Smoke alarm
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From 1st July 1997, the installation of mains powered smoke alarms became a mandatory requirement for all new residential buildings within Western Australia. Since 1st October 2009, mains powered smoke alarms are required to be fitted in ALL existing residential buildings prior to sale & before a new tenancy agreement is signed.
This includes; owner occupied & rental properties, relocatable homes, caravans & campervans or any other residential building where people sleep. A properly maintained smoke alarm is critical for the early detection of a fire in your home and could mean the difference of life or death. A smoke alarms sensitivity can be affected by dust, insects, humidity & age and therefore must be replaced every 10 years even if they appear to be functioning correctly.
Pulse Electrical & Communications can replace existing outdated smoke alarms, test and replace batteries for existing smoke alarms & install new hardwired smoke alarms with wired or infrared interlinks.
Why Pulse Electrical & Communications for your smoke alarm installation?
Assessment and recommendations smoke alarm placement
Clear communication and honest advice
We use dust catchers and dust sheets to protect your possessions
We only use certified smoke alarms to Australian Standard AS 3786
Upfront pricing
Neat and tidy installation
We clean up after ourselves
How can smoke alarms be maintained?
It is recommended that smoke alarms should be tested monthly, this is achieved by simply pressing the test button on the smoke alarm, if the smoke alarm activates then you have ensured that the battery and the alarm are working.
Smoke alarms should be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner every six months. By doing this you will remove any dust or particles that can affect the smoke alarm from functioning correctly.
If your smoke alarm contains a battery, we recommend that it is replaced annually. To replace the battery all you have to do is disengage the smoke alarm from the base by pressing the release button on the smoke alarm. Remove the old 9-volt battery and install a new 9-volt battery.
Replace your smoke alarm every 10 years. Smoke alarms do not have a lifelong lifespan and their sensitivity reduces over time. Your existing smoke alarm must be disposed of and a new smoke alarm must be installed.
An alarming 75% of deaths caused by home fires in 2022 occurred in homes where no smoke alarms were present. These figures prompted the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to issue an urgent warning. It can take as little as 3 minutes for a fire to take a grip and up to two breaths of thick, black smoke is enough to render someone unconscious. Most deaths occur from the inhalation of toxic fumes and smoke, not burns.
How do I know if my smoke alarm is out of date?
It is a requirement for certified smoke alarms that comply with Australian Standard AS 3736 to have a serial number or batch number that is clearly marked on the smoke alarm to assist with identifying the age of the smoke alarm. They are normally located on the base of the smoke alarm next to the battery compartment.
Recommended placement for smoke alarms
Where not to install smoke alarms
Smoke alarms should not be installed in dusty, dirty or insect infested areas where loose particles may interfere with the smoke alarm.
Smoke alarms should not be installed in rooms where temperatures may fall below 5℃ or rise above 45℃ Air from heating and cooling vents can have the potential to blow any smoke away from a smoke alarm in the event of a fire. We recommend installing smoke alarms at least 900mm away from heating and cooling vents.
What are Photoelectric type Smoke Alarms?
Photoelectric smoke alarms are the best choice of alarm for detecting smokey and smoldering fires, which are a common type of house fire. Dust particles and insects entering the device can trigger false alarms so they must be cleaned every 6 months. Photoelectric smoke alarms are activated by smoke entering a test chamber that contains a photocell and a light beam that shines away from the cell. Once the smoke enters the chamber some of the light becomes scattered causing the light to hit the cell, triggering the alarm.
What are Ionisation Smoke Alarms?
Ionisation smoke alarms are the best choice of smoke alarm for detecting fast flaming types of fires that do not produce much visible smoke. Ionisation smoke alarms, when installed in homes they are less effective than photoelectric smoke alarms because fires tend to be smokey and smoldering before they flare into a flame, Ionisation smoke alarms can take longer to detect these types of fires. Ionisation smoke alarms are also prone to nuisance or false alarms due to cooking and steam. For an Ionisation smoke alarm to activate, they require particles emitted from a fire to react with a very small amount of radioactive material that is contained within the smoke alarm.
