Did you know that most fatal fires start at night in bedrooms and living areas, and the smell of smoke alone may not wake you up?
Over the past 10 years, Victorian firefighters have responded to more than 32,000 house fires, many of which have resulted in death and serious injury.
That is why Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) are urging all Victorians to install interconnected smoke alarms in every bedroom, living area and hallway.
When smoke alarms are interconnected, if any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound. This ensures that you are alerted to fire no matter where it starts in the home, and could provide your household vital seconds to escape.
Make sure you test your smoke alarms monthly, replace 9-volt batteries every year and replace smoke alarm units every 10 years. CFA and FRV recommend you install smoke alarms powered by long life, 10-year lithium batteries.
Learn more about how you can protect your family: https://www.vic.gov.au/silence-deadly
Smoke alarm tips
- Smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound.
- Legislation requires smoke alarms to be installed outside every sleeping area and on each level of a house.
- The latest research by Fire and Rescue NSW indicates that in all their tests where the fire started in the bedroom with the door closed, the hallway smoke alarms did not activate at all.
- Victorian Fire Services recommend additional smoke alarms are installed in every living area and bedroom.
- Fire services also recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a 10-year lithium battery, so you don’t need to remember to change the battery over the life of the alarm.
- Regardless of the type of smoke alarm you have, all smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
- Replaceable batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly.
- Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall, or where installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.
- Smoke alarms should be tested monthly as per the manufacturer’s guide, by pressing the test button on the alarm and wait for the test alarm to sound.
- Smoke alarms should be cleaned at least once a year with a duster or vacuum cleaner to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance.
