Best Smoke Alarms In Australia?

When looking to find the best smoke alarm for the home it is important to compare the different types of smoke alarms:

Ionisation Smoke Alarms vs Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

Ionisation smoke detectors pick up on the smoke particles when they enter the alarm while photoelectric smoke detectors pick up on various fire types. Ionisation detectors often detect large fires with not that much smoke and are not good against smaller fires with large amounts of smoke. Photoelectric detectors are more reliable as they can detect a wider range of types of fires, such as smoldering and smoky fires, and will trigger more frequently than ionisation alarms. 

Battery-powered Smoke Alarms vs Hardwired Smoke Alarms

Battery-powered smoke alarms are installed in the ceiling and are powered by their own battery. Hardwired smoke alarms are connected directly to the home’s power supply and have their own dedicated circuit at the switchboard. It is recommended that hardwired smoke alarms are installed due to being more reliable but also having backup batteries within them in case there is a blackout.

There are certain features of a smoke alarm to check to ensure it will be the best smoke alarm to be installed:

Safety Standards

It is important that the smoke alarm aligns with the Safety Standards of the state in which you live. Before buying the alarm ensure it has the Australian Standard logo to make certain it is approved and is safe to be installed. It is important that the alarm aligns with these standards so that there is a properly functioning one working in the home and that it follows all compliance requirements.

To know more about the smoke alarm compliance rules, we offer our blog as a helpful guideline! 

The Battery

Batteries are important for both battery-powered and hardwired smoke alarms and the type of battery is important. Lithium batteries are recommended for smoke alarms as they last for around ten years. It will also prevent the need to constantly replace the battery as it does not die as frequent. 

Low Battery Warning Feature

A helpful battery should have a feature that alerts homeowners that the battery is about to run out and needs replacing. This is a safety feature because it allows people to replace the batteries because they know it’s going to run out without knowing that the battery in the alarm is not working. 

Silence or Mute Button

A button that allows the alarm to be muted or silenced is a good feature in case the smoke alarm beeps randomly. A false alarm could be from the battery dying, a dirty detector, from being too close to the kitchen or bathroom or from other issues. It is handy to have a mute or silence button, at times can be connected to a smartphone, to ensure false alarms can be stopped. 

Test Button

A test button allows a person to test the smoke alarm safely and at any time. It is recommended that from every month or at least every 6 months the smoke alarms are tested. This is to guarantee that they are working perfectly and in the case of an emergency will sound the alarm. 

The important considerations before having an electrician install the smoke alarm are:

Location

Installing the smoke alarm in the correct places is important, most suitable for the bedrooms, hallways and stairways. In the kitchen or bathroom is not advised because many false alarms will occur due to the stream and smoke but having one close because fires can start in these areas is recommended. 

How Many Smoke Alarms

At least one smoke alarm on every level of the home is required but the more installed means the better chances of an alarm detecting a fire. 

Who Will Install the Alarms

It is important to use a licensed and certified electrician to install the smoke alarms. This is to ensure they are installed correctly and that everything aligns with safety standards. For tips on how to find a good electrician, our blog is here to help.