Did you know that NSW Fire Brigades estimates that 59 per cent of deaths from house fires occur during sleeping hours and 670,000 homes across the State do not have smoke alarms, leaving house occupants at a great risk. In the last five years, 144 house fire deaths occurred across NSW.
In an effort to protect residents from this risk, the NSW Government introduced the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Smoke Alarms) Regulation 2006. This requires smoke alarms for all houses, flats and units that do not currently have them installed.
The new Regulation commenced on 1 May 2006 and home owners are encouraged to take action to install smoke alarms as soon as possible.
This fact sheet provides the information you need to prepare for the new requirements. A full copy of the Regulation is available on NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s Office website listed below.
New smoke alarm requirements
The new regulation requires owners of houses, flats
and units (homes) to ensure smoke alarms are installed in their residences. Owners of homes that have
smoke alarms installed in compliance with a current
or previous requirement need take no additional action. Also, homes where smoke alarms have already been voluntarily installed are not required to take action if their smoke alarms are in good working order and in the right locations (see below for details).
Building types required to have smoke alarms
The new smoke alarm requirements apply to the following residential building types as classified under the Building Code of Australia (BCA):
- houses and townhouses, etc.
- apartments and blocks of flats
- residences above shops and caretaker flats and relocatable homes such as manufactured homes and certain moveable dwellings.
- Type of smoke alarms requiredAny smoke alarm that complies with the Australian Standard (AS) 3786–1993, Smoke Alarms (which should be noted on the product packaging) will meet the new requirements. These alarms can be hard-wired (powered from the mains electricity supply) or battery- operated at the owners’ choice.
If you would like new smoke alarms installed or your existing ones tested please contact Marty of AMCM Electrical Pty Ltd – 0449 634 794
