one part of a good home
fre safety system.
Properly located smoke alarms
are only one part of a good home
fre safety system.
Customer Copy Customer Copy
Properly located smoke alarms
are only one part of a good home
fre safety system.
Properly located smoke alarms
are only one part of a good home
fre safety system.
Customer Copy Customer Copy
Properly located smoke alarms
are only one part of a good home
fre safety system.
Properly located smoke alarms
are only one part of a good home
fre safety system.