Why Photoelectric Smoke Alarms are the Best Choice for Your Fire Safety – and Why Your Home Shouldn’t Be Without Them
When it comes to fire safety, not all smoke alarms are created equal. In New Zealand, Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) strongly recommends photoelectric smoke alarms as the best choice for homes and businesses alike. At Fireco, we couldn’t agree more – and we’re here to help you understand why choosing the right type of alarm matters.
Why Photoelectric Smoke Alarms?
Photoelectric smoke alarms are designed to detect slow, smouldering fires: these are the type most likely to occur while you sleep, and the type most likely to cause fatalities. These fires can take time to burst into flames, but they produce a lot of toxic smoke in the process. Photoelectric alarms sense this smoke much earlier than other types, giving you precious extra time to react and evacuate.
Ionisation vs Photoelectric
There are two main types of smoke alarms:
- Ionisation alarms: Better at detecting fast-flaming fires, but more prone to false alarms from cooking or steam.
- Photoelectric alarms: More reliable at detecting the types of fires that typically happen in real-world residential and commercial environments.
Because of this, photoelectric alarms are considered safer and more reliable overall, especially for early detection and fewer false alarms.
Fire and Emergency NZ’s Recommendations
According to FENZ, the gold standard for smoke alarm safety in New Zealand is:
- Photoelectric smoke alarms in all living areas, hallways, and bedrooms – including sleep outs.
- Heat alarms in kitchens and laundry areas are a good choice, as smoke alarms can be falsely triggered from cooking smoke or steam.
- Smoke alarms installed on every level of your home or business.
- Test your alarms monthly and if you have a 9V battery alarm, replace the batteries once a year.
- Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years, as the sensors lose sensitivity over time. Go for long-life photoelectric models over traditional ones when replacing outdated alarms.
FENZ also encourages the use of interconnected smoke alarms, especially in larger homes or commercial buildings. Interconnected alarms mean that when one goes off, all of them do, which means everyone’s alerted no matter where they are in the building.
Smoke Alarm Legal Requirements in New Zealand
Smoke alarm requirements vary depending on the type of building and its use.
Residential tenancies (under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2016) must have:
- At least one working smoke alarm within 3 metres of each bedroom, and
- Smoke alarms on each level of the property.
- Landlords must ensure alarms are working at the start of each tenancy, and tenants must not remove batteries or disable them.
Commercial properties may require more advanced fire detection systems as part of their Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) compliance. This often includes interconnected systems, monitored alarms, and regular IQP inspections.
Not sure what’s required for your site? Fireco can help with professional advice, installation, and ongoing compliance support.
Upgrade Your Fire Safety with Fireco
Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord, or business owner, choosing the right type of smoke alarm could save lives. Fireco offers:
- High-quality photoelectric smoke alarms
- Hardwired or battery-powered options, including long-life batteries
- Installation by qualified professionals
- Maintenance and testing to keep your alarm stay operational and up to code
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Make sure your property is protected with the alarms Fire and Emergency NZ recommends, which you can find here.
Get in touch with Fireco today for expert help and peace of mind.
