Smokealarms,doneright.

Smoke alarms save lives, but only when they work. According to the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), you are twice as likely to die in a house fire without a working smoke alarm, and the majority of fatal house fires occur in homes where alarms are absent, disabled, or non-functional. When an alarm is missing, expired, or poorly placed, it cannot give your family the time they need to get out safely.

Most homeowners don't realise that smoke alarms have a 10-year lifespan. After that, the sensor degrades, and the alarm can fail silently. The right type of alarm also matters: photoelectric sensors provide a much more reliable early warning for smouldering house fires than older ionisation models, and placement is just as important as the unit itself.

Under Western Australia’s Building Regulations 2012, it is a strict legal requirement that compliant, mains-powered (hardwired) smoke alarms are installed prior to the sale, transfer, or renting of any dwelling. To be compliant, these alarms must be less than 10 years old, in full working order, and interconnected in homes built or renovated after 1 May 2015. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to $5,000. Whatever your situation, having your alarms properly installed and certified by a licensed electrician is the standard your home deserves.