" Deadly " Smoke Alarms !

The CSIRO has warned that imported smoke alarms are on sale in many shops that do not meet the Australian standard.  The deficiency level varies from manufacturer to manufacturer but the decibel level of warning is usually too low to wake a sleeper and in some cases the smoke trigger is virtually useless.   Those purchasing these alarms are unprotected in the event of a house fire.

Last year twenty-one people lost their lives in house fires in New South Wales and investigations show that about half would have been saved had a working smoke alarm been in place and an escape plan been practised. The problem is that importers seeking to offer goods at the lowest possible price are legally able to bring in smoke alarms made in other countries that have no bearing on the manufacturing standard required here - and can range from near that level to completely useless.

The government and the fire authorities urge people to buy and install a smoke alarm and this is negated if what is offering in the shops is below standard, but capable of deceiving buyers that it is a legitimate smoke alarm.   We need a law change to make any smoke alarm that does not comply with the Australian standard AS 3786 an illegal import.

Local government regulations require wired in smoke alarms to be part of the electrical installation in all new homes, but existing house stocks rely on the owners and occupiers to provide their own fire safety needs.  Usually, these reasonable priced devices which meet the Australian standard are self installed - and the biggest problem is reminding owners to regularly test them and replace fading batteries.  In recent times, the start of daylight saving is being used as the reminder date to urge people to check smoke alarm batteries.

Christmas gift giving time is coming around and a new smoke alarm would be a useful gift for those who do not have one, but now that this CSIRO warning has sounded the alert, buyers would be wise to carefully check the merchandise offering - and reject any smoke alarm that does not have that AS 3876 stamped on it's compliance plate.

Fire safety is an ongoing subject of law revision.  Fire sprinklers are required as an integral part of all apartment buildings above three stories in height and it is likely that will soon be lowered to any multi-unit structures, and there has been some consideration to requiring sprinkler systems in individual new homes.  Cost may be an obstacle, but certainly sprinklers could be an option for the upper echelon of high priced dwellings.

One very handy concession seems vastly under used in this state.   Pensioners and people with limited mobility because of age or illness can call on the fire brigade for an annual check on their smoke alarms - and a free battery replacement.    The fire brigade will make a house call and ensure that their smoke alarm is functioning properly and that is has a reliable battery in place - and this is completely without a cost charge.

There is no doubt that smoke alarms save lives.   The government needs to take swift action to choke off dodgy imports that simply fail to do the intended job, but are capable of deceiving the public that they have full protection.    Those are even more deadly - than having no smoke alarm at all !