Only working smoke alarms save lives.
To ensure they perform correctly, they must be tested regularly.
Every year home fires cause millions of dollars in damage, they can destroy homes and lives. A working smoke alarm will warn you if a fire starts in your home, giving you more time to escape safely. Early detection also gives firefighters the best chance of saving your home.
Look after your smoke alarm and it will look after you!
To ensure alarms work properly, DFES encourages householders to test smoke alarms monthly and change any batteries annually.
Watch the latest video on the DFES website.
Every year on April 1, April Fools’ Day DFES promotes the day as a reminder to regularly change smoke alarm batteries at this time each year using a high-quality, long-life battery.
Things you should know about smoke alarms.
- They need to be tested monthly to make sure they are working.
- They must be cleaned regularly to remove dust and cobwebs.
- Regardless of type and power source, they all need to be completely replaced every 10 years.
- They should be located in all sleeping areas and in all paths of travel between sleeping areas and exits to the open air.
- DFES recommends a mains powered photoelectric smoke alarms.
Western Australia’s Building Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) require the owner of a dwelling to have compliant smoke alarms installed:
- prior to the sale or transfer of ownership;
- where a dwelling is rented under a residential tenancy agreement or made available for such rental; and
- where a dwelling is made available for hire.
Click here to view the Western Australian Government Smoke alarm laws fact sheet.
For more information on Electrical Safety Devices click here.
