29 March 2018
Fire Safety is No Joke
If your smoke alarms aren’t maintained your home and family are at serious risk.
This April Fallon Solutions are supporting Logan House Fire Support Network and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in urging Queenslander’s to test their smoke alarms.
Testing your alarms
Testing your alarm takes less than 5 minutes and is very easy to do. Simply press the test button to check the alarm is functioning. The alarm should make its usual loud noise. Some alarms are designed with two buttons, a hush button and a test button, others have one button for both functions.
Make sure everyone in the house knows what the alarms sound like and what to do when it does go off. The QFES recommend every home has a practised escape plan.
If your smoke alarm does not work, replace the battery as soon as you can.
If after replacing the battery the smoke alarm is faulty, damaged or expired the device must be replaced with an interconnected, photoelectric system under new legislation.
Battery alarms
Our electricians recommend that 9-volt battery-powered smoke alarms are fitted with a new battery at least once a year.
Hard-wired
Yearly service of individual hard-wired or interconnected smoke alarms by a licenced electrician is recommended to ensure the system is powered without faults.
Ongoing maintenance
If your smoke alarm emits a slow, periodic beep this indicates a low battery or a faulty alarm. Replace the battery as soon as you can. If the beep persists the alarm will need to be replaced.
Replacing smoke alarms
Under the new legislation, any damaged, faulty or expired smoke alarms must be replaced by interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms and be installed by a licensed electrician.
For more information on the legislation and how it affects you, follow this link. Or watch our video:
If you are concerned about your smoke alarms or would like more information on meeting the new safety legislation, give us a call and we can arrange for one of our licensed electricians to help you.
