Why?
Smoke Alarms are critical for early detection of a fire in your home and could mean the difference between life and death. Fire can occur anywhere in the home and in a variety of ways. A fully functioning Smoke Alarm the first step towards your family safety in a residential home/setting.
Working Smoke Alarms give early warning at times when we are unable to sense smoke/fire i.e. when sleeping and play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Smoke alarms give you time to get out.
Hardwired (240 volt) Smoke Alarms have been compulsory since January 7, 1998, in all new residential buildings.
What?
For a Smoke Alarm to be considered compliant it must be:
- In working order
- Permanently connected to main power supply (240v/hard-wired)
- Be not more than 10years old
- Met requirements of AS3786, BCA (Building Code of Australia)
Where? Should be installed
- In all types of residential buildings
- Class 1a – any storey containing bedrooms, every corridor associated with a bedroom
Note: as a guideline a Smoke Alarm should be installed between any cooking area (kitchen) and any bedroom in the welling.
- Class 1b – in every bedroom
- In every corridor associated with a bedroom or where there is no corridor/hallway in area between bedrooms and rest of the building.
Smoke Alarms Save Lives
Why is it important to service fire protection equipment to AS1851?
The Australian Standard for Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment is AS1851
AS1851 is the guideline followed by all reputable fire protection companies in Sydney and throughout Australia. The fire protection industry uses AS1851 the primary acceptable method for maintenance, service, test/inspection of fire protect equipment/systems.
The Aspects of AS1851
- Clear tables/schedules for service/inspections
- Consistent defect classifications
- Documentation outlines
This Aspects of AS1851 create a clear and easily understandable document/guideline that means any fire equipment that is required to be used in an emergency situation, will operate as required, in this stressful time.
It should be noted that the Environmental Planning & Assessment Regulation is the legislative framework for the Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS). AFSS is a statement that all essential fire safety measures in a building, have been assessed, inspected, and maintained to a minimum standard of performance. AS1851 is the document/guideline to assist Hands-on Fire Protection to meet and make sure that fire equipment/system are capable of perform to required standards.
It is a legal requirement that smoke alarms are maintained, by the owner/landlord of a rental property, in working order.
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