Firies repeat that photoelectric smoke alarms offer the best early warning of house fires
A current Australian federal government senate inquiry into the use of smoke alarms to prevent smoke- and fire-related deaths received a submission from Fire and Rescue New South Wales recommending the installation of photoelectric alarms in all bedrooms, living areas and escape paths. The Fire and Rescue NSW submission also recommended that photoelectric smoke alarms be hard-wired and connected to other alarms.
Fire and Rescue NSW told the inquiry that ionisation smoke alarms are more prone to false alarms from cooking, which prompted many people to disable them by taking and leaving out their batteries, rendering them useless.
The inquiry also heard that their research has “highlighted the inadequacy” of current national construction requirements that a smoke alarm be installed on each habitable level, meaning one alarm can serve a whole single-storey house. This can mean insufficient early warning, especially when a bedroom door was closed.
Furthermore, this issue is made worse by “modern furnishings that can contribute to faster fire development … the quick onset of flashover makes escape almost impossible,” when a whole area ignites.
The inquiry into smoke alarms will deliver its report on 16 March 2016.
All Family First smoke alarms are photoelectric
Family First offers only photoelectric smoke alarms, that comply with Australian Standards and are in line with the recommendations of state fire authorities, including Fire and Rescue NSW.