The Regulations state the following:

• There must be at least one working smoke alarm in within 3 metres of each bedroom door or every room where a person sleeps
• In self-contained caravans, sleepouts or similar there must be a minimum of one working smoke alarm
• In multi-storey or multi-level homes (including split levels) there must be at least one smoke alarm on each level or storey.

From the 1 July 2016, f you are installing new smoke alarms or if you are replacing an existing smoke alarm, you must install photoelectric smoke alarms with long life batteries that have a life span of at least 8 years.

Smoke alarms must comply with one of the following manufacturing standards: Australian Standard AS3786:1993; or equivalent international standard: UL217 (USA), ULCS531 (Canada), BS5446: Part 1 (United Kingdom), BS EN 14604 (United Kingdom) or ISO12239 (International) – this should be prominently displayed on the packaging and on the alarm.

This will depend on a number of factors.

• How many levels the house has
• How many bedrooms or locations where people sleep the house has
• Whether there are outlying buildings that require smoke alarms
• Personal preference of any extra devices you want to install.

Refer to above for the requirements of smoke alarms.

Our market leading subscription service price is $86.91 ex GST. Our subscription service includes:

• Annual checks of all devices on your property
• Replace expired or non-functioning alarms with our new All Clear Smoke Alarms (if required for compliance)
• Install Unlimited devices (if required for compliance)
• Free re-visit at tenancy change, or to replace faulty alarms (faulty alarms are devices we have installed only)
• Comprehensive testing of all devices
• Detailed report.

Our Casual Service costs $69.95 ex GST. This is our one off service offering. It includes:

• Installation and testing of smoke alarms but no hardware is included in this service
• Devices are charged separately per smoke alarm at $39.95 ex GST if required for compliance (or requested by client)
• A casual service fee is charged per visit.

If a device that we have installed is faulty, we will return to the property free of charge to replace the unit. If the fault is caused by the environment (such as too near a bathroom) the device will be moved and tested in full.

Smoke alarms should be tested in full every year, or at every tenancy change, to ensure they are functioning correctly.
Our subscription service will automatically advise you of when the next annual assessment is due.

You are under no obligation subscribe at all; however, our advice is to take advantage of the benefits that go with our subscription service.
If you cannot commit to the terms of the subscription service, then our casual service is available as well (see pricing above).

Existing devices that are already installed in a property do not have to be replaced but the must meet the following requirements:

• If installed before the 1 July 2016, Ionisation devices can still be used, however we recommend replacing these if the device is in a “required for compliance” location
• Older type alarms should be checked to ensure they have not passed their expiration date or are not within 6 months of their expiration date. The date should be shown clearly on the back of the device.
• Old alarms must still comply with one of the required standards
• Australian Standard AS3786:1993; or equivalent international standard: UL217 (USA), ULCS531 (Canada), BS5446: Part 1 (United Kingdom), BS EN 14604 (United Kingdom) or ISO12239 (International) – this should be prominently displayed on the packaging and on the alarm
• The device must function correctly when tested.

Yes, hardwired smoke alarms are an acceptable alternative and the same requirements that apply to photoelectric alarms also apply to hardwired alarms.

The hardwired system must:

• Have at least one working smoke alarm in within 3 metres of each bedroom door or every room where a person sleeps. Or within each bedroom.
• In multi-storey or multi-level homes (including split levels) there must be at least one smoke alarm on each level or storey
• Hard-wired alarm systems do not have to display an expiration date but if they do it must not have passed that date
• If the system is over 10 years old, it should be replaced.

Smoke alarms should be positioned in such a way that in the event of a fire, they have maximum exposure to any smoke within the room. This will allow for an early activation of the alarm to alert the occupants, allowing more time to escape.

Smoke alarms should not be located in such a way that causes false alarms or will not activate the alarm early enough. Avoid placing smoke alarms in places such as:

• Near kitchens or bathrooms
• Near heat sources such as fireplaces or flues
• In damp or humid areas such as near showers or saunas
• Near draughty areas such as air supply vents
• In “Dead Air Zones”.

Dead air zones are areas in corners of a room, usually where a wall meets the ceiling, where air gets trapped and forms an air bubble that prevent this space from filling with smoke.

Alarms placed in these locations will not detect smoke early enough as smoke will roll over the air bubble and not fill this part of the room.

Examples of Dead Air Space are:

• Corners where walls meet ceilings
• Apex points of sloped or cathedral ceilings
• Areas between beams and rafters.