General News
3 April, 2023
Time to check your smoke alarm
Daylight savings ended on Sunday, and after turning back the clocks the CFA are urging Victorians to check their smoke alarms. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it is essential that families are conducting monthly testing of their smoke alarms...
Daylight savings ended on Sunday, and after turning back the clocks the CFA are urging Victorians to check their smoke alarms.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it is essential that families are conducting monthly testing of their smoke alarms to keep their loved ones safe.
“Without a working smoke alarm in all living and sleeping areas of your house, you may not wake if there is a fire,” he said.
“We know that in the last 10 years, CFA have responded to more than 14,000 residential fires that have seen 490 casualties. We want to see that number drop significantly.
“The best way to keep your family safe is to install interconnected smoke alarms, so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound, allowing you to evacuate early.
“If you live in a house with more than one level, it’s best to install a smoke alarm on each of those levels. “We recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a 10-year lithium battery to ensure their longevity.”
To check your smoke alarm, press ‘test’ and wait for the beeping sound, then each month continue to test, vacuum, and dust your alarm to remove any particles that may affect its performance.
When checking, installing, or replacing your smoke alarms, it’s recommend:
• Smoke alarms should be tested monthly by pressing the test button on the alarm and waiting for the test alarm to sound.
• Smoke alarms should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or dusted at least once a year to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance.
• Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom and living area.
• Smoke alarms must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house.
• Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall, or installed on the wall at least 30 cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.
• Replaceable batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly.
• Smoke alarms, including those attached to mains power, should be replaced every 10 years.