A fire incident can close down operations, which can lead to 3 things- loss of life, loss of business revenue and loss of employment. These significant losses are all preventable, so it’s very important for everyone at home or in the workplace to be prepared for emergencies – especially a fire breaking out.
Reliable Early Warning Activation
Smoke alarms can alert occupants that a fire has started within the premises. Early smoke alarm activations can save everyone from a fire before it reaches flashover status. A flashover is a rapid fire that will engulf the property in minutes.
There are many kinds of smoke alarms and they also vary per manufacturer instructions on how they work.
Smoke Alarm Compliance in New Zealand
Under the New Zealand Building Code on F7 Warning systems- new houses, old properties, and homes undergoing repairs must have a smoke alarm placed along every escape route or common area. They must also be at least three metres in front of a bedroom door and the alarm should be audible enough (not less than 75 dBA) so it can be heard through closed doors.
According to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand board, smoke alarms should be:
The Photoelectric type of smoke detector.
Photoelectric smoke alarms respond well to all types of fires particularly smoldering fires.
Smoke alarms should be interconnected with all other smoke alarms in the premises.
This is to trigger all the other smoke alarms that a fire is happening in another area of the house.
Smoke alarm battery life
The smoke alarm unit must have a long battery life (at least 8 years), or be powered by the property’s electrical system.
Properly installed
Smoke alarms should be installed properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions and building compliance regulations. It would be to your advantage and safety to have a professional fire safety expert install all the smoke alarms in your property.
Though most residents would opt for a DIY approach in installing their smoke alarms, there are many considerations why you should hire an Fireco, the fire safety experts for a professional smoke alarm installation.
Benefits of Having your Smoke Alarm Professionally Installed:
- Reassurance that the smoke alarm has been fitted correctly and to the standards expected in New Zealand.
- Ensuring elderly family members are protected and their smoke alarm is actually fitted. Remember - a smoke alarm does nothing if it remains in a draw in the original packaging!
- For businesses and property owners, a professional smoke alarm installation expert can provide you with the necessary compliance certificates you need. They can guarantee that the smoke detector installation has been undertaken by qualified professionals.
Here are two sample categories from the checklist of the NZ Tenancy compliance form which most landlords need to fill out:
- 3.5 Are the smoke alarms the correct type and in the correct location?
- 3.6 Do all of your properties comply with the requirement for smoke alarms to be installed?
Now if you can’t vouch for a proper answer with any of these questions, you better hire a Fireco pro to do your smoke alarm installation so you can get your fire safety compliance done before your next tenancy period.
- No need to worry about tools or needing a big ladder when you hire a fire safety expert, they’ll come over with the right tools for the job, making sure all your smoke alarms are positioned at the right height and distance from exit points.
- Troubleshooting and analysing a faulty smoke alarm. One or two smoke alarms can develop certain malfunctions such as incessant beeping without any obvious heat or smoke triggers. A fire safety expert can ensure before they leave all is working as it should.
- The number and arrangement of smoke alarms in your home or business will largely depend on the layout of the house. If you live in a small flat with no rooms, having one smoke detector should suffice to cover the whole living and sleeping area. But if your home is a split-level or multi-level house with several sleeping quarters, or a large office in need of 20 smoke detector fittings for compliance, you definitely need to get a professional to do the smoke alarm installation cohesively.
- The law recommends interconnectivity between all smoke alarms in the premises, plus hardwiring all the units into the main electrical power source. The scale of this compliance requirement needs Fireco.
Fireco New Zealand can help you choose the most suitable smoke alarm for your fire safety needs. We can also advise you on the proper installation and placement of all your smoke detectors.
High-quality fire safety equipment is for everyone who has a home, a business and a family to protect. Save yourself from many headaches when installing a smoke alarm in your home, and go with a trusted local fire safety expert with years of experience in smoke alarm fittings.
Your One-Stop for Building Compliance and Fire Safety
Fireco is a company committed to fire safety in the Northland and Auckland areas. We are well known for our professional fire safety solutions for residential and commercial properties. Call us to inquire about our fire safety alarms at 0800 101 232 or email us info@fireco.co.nz
