When it comes to home safety, having a smoke alarm installed should be at the top of the list. There are so many flammable materials sitting around the home, and what starts out as a small flame can quickly engulf an entire home. A fire alarm, quite literally, saves lives as it lets you know about the danger in time to implement your home emergency plan. Unfortunately, there are a number of common misconceptions about smoke alarms that prevent people from installing these life-saving devices.
1. Myth #1 – Smoke alarms are only necessary in homes with children
One of the common myths about smoke detectors is that they’re only needed in homes where there are young children. While it’s obviously important that every home with children does have a smoke alarm for enhanced fire safety, the Australian standards require every home to have a photoelectric smoke alarm. According to these regulations, all landlords and homeowners have to have photoelectric smoke alarms fitted in the property as of 1 January 2022.
2. Myth #2 – You don’t need a smoke alarm if you have a fire extinguisher
While fire extinguishers are an important part of your fire safety plan, a smoke alarm is a much more important fire safety mechanism in your home. The reason for this is that a smoke detector will alert you to the possibility of a fire before the fire even starts. If you only have a fire extinguisher, by the time you’re able to react the fire could already be blazing and they spread very quickly. This is particularly true if a fire starts when you’re sleeping and can’t react in time. It’s also worth noting that there are 6 different fire extinguisher types; water, foam, CO2, powder, water mist and wet chemical. You have to know what type of fire you’re extinguishing before choosing the right option, otherwise you could be further risking your life.
3. Myth #3 – Ionization smoke alarms are more effective than photoelectric smoke alarms
Ionization smoke alarms have a chamber with two electrically charged plates and radioactive material that ionizes the air between them. When there’s combustion, the particles enter this chamber and collide with the ionized air molecules. Photoelectric smoke alarms pick up on the intensity of light passing through the air, and when smoke particles enter, the light is deflected off the particles, triggering the alarm. Studies by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicate:
- Photoelectric smoke alarms respond faster to smouldering fires which cause more smoke;
- Well-designed photoelectric alarms tend to be more reliable in most fire situations;
- Ionization alarms are responsible for more false alarms.
4. Myth #4 – Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling
According to the Australian standard, smoke alarms must be installed in all bedrooms, hallways and between areas containing bedrooms. Where practical, smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. This is because smoke alarms mustn’t be within:
- 300mm of a corner of a ceiling and a wall
- 300mm of a light fitting
- 400mm of an air-conditioning vent
- 400mm of the blades of a ceiling fan
5. Myth #5 – You don’t need to test your smoke alarm regularly
On the contrary, smoke alarms should be tested regularly to ensure the proper functioning of this life-saving device. Guidelines for homeowners include:
- Checking smoke alarms every month to ensure batteries are operational;
- Cleaning smoke alarms every six months to remove dust particles;
- Replacing smoke alarm batteries every year; and
- Replacing smoke alarms every 10 years.
Don’t get caught out, get in touch with the specialists at Smoke Alarm Photoelectric to prioritise the safety of your home and family.