It was just another quiet night in Wellington for the Wilsons – until it wasn't. At 2:17 AM, Sarah Wilson jolted awake to an ear-piercing sound. Disoriented and groggy, she realised it was their smoke alarm. Within minutes, she had roused her husband and two children, and they safely evacuated their home. Fire and Emergency New Zealand arrived to find their kitchen engulfed in flames from a faulty appliance.

The Wilsons' story isn't unique:

• On average, there's a house fire in New Zealand every three hours
• In 80% of fatal house fires attended by Fire and Emergency NZ, smoke alarms were either not installed or not working
• Having working smoke alarms can reduce the risk of dying in a house fire by up to 50%

As we approach the end of daylight savings, it's the perfect time to check your smoke alarms. But do you know the latest regulations? Are your alarms up to date with the newest technology?

Read on to discover:

• Why interconnected alarms are becoming the new standard in NZ
• How "smart" smoke detectors are revolutionising home safety
• The surprising Kiwi connection to the ‘invention’ of daylight savings

Don't wait for a 2 am wake-up call. Protect your whānau today.

Noisy but effective

Have you ever burnt your toast in the morning, and the smoke alarm has gone off? The noise is unbearable, and you rush to turn it off. But that’s the point – it’s there to save your life when a fire starts in your home, especially when you’re asleep.

How often have you read news reports where people have died in a fire – and often, it’s reported that they didn’t have smoke alarms.  That’s because people are often asleep when a fire starts. They don’t even wake up, falling unconscious and suffering from the toxic fumes they’ve inhaled – if they’d had smoke alarms, the loud and insistent noise would have woken them, and they could have escaped and lived to tell the tale.

In New Zealand, smoke alarms are not just a good idea – they're the law. All rental properties must have working smoke alarms, and by the end of November this year, new builds or renovations requiring building consent must install interconnected alarms.

So firstly, if you’re in a rental property, and you don’t have smoke alarms, your landlord should legally have them fitted, and secondly, if you’re in a new build, or you’re renovating, they must legally be fitted too. Once you have them, you must check them at least twice a year.

How often have you been annoyed by that chirping sound in the middle of the night, only to realise it's your smoke alarm's way of telling you it needs attention? If you're nodding while you read this, it's time to get on that ladder and check them, even if it was only checked a month ago.

How smoke alarms work

Smoke alarms use either ionisation, a small amount of radioactive material to detect smoke particles, or photoelectric technology, which uses a light beam and sensor to detect smoke particles in the air. Ionisation alarms are generally more responsive to flaming fires, while photoelectric alarms are better at detecting smouldering fires. For optimal protection, experts recommend using both types of dual-sensor alarms in your home.

Legal requirements and best practices

From November this year, interconnected smoke alarms will be adopted as the minimum fire safety system in new residential builds in New Zealand. This means every new home constructed after this date must have either hard-wired or wirelessly interconnected alarms. Interconnected alarms work when one alarm detects smoke, all the alarms in the house will sound.

Smoke alarms must be installed in all bedrooms, living spaces, hallways, and landings and on each level of a multilevel home within 10 metres of each other in any direction.

Where a kitchen is separated from living spaces and hallways by closable doors, a suitable kitchen alarm, such as a heat alarm, must be installed in the kitchen.

All alarms should have a hush button and a test button. The sound level should comply with NZS 4514:202 – not less than 75 dBA at the sleeping position. Battery-operated alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

Smart integration for enhanced safety

Just as we're seeing a rise in 'smart' homes for lighting and other appliances, smoke alarm technology is also getting smarter. Modern smoke alarms can now be integrated into your home's smart system, sending alerts to your phone when they detect smoke, even if you're not at home. Some can even distinguish between steam and smoke, reducing false alarms.

Smart smoke alarms can include:

• Smart interconnected systems
• Voice alerts with customisable messages
• Combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Self-testing alarms
• Extended battery life (up to 10 years)
• Sleek, low-profile designs
• Strobe light alerts for the hearing-impaired
• Integration with home automation systems
• Smartphone notifications
• Environmental sensors (temperature, humidity)

A small effort to save your life and home

1. Use the test button to test your alarms twice a year. Daylight saving clock adjustments in April and September are a good way to remember.
2. Vacuum over the alarms to prevent dust build-up, which can set them off.
3. Replace batteries annually (unless you have 10-year sealed battery alarms).
4. Replace the entire unit every 10 years.

Remember, smoke alarms are only effective if they're working properly. A few minutes of maintenance can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

While smoke alarms are crucial, they're just one part of a comprehensive fire safety plan. Ensure you have fire extinguishers in key areas of your home, plan and practice escape routes with your family, and consider installing a sprinkler system for added protection.

Did you know?

We owe the concept of daylight savings and the invention of modern smoke alarms to two innovative individuals – one of them a Kiwi!  In the late 1800s, Kiwi scientist George Hudson proposed shifting clocks to maximise daylight, revolutionising how we structure our days. This spirit of practical innovation found an echo decades later when, in the 1960s, American inventor Duane Pearsall tackled a different challenge: early fire detection in homes. His creation of the first battery-powered smoke detector would prove just as impactful, ushering in a new era of domestic safety that continues to protect millions worldwide today.

No Shock Electrical can supply and install completely wire-free units that comply with the regulatory codes, and don't rely on the internet, complete with 10-year batteries. Want to find out more about these options and installation for your home? Contact us here.