Building & Energy and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) are reminding home owners that all smoke alarms should be replaced when they are 10 years old.
The Agencies are urging people to check the dates on their smoke alarms and arrange for new ones to be installed if they have expired.
The 10-year replacement applies to all smoke alarms, including hard-wired models connected to the mains power.
The calls also mark the 10th anniversary of the requirement under Building Regulations that any dwelling being sold, rented or hired must have compliant smoke alarms.
Acting Executive Director of Building & Energy, Nabil Yazdani said installation, maintenance and replacement of smoke alarms was the responsibility of the property owner, not the tenants.
“The manufacture date or the expiry date should be marked on the smoke alarm,” Mr Yazdani said.
“If the smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, or you can’t find the date, it’s time to replace it to ensure it operates effectively when you need it the most,” he said.
“Australian Standards stipulate an operating life of 10 years, after which the alarm’s sensitivity and functions can decline.”
Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Emergency Management at the DFES, Mal Cronstedt said homes with more than one smoke alarm should have their system interconnected.
“Having interconnected smoke alarms means when one alarm detects a fire, all alarms will sound throughout the property, giving you as much warning as possible of an emergency,” Deputy Commissioner Cronstedt said.
“If your home was built since 1 May 2015, you are required by law to have interconnected smoke alarms,” he said.
