Smoke Alarm Recommendations

Bren20 on 28/07/2020 - 16:21
Last edited 28/07/2020 - 17:53 by 1 other user

I'm planning on getting new lights installed in the near future, and was planning on hardwiring some smoke detectors at the same time
I've heard that there isn't a whole lot of benefit to hardwired detectors as they still need a backup battery that needs to be replaced fairly often, so I've gone off this idea

I'm now thinking of getting wireless interlinked photoelectric smoke alarms, that have 10 year lithium batteries - https://www.optilifesafety.com.au/shop/interlinked-rf-photoe…

Is there anything else I should be considering in a smoke alarm? is carbon monoxide detection important?

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  MynyMouqe on 28/07/2020 - 17:59

  +1

  Best I've used are the Nest Protects - work really well, app connected so you can see how they're performing, and the ability to do some phone based silencing.

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    cimrak on 28/07/2020 - 18:11

    Do the Nest Protect's require a subscription?

    • 

      Jetstream on 28/07/2020 - 18:23

      No

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    conan2000 on 28/07/2020 - 18:33

    I have NEST protects and they are great. Can shut them off with an ap if we burn some toast or similar, rather than having to get something to reach a button on the ceiling. We have gas in the house so I wanted carbon monoxide as well. I know a couple of people that detected issues with carbon monoxide detectors, so would definitely suggest you have that feature as well.

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    Bren20 on 28/07/2020 - 18:46

    i'm not looking to get a nest as they're expensive and use the older technology (ionisation vs photoelectric)
    edit - I was wrong, Nest seem to use photoelectric

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      MynyMouqe on 29/07/2020 - 08:25

      +1

      Expensive? About $130 on special for something that has a massive quality of life improvement (never have to stretch to silence a false alarm, and never have to remember to test or replace a battery) over 10 years… and that's without the night light benefit.

      I think it's a bit of a no brainier myself!

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        Bren20 on 29/07/2020 - 09:32

        $130 x 6 detectors gets expensive

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          MynyMouqe on 29/07/2020 - 17:49

          @Bren20: That's a lot of smoke alarms! Do you really need that many?

          Still… would work out about $50 each for a good normal smoke alarm, so you're looking at $30 p/yr vs. $78 p/yr for all of the benefits. Even if you swap over gradually it's worth it IMHO.

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            Bren20 on 29/07/2020 - 22:58

            @MynyMouqe: It does feel like a lot of smoke alarms! I've taken the plunge on the ones I've linked to above, I just can't justify the added expense of nests, but I can see how they're useful

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  Australianjim on 28/07/2020 - 18:01

  Which state are you in? My understanding is that some states have specific requirements for smoke alarms like WA.

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    Bren20 on 28/07/2020 - 18:18

    I'm in Victoria

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  ChrisLevo on 28/07/2020 - 18:16

  https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/smoke-alarms

  Homes built after 1 August 1997 in Victoria need wired alarms.

  Linked alarms fitted by a sparky don't cost much and are cheap piece of mind.

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    Bren20 on 28/07/2020 - 18:45

    Thanks for the link, i'll go with CFA's recommnedations - I found another CFA link recommending 10 yr lithium batteries and using photoelectric rather than ionisation https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/documents/20143/4361227/2017_Smok…

    My home is much older than 1997 - I'm not against getting hardwired alarms but i'm not sure they actually provide much benefit above and beyond a unit with a 10 yr battery in it.