Installation of Smoke Detectors That Comply With Australian Standards
03 September 2019
Smoke detectors are mandatory for all residential and
commercial buildings across Australia. While certain local authorities may make
additional stipulations, all detector installations must comply with Australian
Standards. When you fail to adhere to these standards, your buildings will not
be safe for use, regardless of their purpose.
A Brief Explanation of the Requirements for Smoke Detectors in Residential
Structures
Smoke detectors need to be installed near or on the ceiling of every storey of
a residential building. Location of their installations must be ideal for not
only alerting awake occupants, but also those who are sleeping. The National
Construction Code or NCC classifies residential structures in the following
manner:
• Class 1a includes row houses, detached homes, townhouses, villa units and
terrace houses
• Class 1b includes guest houses, certain boarding houses and hostels
• Class 2 is for the sole-occupancy units, such as blocks of flats and
apartments.
• Class 3 includes residential sections of motels and hotels, backpacker
lodging establishments, residential areas of educational facilities and
accommodations for children, the disabled or the elderly.
• Class 4 covers the dwellings attached to shops and other non-residential
buildings.
The smoke detectors need to comply with the Australian Standard AS 3786. Most
of the models sold today should, but it is up to you to be certain of this
fact. Also, they need to be hardwired into the electrical mains of the
residential buildings along with containing a battery backup for when the power
fails if the structures have been built since August 1, 1997. Residential
buildings built prior to this day need to comply with the earlier Australian
Standard of AS 3786 – 1993. This regulation states that the smoke detectors
need to be in the correct locations with battery backups but hardwired versions
are not mandatory.
Information about the Regulations for
Smoke Detectors in Commercial Buildings
Regulations for smoke detectors in commercial structures are a bit more
complicated to explain. However, these detectors need to be part of the
essential safety measures set forth by the Victorian Building Act of 1993 along
with the 2006 Building Regulations. If the commercial building was built prior to
July 1, 1994, the owners need to adhere to the specification in Regulations
1212-1217. However, if the commercial building was constructed after July 1,
1994, the owners need to follow the Regulations 1201-1211. Each set of
regulations dictates the specifics clearly.
To ensure that your residential or commercial building adheres to Australian
Standards, contact Light-On Electrical. We will guide you in your choice of
smoke detectors as well as install them in the correct locations.
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