Do you know what time it is? The “check-and-replace-the-smoke-alarm-batteries” time of year!

We all like to tell and hear jokes on April 1st but let’s not forget about our smoke alarms! You never joke with fire! So here is everything you need to know about your home and office smoke alarm systems.

Did you know that the fatal accidents rate caused by the fire is up to three times higher in homes without smoke detectors? Sad but true. This is why we highly recommend you to have them installed in your home or at your workplace and serviced regularly by a professional.

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Your legal obligations

Starting January 1st 2017, new smoke alarm legislation has been introduced in Queensland. More precisely, new and renovated homes are now required to have interconnected Australian Standard (AS) 3786-2014 photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms, in hallways with connected bedrooms and on every level of the building. Over the next 10 years, all other homes will need to be equipped with photoelectric smoke alarm as follows:

  • From 1 January 2022 – in all homes leased and sold
  • From 1 January 2027 – in all other homes.

What’s the technology behind a photoelectric smoke alarm?

When you sleep, your sense of smell is also asleep. You should know that in case of a fire, toxic fumes can spread very fast and make you panic. To overcome this challenge, photoelectric smoke alarms are designed to detect smoke and warn you earlier. Plus, the interconnected alarms go off and alert you no matter where you are or where the fire starts.

Peace of mind and professional installation

To comply with the new legislation, homeowners can install either hardwired 240V smoke alarms or non-removable 10-year battery smoke alarms. For your safety, a licensed electrician will always take care of the installation process.

Here, at Jaric Electrical, we never gamble with people’s lives. That’s why, when it comes to home and office fire alarm systems, we carefully look for high-quality components. Our experienced Brisbane electricians will complete the installation quickly, efficiently and to Australian Standards at all times.

Testing and maintenance guidelines

To achieve an optimal performance in the event of an emergency, you should regularly test your smoke alarm. Follow this simple procedure: press and hold the test button for a few seconds until a beep sounds. If you don’t hear any sound, it means you need to get a new battery, repair or replace the unit.

Maintenance is also an important part of your smoke alarm life! That’s why we’ve hand-crafted a comprehensive guide to keep your unit “healthy”:

  • Every month – test your smoke alarm batteries following the instructions above
  • Every 6 months – remove dust from the grille with the help of a soft brush attached to your vacuum cleaner; this will help reduce false alarms and ensure the internal sensor can easily and rapidly detect any smoke activity
  • Every year – replace your smoke alarm batteries with long-lasting alkaline batteries on April 1st. No joke, you have our word for it!
  • Every 10 years – you must replace all smoke alarms as with new 10-year Lithium powered ones, (or earlier if specified by the manufacturer).

Until next time, stay safe and remember that smoke alarms are here to save lives…and toasts from burning!

Happy Fool’s Day!

Your friend and electrical expert,

John Ricca

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