Smoke Alarms
Residential Maintenance
HOME ï„… RESIDENTIAL MAINTENANCE ï„… SMOKE ALARM
Smoke alarms will make a 'beep' or 'chirping' sound when they have a low battery or are faulty.
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When you’re sleeping you lose your sense of smell and sight. A smoke alarm siren will alert you if there was smoke from a fire. A fire only takes minutes to fill a whole room full of smoke! Smoke Alarms are compulsory in every home!
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Since 1 August 1997, Victorian law states that smoke alarms (complying with Australian standards AS 3786) must be installed in all homes, units, flats and townhouses. It is the legal responsibility of all owners and landlords to install working smoke alarms.
Residential homes constructed before 1st August 1997 need only 9 volt battery powered smoke alarms installed. Residential homes constructed after 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240 volt mains power. In addition a backup battery must be installed in the smoke alarm.
Who is Responsible for smoke Alarms?
If the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 (RTA) applies to residential premises, the landlord is not only responsible for the installation of a smoke alarm but also its ongoing maintenance as per section 68(1) of the RTA Landlord's duty to maintain premises:
"A landlord must ensure that the rented premises including fixtures and fittings provided by the landlord at the rented premises are maintained in good repair."
It is the tenant’s responsibility to:
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Test the smoke alarm every month to make sure it is working
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Contact their agent/Landlord if the smoke alarm is not working
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Contact their agent/landlord if the smoke alarm omits an occasional chirping noise as the battery or smoke alarm is faulty
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Why should I have a smoke Alarms?
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Test, inspect and report every 12 months
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Smoke Test and Audio Test reaches 90db
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Replace 9 volt batteries as required
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Vacuum around your smoke alarm vents
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Check expiry date (need to replace after 10 years)