RECENT home fire deaths have prompted Fire+Rescue NSW to urge homeowners, tenants and landlords to be diligent in ensuring their dwellings have sufficient smoke alarms, and that they’re checked regularly.
“Unfortunately, there have been several house fire fatalities in recent months,” Coffs Harbour Fire Station officer Tim George said.
“Everyone should check their ‘bleeping’ smoke alarm once a month. If it doesn’t beep, replace the battery; if it’s more than 10 years old, replace the alarm.”
For homeowners, NSW legislation stipulates that smoke alarms must be installed on every level of a home.
This includes owner-occupied homes, rental properties, relocatable homes, caravans and campervans or any other residential building where people sleep.
“These alarms must be placed in hallways near bedrooms,” Mr George added.
“However, if bedrooms are in different parts of the house, you must have alarms installed in each of these locations.
“If there are no hallways associated with the bedrooms, alarms must be installed between the part of the home containing the bedroom and the rest of the house.
“You must have smoke alarms on all levels of your home – even if there are no bedrooms located on that level.”
For tenants, NSW legislation mandates that the landlord is responsible for ensuring your residence meets the minimum requirements of having at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of a home.
“Tenants must notify their landlord or agent if they discover that a smoke alarm is not working, including when the battery needs to be changed,” Mr George said.
“Tenants must notify their landlord when they change a battery in a smoke alarm or engage a licensed electrician to repair or replace an alarm.”
The different circumstances under which a tenant can change a battery or engage a licensed electrician can be found on the Department of Fair Trading NSW’s website. (This does not apply to social housing tenants.)
Landlords and agents must check smoke alarms every year to ensure they are working and are replaced every 10 years.
Fire+Rescue NSW provides free safety visits to homes. To request a safety visit, call your local fire station or visit its website at fire.nsw.gov.au
During a safety visit, the fire officer will:
– Check that working smoke alarms are installed in the correct areas.
– Install a long-life battery-powered smoke alarm, if required.
– Replace existing smoke alarm batteries – all at no cost.
– Provide tailored fire safety advice.
By Andrea FERRARI
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