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What smoke Alarm to Buy
& Where to put them

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What type of smoke alarm should I buy?

PSL Fire & Safety recommend long-life photoelectric or interconnectable smoke alarms. 

You will find that photoelectric alarms are often sold as 10-year alarms; it’s more accurate to say they have a long life. The life of the battery will depend on how many times the alarm is tested and the conditions (e.g., temperature).  

 Long-life smoke alarms have built-in batteries, which are required by law for landlords to install. This removes the temptation to remove the batteries to use them with remote controls, etc.

Interconnectable Alarms

Interconnectable smoke alarms are photoelectric smoke alarms connected via Bluetooth, wireless or radio wave technology. 

If a fire is detected in one room of the house, interconnected alarms will trigger all the alarms in your home so that everyone will be alerted to a fire sooner. This is especially important in multi-storey homes and homes with long hallways. 

According to the amended Building Code Acceptable Solutions for Protection from Fire (C/AS1 and C/AS2), new homes and substantial renovations will require interconnected smoke alarms as the minimum fire safety system starting November 2023. 

The NZS 4514:2021 which is the standard for Interconnected smoke alarms for houses allows for wireless or hard-wired interconnection, using either 10-year long-life battery-powered or 240v mains-powered alarms. 

The changes will have a 12-month transition period ending in November 2024. 
interconenctable
  • Install on the ceiling

    At least 30cm from the wall.
  • Ideally Install In

    Every bedroom, living room and hallway
  • Install away from..

    light fittings, fires and extractor fans
  • Dont install smoke alarms in..

    Kitchens, bathrooms or garage. Instead install heat alarms.
As you can see from the diagram, it is recommended you install heat alarms in the kitchen, bathroom and garage (not shown on the diagram).

The minimum required smoke alarms are in the hallway of every floor you have in the house, although it is highly recommended you install smoke alarms in the living room and each bedroom you have.
Smoke-Alarm-Floorplan-Graphic-2021-04-15__ResizedImageWzYwMCw2NzRd
With interconnectable alarms, if one alarm goes off in the house, all alarms go off. This gives you the optimum time to evacuate the house, giving you the best chance of survival. 

It is also highly advisable to test your alarms every month to ensure they are operational. We offer an optional remote control for the interconenctable alarms that makes this very easy. 

We also offer magnetic plates that allow you to easily install alarms on the ceiling without drilling into the ceiling panel.