Selecting your smoke alarm

Smoke alarms can be purchased from department stores, hardware stores, electrical retailers and fire protection companies. They must comply with Australian Standard 3786-1993.

Special smoke alarms that have visual and vibrating indicators are available for people who are deaf or are hearing impaired.

For more information on choosing a smoke alarm, select your state below:

ACT

There are two main types of alarms used in homes, photo-electric and ionisation alarms. Fire Services recommend that all homes be fitted with Australian Standards-approved photo-electric smoke alarms. Photo-electric alarms are more effective at detecting slow burning and smouldering fires. If you currently have ionisation smoke alarms in your home, you may choose to maintain them until the end of their service life. Use a long-life alkaline battery in these alarms, and change them annually.

NSW

The two main ways that smoke alarms detect smoke are photoelectric and ionisation. Research indicates that photoelectric smoke alarms may be more effective at detecting smouldering fires and fires starting in areas remote from smoke alarms, and that ionisation smoke alarms may be more effective at detecting flaming fires. Both types of fires may occur in buildings where people sleep. The NSW Fire Brigade recommends where possible that photo-electric smoke alarms are installed in paths of travel between sleeping areas and exits to the open air or to common corridors.

VIC

There are two main types of alarms used in homes, photo- electric and ionisation alarms. Recent research indicates that photo-electric alarms provide the best protection across a range of fires. For homes which already have ionisation alarms, we recommend that they be supplemented with additional photo-electric alarms. When existing ionisation alarms reach the end of their serviceable life (approximately 10 years) they should be replaced with photo-electric alarms.

QLD

There are two main types of alarms used in homes, photo-electric and ionisation smoke alarms. Recent research indicates that photo-electric alarms provide the best protection across a range of fires. Photo-electric alarms are more effective at detecting slow burning and smouldering fires. They are suitable for hallways, sleeping areas, living rooms, kitchens and small apartments. Ionisation alarms are more effective at detecting free burning fires with flames, and are suitable for hallways and sleeping areas.

If you are installing more than one smoke alarm, you may want to consider having a mix of ionization and photoelectric alarms and having them interconnected so that when one alarm sounds all the alarms sound to provide the earliest possible warning.

For homes which already have ionisation alarms, we recommend that they be supplemented with additional, hard-wired, interconnected photo-electric alarms. When existing ionisation alarms reach the end of their serviceable life (approximately 10 years) they should be replaced with photo- electric alarms.

There are two main types of alarms used in homes, photo- electric and ionisation smoke alarms. Recent research indicates that photo-electric alarms provide the best protection across a range of fires. For homes which already have ionisation alarms, we recommend that they be supplemented with additional, hard-wired, interconnected photo- electric alarms. When existing ionisation alarms reach the end of their serviceable life (approximately 10 years) they should be replaced with photo-electric alarms.

There are two main types of alarms used in homes, photo- electric and ionisation alarms. Recent research indicates that photo-electric alarms consistently provide sufficient time for occupants to escape from smouldering and flaming fires, provided the alarms are installed and maintained properly and the occupants hear them.

TAS

There are two main types of alarms used in homes, photo-electric and ionisation alarms. Fire Services recommend that all homes be fitted with Australian Standards-approved photo-electric smoke alarms. Photo-electric smoke alarms provide more effective all-round detection and alarm than ionisation alarms. For homes which already have ionisation alarms, we recommend that they be supplemented with additional, hard-wired, interconnected photo- electric alarms. When existing ionisation alarms reach the end of their serviceable life (approximately 10 years) they should be replaced with photo-electric alarms.

A community safety message from Duracell and the local fire authorities from: act nsw vic qld sa wa tas nt