Smoke Alarms: A Complete Guide to Keeping Your Home Safe

With the increasing reliance on electrical appliances and higher electricity consumption, the risk of residential fires has also grown. This makes smoke alarms not just a critical component, but a potential lifesaver of your home’s safety system, preventing fire tragedies.

We all know how important smoke alarms are, but do you understand how to ensure yours are correctly installed, maintained, and compliant with Victorian safety regulations? Proper placement, regular testing, and timely maintenance of your smoke alarms can be more than just life-saving, it can be a responsibility you can take to protect your loved ones.

How Many Smoke Alarms Do I Need?

When it comes to smoke alarms, it’s always better to have more than less. In Victoria, it’s not just a recommendation, it's a legal requirement to have at least one smoke alarm per story in any residential property. However, for enhanced safety, especially in larger homes, we recommend additional alarms in key areas to ensure maximum coverage.

Where Should I Place My Smoke Alarms?

The Australian Country Fire Authority (CFA) recommends installing smoke alarms in or near each bedroom and living area, ensuring that they can alert everyone in the event of a fire. Smoke alarms should also be interconnected. When one alarm sounds, all alarms should activate, ensuring everyone in the house is alerted, even in different rooms.

Here’s the recommended placement:

• Ceilings: Install smoke alarms centred on the ceiling, at least 30 cm from any wall or cornice.

• Walls: Place the alarm 30-50 cm from the ceiling to ensure effective detection.

The more alarms you have in the right places, the lower the risk of fire spreading unnoticed.

Are There Areas to Avoid When Installing Smoke Alarms?

While smoke alarms can be installed in most areas of your home, certain places are best avoided to prevent false alarms. For example:

• Near Cooking Appliances: Keep alarms at least 3 meters away from toasters, ovens, and stoves to avoid false triggers from smoke or steam.

• Bathrooms: Avoid placing smoke alarms directly in steamy bathrooms. Instead, install them a few meters away to reduce the risk of triggering the alarm during showers or baths.

How to Maintain Your Smoke Alarms

Maintaining your smoke alarms in top condition is crucial for your safety. Whether you own or rent your property, here are key tips to ensure your alarms are always ready to go:

• Test your alarms monthly: Press the test button until the alarm sounds, ensuring it’s working correctly.

• Change the batteries annually (or sooner if the alarm emits a warning beep every 30 seconds).

• Replace the unit every 10 years: Most smoke alarms have a lifespan of 10 years, and the expiration date is usually marked on the unit.

• Vacuum the area around the alarm regularly to remove dust, which can affect its sensitivity.

Note: If your smoke alarm has a lithium battery, it is designed to last for the life of the unit—approximately 10 years—after which the entire unit should be replaced.

Need Smoke Alarms Installed, Replaced, or Repaired?

If you need professional smoke alarm installation, replacement, or repair services in Melbourne, TNG Electrical is here to help. We ensure your smoke alarms comply with Victorian regulations and are in perfect working condition to keep you and your family safe.

We also provide Electrical Safety Checks, including Smoke Alarm Checks, to help landlords meet the Victorian government’s 2021 compliance regulations.

Contact us today at 0405 524 788 or click below to book your smoke alarm installation or inspection service.