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Test & clean your smoke alarms regularly
Smoke alarms are required by the New Zealand building code, but they also provide peace of mind. It’s essential to regularly clean, check and test your smoke alarms to make sure they’re doing their job.
How to clean & test smoke alarms
Dust or grime can impact how well the alarm can detect smoke, so make sure they are clean and clear of any debris. You can do this with compressed air or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. Blow or vacuum around the outside of the alarm, and you can wipe it down with a damp cloth but don’t let any water enter the unit.
To test your smoke alarm, press the test button. You should hear a loud beep or a few beeps, if you don’t hear a sound, your alarm probably needs new batteries. If you have a long life alarm, no sound means it’s time to replace the unit.
Changes to the NZ Building Code Smoke Alarm Requirements
As of November 2024, the New Zealand Building Code Acceptable Solutions for Protection from Fire (C/AS1 and C/AS2) has been amended to make interconnected smoke alarms the minimum fire safety system for new built homes and substantial renovations.
Where to place your smoke alarms
The New Zealand Fire Service recommends that at the very least you have one smoke alarm on every floor of your house, but for the very best coverage, an alarm in every room is preferred. If it isn’t possible to do that ensure there is an alarm installed in a hallway closest to the bedrooms.
Avoid placing photoelectric alarms in kitchens or bathrooms as day to day activities such as cooking and steam from showers can trigger false alarms.
Always try to place an alarm on the ceiling because smoke rises so alarms here give the earliest warning. They should be placed between 500mm and 1500mm of the highest point of a room to avoid the dead air that gathers at the highest point. If you do need to position an alarm on the wall, put it 100mm away from the ceiling, again to avoid dead air pockets.
New built homes and all existing homes that have undergone building work, must have interconnected alarms. The interconnected alarms must be in all bedrooms, living spaces, hallways, and landings, and on each level of a multi-level home. Where a kitchen is separated from living spaces and hallways by closable doors, an alarm suitable for kitchens (which may be a heat alarm) must be installed in the kitchen. Where they are required, alarms must be mounted within 10m of each other in any direction.
Types of smoke alarm
There are three types of smoke sensor technology: photoelectric, heat alarms and interconnected smoke alarms. If your home is a new build or has undergone building work requiring a consent, you will require interconnected smoke alarms.
As the photoelectric and heat alarms work differently, for best protection we recommend you have both. If you can’t have both, go for a photoelectric alarm as they are better at detecting different kinds of fire. Carbon monoxide detectors are also available for use in conjunction with smoke alarms.
Here’s a bit more about each:
1. Photoelectric smoke alarms
Photoelectric alarms have a sensing chamber which uses a beam of light and a light sensor. When smoke enters the chamber, it changes the amount of light that reaches the sensor and the alarm sounds when the smoke reaches a certain level. They are best at detecting slow burning fires which smoulder for a while. Photoelectric smoke alarms are not recommended for bathrooms or kitchens where steam from a shower or boiling pot may set them off.
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2. Heat alarms
A heat alarm is designed to detect heat instead of smoke. They work by measuring the temperature of the air in contact with it, activating when the temperature exceeds a maximum threshold. Heat alarms are recommended for kitchens, bathrooms and garages where steam or dust might be intentionally generated.
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3. Interconnected smoke alarms
Interconnected smoke alarms work as an interlinked system. Where more than one smoke alarm is needed to meet the requirements of the NZ Building Code, these alarms shall be interconnected so that when one activates, all smoke alarm devices in the household unit will sound. The interconnection between alarms may be hard wired or wireless using a radio frequency. Some of these systems also feature a remote to easily identify which alarm has identified the smoke.
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Smoke alarm battery types
All three types of alarm come with different batteries. Smoke alarms require either a 3-volt or 9-volt battery, but this could be a lithium, alkaline or heavy-duty (also sometimes called carbon-zinc) battery.
All work effectively but lithium batteries tend to have a longer life span. Some alarms are labelled ‘long-life’, which usually means they have a lithium battery. Opt for these if you don’t want to replace batteries every year, but remember, it’s still important to check batteries regularly.
Nuisance/False Alarms
- Low battery: If your smoke detector is making little chirping noises instead of a full alarm, then it may be trying to tell you that its batteries are running low.
- It’s dirty: Dust, dirt and bugs could be interrupting the sensor. The smoke alarm should be cleaned every few months.
- It’s too cold: Operating temperature on most smoke alarms is 5°C to 45°C. If the temperature drops below 5°C, which it often can do at night, it could set the alarm off. This can occur if the alarm is placed in an unheated room, outdoor area, or on an uninsulated outside wall.
- Humidity: High humidity in the air can set off photoelectric smoke alarms. The density of the moisture particles in the air trigger the alarm. The device has no way of distinguishing between light smoke particles and heavy moisture content. This can occur if the alarm is next to a shower, sauna or dishwasher.
Additional precautions
Smoke alarms are absolutely essential, but they are not the only way to keep yourself safe from a fire. Carbon monoxide alarms can keep you safe from dangerous fumes, and of course, fire extinguishers are also a fantastic thing to have on hand.
Carbon monoxide alarms
These alarms measure Carbon Monoxide levels over time and activate when levels become dangerous to a human. CO alarms don’t detect smoke, so they should be used alongside smoke alarms for extra protection. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, and potentially poisonous gas when in a confined space, an alarm is necessary to detect its presence. The main sources of CO in homes are gas stovetops, fireplaces, generators, or vehicles in an attached garage.
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Fire extinguishers, blankets & first aid
While smoke alarms will alert you to the presence of a fire, they won’t stop the fire spreading. It’s recommended that you should also have a fire extinguisher, a fire blanket, and a first aid kit at home too, just to keep your bases covered.
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