FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Interconnected means that the smoke alarms communicate with each other so that if one smoke alarm activates all the smoke alarms in the home go off, making it more likely that all persons have the best chance of getting out before they are overcome by smoke and die.

Most fires that result in death start in the lounge room or the bedroom. 

Recent research has shown that when a fire starts in a bedroom with the door closed, the smoke alarms in the hallway do not activate. Even with the bedroom door open, the hallway smoke alarm may not activate in time to allow people in the bedrooms to get out. It makes sense, therefore, that smoke alarms should be installed inside bedrooms. 

Research also tells us that almost all children do not wake to the sound of a smoke alarm. This makes it important that adults in the home can hear the smoke alarms. In modern homes where the parents’ bedroom is often in another part of the house, they may not hear the smoke alarm in the children’s bedrooms.

It is the nature of modern home design and the increased use of plastics and synthetic materials, that when a fire starts you may only have less than three minutes for everyone to wake up and get out of the house.

Interconnected Alarms are now mandatory in Queensland when upgrading, selling or renting your property.

Csiro is an Australian Government Research Organisation with responsibility for verifying the conformity of Fire Equipment to the endorsed standard and specification.

ANKA AJ Series Photolelectric Alarm Range has been laboratory tested and verified by CSIRO.

 The objectives of the CSIRO ActivFire® Scheme for certification and listing of active fire protection equipment includes the following outcomes:

• To verify the conformity (compliance) of equipment through physical testing and appraisal to relevant and endorsed standards and specifications (reference criteria).
• To verify and recognise approvals and certifications by other national and international bodies.
• To provide an effective and transparent mechanism for appraisal, testing, certification and listing of emerging and new technologies in the field of active fire protection equipment and systems.
• To provide reference documentation and information which supports the various building regulation and authority requirements for "Evidence of Suitability" for equipment used in building construction.
• To maintain a continuing process that provides means by which the conformity of changes to products can be submitted and verified.
• To maintain a Register of Fire Protection Equipment to publicly list and promulgate, products which meet established reference criteria for listing.

Link to CSIRO Activfire Website

 ActivFire Scheme (csiro.au) 

It is legal to self-install battery alarms and each order will be shipped with a CSIRO ACTIVFIRE certificate which can be used as proof of compliance to the AS3786:2014 standard.

If you’re not confident about self-installation, consider using a handyman service. There is no legal requirement to use a certified tradesperson, as the alarms are battery powered. You’ll still be saving hundreds of dollars.

It is not legal to self-install Hardwired Alarms. If installing 240v Hardwired Alarms, you must use the services of a licensed electrician.

 If you are selling or renting your residential property in Queensland from January 2022 you must ensure that a compliant alarm system has been installed prior to settlement / tenancy.

Smoke alarms in all dwellings must:

i)   be photoelectric (AS 3786-2014)

ii)  not also contain an ionisation sensor

iii) be less than 10 years old

iv) operate when tested 

v)  be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together. 

Smoke alarms must be installed on each storey:

 i)   In each bedroom

 ii) In hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or 

iii) If there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey; and 

iv) If there are no bedrooms on a storey at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling. 

"Smoke alarms must be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10-year battery, or a combination of both may be allowed".  

If there are existing hardwired alarms in the property, they must be replaced with  upgraded  240v interconnected hardwired alarms. Any additional alarms can be battery powered and must interconnect with the upgraded 240v unit.

The ANKA AJ-765si Battery powered Photoelectric Alarm available here on the online store is accredited and compliant to the standard (AS3786:2014). This unit is our best seller due to its affordability, accreditation and the ability of the homeowner to self-install.  We include a certificate of conformity with every order. This is required to demonstrate the alarms are to the required standard.

We are happy to offer advice if you are unsure of how many alarms you require to ensure that you are compliant with the regulations. 

enquiry@anka-security.com.au  

Photoelectric technology works by detecting large visible particles in the air.

Furnishings in our homes contain large amounts of combustible materials that smoulder. Photoelectric alarms are more sensitive to this type of fire danger and will detect a fire sooner.

Ionisation alarms react to many small particles typically produced by flaming fires, meaning that   it would take longer to alert that there is a fire in the property.

Depending on where you are in Australia, only Photoelectric alarms are permitted to be installed.