Smoke alarms - what you need to know
Smoke alarms have been responsible for saving many lives by helping people detect fires early.
What does a smoke alarm do?
Residential smoke alarms sense the presence of smoke in the home and alert the occupants, giving time to escape.
What types are there?
There are two types:
- Photoelectric smoke alarms - contain a light source whose beam is deflected by smoke onto a photocell, causing an alarm to sound.
- Ionisation smoke alarms - use a minute amount of radiatiactive material to detect the presence of smoke, thereby causing an alarm to sound. Radiation authorities advise that the amount of radiation emitted from these devises is much less than natural background levels.
Both offer effective protection.
How are they installed?
Smoke alarms can be either wired into the household electricity mains (with battery backup), or be battery operated only. Wired-in alarms are considered more effective in the longer term.
Other options available include:
- interconnectable models which sound alarms in all connected units;
- special models for use in kitchens and in caravans;
- models incorporating an emergency light; and
- models for the hearing impaired.
How many do I need?
A smoke alarm outside sleeping areas and on each additional level provides a reasonable degree of protection from the threat of fire. In a single-level home, two alarms are sufficient if all the bedrooms connect to a common passageway from the living areas.
Extra alarms will be required in homes with separate sleeping areas. Where occupants tend to sleep with doors closed, a smoke alarm should be installed in each bedroom, particularly if heaters or electrical appliances are used in those rooms.
How do I install my smoke alarm?
You can install a battery operated smoke alarm yourself. They are simply fastened with two small screws. The ACT Fire Brigade will install these alarms free of charge.
Since September 1994 new homes in the ACT have been required to have mains-powered smoke alarms installed. It is also a requirement to have smoke alarms installed in home extensions that impact on sleeping and living areas.
Mains powered smoke alarms must be installed by a licensed electrician.
For effective operation, smoke alarms should always be located away from corners. On a normal flat ceiling the smoke alarms should be installed a minimum of 100mm from any cornice. Smoke alarms should not be installed between closely spaced exposed beams. If installed on a wall, the top of the alarm should be located 100-300 mm from the ceiling.
What maintenance is required?
Smoke alarms require regular testing and cleaning. They are equipped with a button for test purposes. They should be tested at least once every month, or as per the manufacturers instructions. Use a broom handle to reach the test button if you can't reach.
- Testing - click here to test your smoke alarm
(WAV 227KB)
- Cleaning - once a year, run the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner over the grill area of each smoke alarm to remove any dust build up that may interfere with its effectiveness.
- Battery replacement - when batteries are low the alarm will give a 'beep' every minute for approximately 30 days. This is a reminder to replace the batteries. It is suggested you replace your batteries annually, e.g. when you change your clock to daylight saving time, or on your birthday.
- DO NOT PAINT - smoke alarms must never be painted.
Disposal of fire alarms
If the fire alarm no longer works (e.g. you replaced the batteries and it still fails the test) then it should be disposed of. You no longer need to forward your old smoke alarm to the Radiation Safety Section for safe disposal. Instead smoke detectors may be place in the family rubbish bin for disposal.
No more than one smoke detector per bin of rubbish though. This will ensure that smoke detectors are well dispersed in the overall bulk of waste in landfill sites.
Bulk disposal by this method is not permitted however - collections of smoke detectors must continue to be treated as radioactive waste.
For further information on safe disposal of smoke detectors please contact:
For more information on this advice please see the Radiation Health Committee's Statement on disposal of domestic smoke detectors, dated 1 November 2001.
How do I choose between brands?
Smoke alarms you buy must carry the Australian Standards mark, or SSL label. Check the label.
How much do they cost?
Prices vary depending on brands, types and features. However, around $10 - $30 should purchase a suitable battery operated smoke alarm. Mains powered alarms will be slightly more expensive.
Where can I buy smoke alarms?
- Department stores,
- Hardware stores,
- Electrical retailers, and
- Fire protection companies.
Plan and practice your escape
It is likely that you will only have one or two minutes from the sounding of the alarm before your life is seriously threatened by fire or smoke. If you have been asleep you will be less likely to respond quickly and effectively.
It is essential that your family prepares and practices an escape plan.
You should:
- draw up a floor plan of your house,
- plan two ways out of each room, and
- select and indicate a meeting place outside the home (eg the letterbox)
Teach your family to:
- check closed doors for fire before opening (use back of hand),
- crawl low (smoke and heat will build from ceiling down),
- close doors behind them as they exit (this will slow the spread of fire and smoke), and
- practice your escape plan using these techniques.
Escape from upper stories.
This will require special attention. Plan for an escape from an upper window; e.g. via a lower roof, pergola or carport. If these options are not available, other improvised methods should be considered, e.g. ladders, ropes, sheets.
In your plan of escape give special consideration to the very young, the aged and the infirm.
In a real fire, once clear of the house:
- call the fire Brigade on 000 from the nearest telephone away from the building on fire,
- account for all people in the house, and
- if anyone is missing, tell the fire brigade.
- DO NOT return to the house.
For further information - contact your nearest fire station.
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