1. LIMITATI NS F SM KE ALARMS
WARNING: Please read carefully and thoroughly.
• Australian Standard AS 1670.6 states the purpose of installing smoke alarms is to
provide early warning of a potentially life threatening condition and provide the
maximum possible exit time.
• Smoke alarms have sensing limitations. Ionisation sensing alarms may detect invis-
ible fire particles (associated with fast flaming fires) sooner than photoelectric
alarms. Photoelectric sensing alarms may detect visible fire particles (associated
with slow smouldering fires) sooner than ionisation alarms. Home fires develop in
different ways and are often unpredictable. For maximum protection, both ionisation
and photoelectric alarms should be installed.
• A battery powered alarm must have a battery of the specified type, in good
condition and installed properly.
• AC powered alarms (without battery backup) will not operate if the AC power has
been cut off, such as by an electrical fire or an open fuse.
• Smoke alarms must be tested regularly to make sure the batteries and the alarm
circuits are in good operating condition.
• Smoke alarms cannot provide an alarm if smoke does not reach the alarm.
Therefore, smoke alarms may not sense fires starting in chimneys, walls, on roofs,
on the other side of a closed door or on a different floor.
• If the alarm is located outside the bedroom or on a different floor, it may not wake
up a sound sleeper.
• The use of alcohol or drugs may also impair one’s ability to hear the smoke alarm.
For maximum protection, a smoke alarm should be installed in each sleeping area
on every level of a home.
• Although smoke alarms can help save lives by providing an early warning of a fire,
they are not a substitute for an insurance policy. Home owners, landlords and ten-
ants should have adequate insurance to protect their lives and property.
