Housefires aren’t all that common in our everyday lives, most of us can go a whole lifetime without experiencing one, the issue is that when a fire does take hold, you need to be ready, especially because you won’t be expecting it.

Why Should I Install Smoke Detectors?

A quality smoke detector that is correctly installed and maintained will give you an early warning so you can address the fire situation or get out of a smoking or burning property safely. The warning from smoke alarms also gives you more time to call 000 and get help for your property, prevent fires from spreading to neighbours or get trapped people out and given medical attention.

24/7 alert

There is no way to know when or where a fire will happen in your home. There are so many possible triggers and situations that can occur any time of day or night. Smoke detectors are on alert 24/7 and can notify you of danger, even if you are sound asleep. In order to keep smoke detectors on stand by it’s essential to change the batteries frequently. You can also opt to have smoke detectors wired to your home electricity so you never have to worry about batteries again. You’ll need a licensed electrician to help install your smoke detectors to your home power.

Early fire warning

​​Many kitchen fires happen when someone steps out of the room ‘for a moment’. A sharp alarm can call them back to stop a small fire from spreading. It’s even more important to have a smoke detector located close to bedrooms. Overnight our sensors are dulled to smoke, and even the noise of fire when sleeping, which can lead to deadly smoke inhalation unless woken by an alarm.

Protect your home & family

Studies have shown that smoke alarms are not enough to wake sleeping children with 85% of kids sleeping through. While it’s important that there are smoke alarms servicing every room or in every room if the doors are shut, it’s also important that you can hear an alarm going off in a child's bedroom or hallway entrance.

While adults will be swiftly awoken by a smoke detector alarm, many younger children will sleep right through the sound. Having an integrated smoke arm system installed by a professional electrician will trigger an alarm near you if an alarm is triggered close to children’s bedrooms.

Help firefighters locate fire

It’s not just those inside the property that can be alerted to potential fires with smoke alarms, Neighbours and those passing by can also hear an incident smoke detector if you are out of the house, allowing 000 to be contacted, fires to be quickly located and even indoor pets to be rescued.

Legal requirement

Having a smoke detector in your home is a legal responsibility under Australian safety laws. As well as having detectors on every floor of your home, these also need to be in working order with fresh batteries installed every year and the detector replaced every ten years. It’s on property owners to fulfil these requirements and take fire safety seriously.

Smoke alarms save lives and property, but they can only do their job when they are correctly installed and maintained. Talk to a professional electrician about what your options are for purchasing and installing quality smoke detection devices in your family home.

Read more: Why Should I Install Smoke Detectors