GPG-08 V1 Residential Smoke Alarms
GPG
08
Good Practice Guide
Good Practice Guide
Residential Smoke Alarms
Version 1 – February 2020
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GPG-08 V1 Residential Smoke Alarms
Table of Contents
1
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2
Audience ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
3
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3
4
Why are smoke alarms important? ..................................................................................................................................... 3
5
Selecting Smoke Alarms ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.1
Detection Types — Photoelectric vs Ionisation .............................................................................................................. 4
5.2
Warning Types ................................................................................................................................................................ 6
5.3
Interconnection ability .................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.4
Power Source .................................................................................................................................................................. 7
6
Locating Smoke Alarms ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
6.1
Key factors in locating smoke alarms.............................................................................................................................. 7
6.2
Ensure smoke alarm locations avoid dead air spaces ..................................................................................................... 8
6.3
Nuisance and False Alarms ............................................................................................................................................. 8
7
Servicing smoke alarms ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
7.1
When and how should smoke alarms be serviced? ........................................................................................................ 9
7.2
Service records ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
7.3
Service Life ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9
7.4
Disposal ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
8
Who can work on smoke alarms ....................................................................................................................................... 10
8.1
Installation .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
8.2
Servicing ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10
9
Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
10
Regulatory Issues .............................................................................................................................................................. 11
10.1
Australian Legislative Framework ................................................................................................................................. 11
10.2
Legislative Requirements .............................................................................................................................................. 12
11
State and Territory Smoke Alarm Compliance .................................................................................................................. 13
11.1
New buildings ............................................................................................................................................................... 13
11.2
Existing buildings .......................................................................................................................................................... 13
12
Areas for improvement ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
13
Escape plans ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
14
Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Appendix A — Building Classifications ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Appendix B —Legislation and guidance documents from regulators and fire brigades ................................................................ 16
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Good Practice Guide
GPG-08 V1 Residential Smoke Alarms
1 Purpose
This Good Practice Guide is intended to provide practical guidance on:

the important factors impacting on smoke alarm performance;

the regulatory requirements relating to smoke alarms in residential occupancies in each state and territory;
and

the development of escape plans.
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Good Practice Guide
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