Smoke alarms- they save lives but…
But their random unexplained beeps can sometimes drive you to distraction. They can also serve as a late reminder that you may have left the pie in the oven a little too long, (as if the smoke pouring out of the oven wasn’t enough!
We can’t help with the burnt offering; you’ll have to figure out that one out on your own, but we can help with the other reasons your smoke alarm may be beeping for no apparent reason.
Laws require you install a smoke alarm
In Australia, all residential property owners must follow federal electrical and safety regulations, which also covers the installation of fire safety equipment. For every home in Australia, that means a smoke alarm must be installed, or a few depending on the size and height of your home.
New regulations require that they be hard-wired into the electrical system, for which you will need a reliable electrician.
The regulations are enforced, and civil penalties may apply for non-compliance.
While you shouldn’t expect axe-wielding firefighters to come crashing through your door demanding to check your fire safety standards, it’s nice to know that the Australian government is serious about keeping us safe in our beds at night.
And when it comes to building a new home
New laws which came into effect in 2017 require that newly built properties have smoke alarms hard-wired into the electrical system, are of the photoelectric type, and are interconnected to every other smoke alarm in the house. Every bedroom must also be fitted with a smoke alarm, as well as hallways, and in the exit path of every story not containing bedrooms. It’s a big job and one that can only be carried out by licensed electricians.
Good question. Why is it beeping?
If you hear your smoke alarm beeping, it’s because it’s trying to tell you something.
Even though a hard-wired alarm receives a steady source of power from the mains, a battery is still required for backup. As soon as there is a power outage, out come the candles, and accidents do happen.
When the battery is about to go flat, the smoke-alarm will alert you to the fact with regular beeps or chirping. For better protection, 10-year lithium batteries are recommended as they last the lifetime of the alarm, while lead and alkaline require replacement every 6 to 12 months.
In cold weather, you may hear the smoke-alarm beeping early in the morning and then stop. Batteries are affected by heat, and a cold battery may not be able to put out enough current to register as fully charged, causing the smoke alarm to detect it as a flat battery. Once the house warms up, so too does the battery. The current then peaks above the threshold and turns the beeping off. Of course, you should still change the battery.
All smoke alarms have a lifespan of about ten years. If you are unsure about the age of the smoke alarms in your home, you should swap them out with new ones or get them checked by a licensed electrician.
You should always check the requirements for smoke alarms in your state. For instance, in QLD, all smoke alarms older than ten years must be replaced with a hardwired system.
Get to know a great local electrician
A local electrician will be able to help with any questions you may have, including testing your alarms and installing a new one.
If you are unsure of the electricians in your area, Tradebustersconnect.com.au is by far the best place to find reputable sparkies who have already been checked out by the team.