Fire Safety a priority in the bedroom

Victoria’s Fire Authorities want to see a smoke alarm in every bedroom in Victoria. And they’re looking to the building industry for help in making that happen.

interconnected where there’s more than one.

So why, as a builder, would you go further and recommend clients install more smoke alarms at a greater cost?

We know smoke alarms are compulsory under the National Construction Code and must be installed in every residential building. For example, in a class 1a building, they must be placed in corridors or hallways around bedrooms or between bedrooms and the rest of the house. In builds since 1997, they must be hardwired and since 2014,

Clients look to builders for professional advice on their build. And your advice will vary based on your client’s priorities. That might be timelines or budget, but it’s also about best practice.

Best practice for fire safety means a smoke alarm in every bedroom and living area. Anywhere in the home which is a designated sleeping area or where people might fall asleep.

Research shows that 72% of fire fatalities occur in bedrooms and living areas. That’s because fire risk is greatest when people are sleeping. Without a working smoke alarm, people simply do not wake up. Sense of smell is diminished, and smoke puts us into a deeper sleep.

Given that, it’s a disturbing statistic that only 17% of Victorians have a smoke alarm in any bedroom. Of the 723 house fires in Victoria last year, 110 started in the bedroom. And with a closed door between the fire and the nearest smoke alarm, its often too late before the alarm is raised.

Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) are working to raise awareness through public awareness campaigns, community engagement and dedicated smoke alarm installation programs for vulnerable communities. ‘We’re putting the message out there but there’s still a misconception that a smoke alarm in the hallway is enough to protect anyone sleeping in the bedrooms’, says CFA Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook. ‘But the research shows that most children under ten will not wake up to a beeping smoke alarm, so it’s important that you can hear them as early as possible to safely escape.’

Fire Rescue Victoria Assistant Chief Fire Officer – Community Resilience Darren McQuade agrees, citing the latest research from Fire and Rescue NSW. ‘If a fire starts in a bedroom and the door is closed, the smoke alarm outside the bedroom will not sound. That’s why we recommend that the smoke alarms in your home are interconnected, so when one goes off, the rest do, and you have a higher chance of responding regardless of where you are at the time.’

For more information on why recommending smoke alarms in all bedrooms and living areas is the best advice you can give your clients, visit https://www.vic.gov.au/smoke-alarms

BELOW: The ‘A Bedroom Essential’ campaign is a joint initiative between CFA and FRV to urge Victorians to install interconnected smoke alarms in all bedrooms, hallways and living areas.