Smoke Alarms/Detectors and Fire
Comment from SmartAlarm Technology™
We highly recommend the use of smoke detectors in all homes. Take note of the following if you are building or altering your home.
What you should know
Smoke alarms are now required in all new homes. The building code was amended in April 2003 require that "appropriate means of detection and warning of fire must be provided within each household unit".
The new requirement does not apply to existing homes but the regulations will mandate the installation of smoke alarms when a building undergoes an alteration or change of use to become a home or when an alteration is made to an existing home that requires a building consent.
- The position and number of alarms must be shown on the drawings. A single-storey building may only require one alarm.
- Applies to all alterations to houses including a consent for a heater.
- A sleepout will require an alarm. Outbuildings and ancillary buildings which by definition are not for human habitation are exempt.
- The main difference from the standard smoke alarms currently sold is the requirement for a hush facility to enable the alarm to be temporarily switched off in the event of a false alarm.
Smoke alarms may be battery powered and are not required to be interconnected. In addition they shall be provided with a hush facility having a minimum duration of 60 seconds.
Smoke alarms shall have a test facility located on the smoke alarm (readily accessible to building occupants).
Smoke alarms shall be listed or approved by a recognized authority as complying with at least one of: UL 217, ULC S531, AS 3786, BS 5446 Part 1.
Smoke alarms shall be located on the escape routes on all levels within the household unit. On levels containing the sleeping spaces, the smoke alarms shall be located either:
- In every sleeping space, or
- Within 3.0 m of every sleeping space door. In this case the smoke alarms must be audible to sleeping occupants on the other side of the closed doors.
- Smoke alarms shall be installed on or near the ceiling in accordance with AS 1670.6 and the manufacturers instructions.
Recommended maintenance procedures
- In-situ annual cleaning with a vacuum cleaner (no disassembly of smoke alarm).
- Monthly testing by use of the smoke alarm's test facility.
- Use good quality alkaline batteries and change according to manufactures instructions (Usually annually)
Security Bars - Important considerations
Security bars are solid metal grates bolted directly to the frame of windows and doors to deter intrusion and can be fitted to almost any building. Statistics show that Intruders often move on when faced with this kind of deterrent.
However while effective at deterring and preventing intrusion, security bars can also trap people inside the protected area and in conditions of fire, gas, or invasion this could be fatal Make sure if you install this kind of security system that they have quick release mechanisms for quick exit.
If you have security bars, make certain such a mechanism is in place. If not, either retrofit them or remove the bars entirely.
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