Every year, more than 60 Australians sadly perish in home fires, and if you don’t have a functioning smoke alarm, your risk of dying in a home fire rises by as much as 60%.Smoke alarms help save lives by providing an early warning signal such as a loud beeping sound that can help people escape a fire before it becomes too dangerous. According to NSW legislation, smoke alarms must be put on every floor of your house. This includes owner-occupied homes, investment properties, relocatable homes, motorhomes/campervans, caravans or any other residential structure used for sleeping.Calibre Connect is on-call for smoke alarm installation in the Sydney area, and we can recommend you the option best for your residence.
Types of smoke alarms
Ionisation Smoke Alarms
Ionisation smoke alarms are the most common type of smoke alarm. They work by creating a small electric current between two plates. When smoke enters the alarm, it disrupts the current and sets off the alarm.
Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
Photoelectric smoke alarms have a light sensor that detects the presence of smoke. When the sensor detects smoke, it triggers an alarm. Photoelectric smoke alarms are more sensitive to smoldering fires than ionization smoke alarms and are less likely to give a false alarm.
Hardwired Smoke Alarms
The most reliable type of smoke alarm is a hardwired smoke alarm. A hardwired smoke alarm is connected to your home’s electrical system and can’t be disabled by a power outage. It also has a battery backup in case of a power outage, so it will still sound an alarm if there’s a fire. Most importantly, a hardwired smoke alarm is always interconnected with all other smoke alarms in your home, so they will all sound an alarm when one goes off.
Battery Powered Smoke Alarms
Long-life lithium powered smoke alarms are the ideal alternative if mains-powered smoke alarms are out of your price range. You won’t need to change the batteries in these smoke alarms for up to 10 years of smoke detection. A cheaper alternative are 9-volt lead or alkaline battery smoke alarms, but you will need to change the battery every year.
Most Popular Smoke Alarm Brands
When it comes to smoke alarms, there are a few different brands that stand out from the rest. The five most popular smoke alarm brands in Australia are Family First, Clipsal, First Alert, Fire Pro, and Quell.
Family First: Australian-owned and operated. They sell photoelectric smoke alarms in the $10 to $25 price range.
Clipsal: Australian market leader since 1920. They sell photoelectric and interconnected smoke alarms in the $30 to $110 price range.
First Alert: US-owned. They sell carbon monoxide, photoelectric, and combination smoke alarms in the $30 to $60 price range.
Fire Pro: Found in Bunnings stores, they sell lithium-powered photoelectric smoke alarms in the $10 to $60 price range.
Quell: Owned by the Australian company Chubb they sell a large variety of photoelectric smoke alarms in the $20 to $40 price range.
In conclusion, smoke alarms are an important safety feature in Australian homes and If there is a fire, smoke alarms can provide an early warning. It is crucial to test them regularly and to replace the batteries when necessary to keep them effective.
If you are in Sydney and need a smoke alarm installer, give Calibre Connect a call today at (02) 8898 0200 for fast, reliable, and honest service!