Category: Info

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Laws In Tasmania

In Tasmania, all homes must be fitted with a working photoelectric smoke alarm on every level. Smoke alarms must be compliant with Australian Standard 3786:2014. Photoelectric smoke alarms need to be installed in every corridor or hallway associated with a bedroom, or if there is no corridor or hallway, in an area between the bedrooms and the remainder of the building. This is a requirement of the National Construction Code of Australia

Smoke Alarms In Properties Built After 1 August 1997

Homes built or substantially renovated after the 1st of August 1997 require 240V hardwired photoelectric smoke alarms, and there must be at least one smoke alarm on each level.

Smoke Alarms In Properties Built After 1 May 2014

All properties built or substantially renovated after the 1st of May 2014 must have 240V hardwired photoelectric smoke alarms and be interconnected, so that when one activates, they all activate.

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Locations

Image courtesy Tasmania Fire Service

Residential Tenancy (Smoke Alarms) Regulations 2022

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Duties For Tasmanian Landlords (Rental Providers):

  • Ensure smoke alarms comply with Australian Standard 3786:2014.
  • Installed as per manufacture instructions and in accordance with recommended installed locations outlined in the National Construction Code (NCC).
  • The smoke alarms a regularly maintained, cleaned, tested and operational.
  • Replace the smoke alarm every 10 years from manufacture date.
  • Replace any smoke alarm as soon as possible after being made aware it is not defective.

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Duties For Tasmanian Tenants (Renters):

  • Ensure the smoke alarms are tested every at least every 6 months.
  • The smoke alarm is clean and free from dust.
  • Inform the landlord / property manager as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is defective.
  • Not remove or tamper with a smoke alarm.

A direct link to the Tasmanian government website is posted below if you would like to read the full legislative documents for yourself.

Tasmanian Residential Tenancy (Smoke Alarms) Regulations 2022

National Construction Code

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today

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ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005

Photoelectric Alarms And Australian Standard 3786:2014

All photoelectric smoke alarms sold within Australia must comply to Australian Standard 3786:2014.

Section 4.22.1 of the Australian Standard describes the markings and types of information included on the photoelectric smoke alarm itself. If the smoke alarm does not have all this information on it – then technically it is non-compliant to the standard.

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Marking Requirements

Have a look at the photoelectric smoke alarm on your ceiling to double check if it has the following information.

4.22.1 Smoke alarm

Each smoke alarm shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following:

(a) The number and date of this Standard (i.e. AS 3786:2014).

(b) The name or trademark and address of the manufacturer or supplier.

(c) The model designation (type or number).

(d) The type of smoke alarm (type A or type B), e.g. photoelectric or ionization.

(e) The alarm condition aural signal pattern (ISO 8201 or ISO 7731).

(f) The date of manufacture which may be coded into a serial number or the batch

number.

(g) The recommended date for replacement, subject to normal, regular maintenance

NOTE: Provision may be made for a place to note the date for replacement of the smoke

alarm.

ZEN photoelectric smoke alarm with all required markings as per Australian Standard 3786:2014

Photoelectric Smoke Alarms With 10 Year Battery

For a battery fire alarm incorporating a non-replaceable battery (i.e. 10 year lithium long life batteries sealed inside the unit), the following warning is also required:

WARNING: BATTERY NOT REPLACEABLE—SEE INSTRUCTION MANUAL.

ZEN photoelectric smoke alarm with 10 year battery – compliant with Australian Standard 3786:2014

Photoelectric Smoke Alarms – ‘DO NOT PAINT’ Marking

Additionally, a notice on the outer surface of the enclosure marked ‘DO NOT PAINT’ is required. The letters shall be not less than 3 mm high and plainly visible after the smoke alarm is installed in its intended manner. Be wary of many cheap ‘knock-off’ smoke alarms sold in online marketplaces – they do not have all this required information even though they profess to comply to the Australian Standard. Whilst it may seem trivial whether the smoke alarm has this information on it or not, in the event of a house fire and subsequent insurance claim, your insurer could be double checking this same information prior to making any potential pay-out.

ZEN Smoke Alarm with required ‘DO NOT PAINT’ marking

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Packaging – Essential Info

Section 4.22.2 of the Australian Standard identifies the information and data which must be incorporated into the photoelectric smoke alarm’s point of sale packaging (i.e. the box it comes in) and also within the user manual. As before, if the information below is not included then technically the smoke alarm is non-compliant to the standard.

4.22.2 Packaging

The point-of-sale packaging shall be marked with the following:

(a) The model designation (type or number).

(b) The type of smoke alarm (type A or type B) and an explanation of the meaning of the type designation (e.g. photoelectric or ionization).

(c) The nominal sound level output.

(d) The alarm condition aural signal pattern (ISO 8201 or ISO 7731).

(e) For smoke alarms using 520 Hz alarm condition signal frequency, the nominal frequency.

(f) For type B smoke alarms, permanently marked with the trefoil symbol, and name of

radionuclide and activity. The markings shall be visible from the outside of the packaging.

(g) The maximum number of interconnectable smoke alarms.

(h) Statement if the smoke alarm is suitable for wall (vertical) mounting.

ZEN photoelectric smoke alarm packaging is compliant with Australian Standard 3786:2014

Summary

In summary, section 4.22 of the Australian Standard describes the necessary information which must be included on the photoelectric smoke alarm, packaging and in the instruction manual. It is a requirement which manufacturers and retailers must adhere to.

QLD legislation states that smoke alarms must be photoelectric. They must also be interconnected smoke alarms and conform to Australian Standard 3786:2014. Failure to do so could have implications in the event of any insurance pay-out following a house fire.

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today.

We love talking smoke alarms!

ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005

These new QLD smoke alarm laws have been implemented due to several fires which have tragically resulted in multiple fatalities in each instance.

Coronial inquest findings noted that had each property been fitted with functioning interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in prescribed locations, the occupants may have stood a better chance of survival.

Early smoke / fire detection improves escape time from a burning building. During a fire emergency, it was not only the heat and flames themselves which presented a life-threatening hazard, many victims were first overcome by an accumulation of smoke and toxic fumes.

Russell Island House Fire – Brisbane 2023

In the early morning of 6th August 2023, Emergency Services were called to a house fire on Russell Island, just off Brisbane’s southeast coast. The cause of the house fire remains undetermined, however it resulted in the loss of six lives – five young boys and their father who returned to the inferno in an attempt to rescue his children. The fire also destroyed two neighbouring homes and left several people needing treatment for burns and smoke inhalation.

The landlord and home owner was subsequently charged and fined for failing to install legally required and compliant interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in the Queensland rental property.

Slacks Creek House Fire – Brisbane 2011

Just before midnight on 23rd August 2011, an accidental fire ripped through a house in Slacks Creek, South Brisbane.

The fire was to cause the greatest loss of life in a domestic house fire in Australian history, with a total of 11 people (including many children) perishing due to smoke inhalation.

A finding from the 2014 Coronial Inquest stated that;
‘Once this particular fire started, it is likely that some or all of the deaths would have been prevented if the sleeping occupants had been quickly awoken and had realised that they needed to leave the house as quickly as possible … smoke alarms were either not present in the dwelling or were not maintained’.

Many recommendations from the Coronial Inquest were incorporated into the QLD Building Fire Safety (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2016.

The legislation itself may be viewed at the Queensland Government website below;
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/sl-2016-0221

Palace Backpackers Fire – Childers 2000

On 23rd June 2000 at 1am a disgruntled resident deliberately lit a fire inside the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers, southeast Queensland.

The fire spread rapidly throughout the old timber building and the hostel did not have working photoelectric smoke detectors or alarms. The result? 15 young people sadly lost their lives. The arsonist was captured by police and sentenced to life in prison. The devastating effect of this event is still evident on the local township to this day.

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today.

We love talking smoke alarms!

ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005

Before buying a photoelectric smoke alarm you should do your due diligence to ensure it is compliant to Australian Standard 3786:2014. The full name of the standard which encompasses photoelectric smoke alarms in Australia is ‘Australian Standard 3786:2014 Smoke alarms using scattered light, transmitted light or ionization’ (incorporating amendment 1 and 2). The first of this two part series will review Australian Standard 3786:2014 to assist your purchasing decision.

Australian Standard 3786:2014

Standards are documents that set out specifications, procedures and guidelines to ensure products are safe, consistent, and reliable. Australian Standard 3786:2014 is referenced by QLD’s Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008 – when a standard is referenced by state or national legislation, compliance with it becomes mandatory. It is interesting to note that although there is a newer Australian Standard 3786:2023 – it is not yet referenced by legislation – therefore Australian Standard 3786:2014 must still be complied with in the eyes of the law.

Australian Standard 3786:2014 is divided into several key components – the two of interest that will be reviewed in this article are ‘tests’ and ‘general requirements’.

Section 4.17 of the Australian Standard states that; ‘The smoke alarm shall be so designed that a sphere of diameter larger than 1.3 ±0.05 mm cannot pass into the sensor chamber(s)’. This requirement is intended to restrict the access of foreign bodies such as insects into the sensitive parts of the smoke alarm (to prevent nuisance alarms). It is known that this requirement is not sufficient to prevent the access of all insects; however, it is considered that extreme restrictions on the size of the access holes may introduce the danger of clogging by dust, etc.

Smoke Alarm Photoelectric Chamber – Insect Screen

How does this requirement translate into the design and manufacture of your photoelectric smoke alarm? The image below shows the compliant internal component from a ZEN wireless interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm. The polymer mesh screen surrounding the sensitive photoelectric chamber within the alarm contains thousands of tiny holes, each perfectly engineered, no larger than 1.3mm in diameter. The tiny holes prevent most insects from accessing the internal chamber whilst still allowing air (and smoke) to pass through.

Mesh screen surrounding the photoelectric smoke alarm internal sensor chamber

As per Australian Standard 3786:2014 – holes must be no larger than 1.3mm diameter

In addition to this internal mesh screen around the perimeter of the photoelectric chamber, the wireless interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm also has an outer grill which forms part of the housing of the alarm. The external grill also prevents larger foreign bodies from entering the alarm itself. Foreign bodies (i.e., insects) are a common cause of false / nuisance alarms because they can enter the sensitive internal components and disrupt the photoelectric light beam.

We hope you have enjoyed this review of Australian Standard 3786:2014 and how it translates to the design of your photoelectric smoke alarm. Whilst many photoelectric smoke alarm retailers might profess to be aware of the standard, very few can claim to have read it from cover to cover or have a genuine understanding of what it really means.

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today

We love talking smoke alarms!

ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005