Saving lives and protecting property.
The department has placed a smoke alarm advice sticker on the inside of a cupboard door (usually the linen cupboard) in your property. It provides this information about smoke alarms.
What are smoke alarms?
Smoke alarms are an early warning device for fires that sound an alarm throughout your property when activated.
Smoke alarms have been installed in your property for your safety. All smoke alarms are hardwired into your property's power supply. The alarms also have a battery back-up so that if the power supply is cut off (for example, by storm), the alarm will still sound if smoke is detected. The batteries remain charged through the mains power supply. This ensures the alarm will sound in the event of fire, even in a power black-out.
What should I do if my smoke alarm activates?
Find out what is activating the alarm. False alarms can be caused by smoke or steam from everyday activities such as burning toast, cooking vapours or showers.
If there is a fire:
- Don't fight the fire if there is any danger.
- Evacuate everyone from your property as quickly as possible.
- Call 000 from a neighbour's home for the fire brigade.
- If there is smoke cover your nose and mouth with a cloth and keep close to the floor when evacuating.
- If you live in a multi-unit complex and the fire starts in your unit, close the front door firmly when everyone is out. Use the nearest stairs to reach ground level. Call 000.
- If the fire starts in another unit, or in a common area, leave the building if it is safe. If not, stay within your unit and close your doors and windows to keep smoke out. Call 000.
- If your unit is in a building serviced by lifts, follow the emergency evacuation procedures to the exit. Call 000.
- Never return to save possessions.
See Fire and emergency evacuation.
If there is no fire:
If your alarm has been set off accidentally, you should follow these steps:
- Find the smoke alarm with the rapidly flashing red light.
- Ventilate the room/s by opening windows and doors, and fan the area around the alarm with a newspaper, tea towel or something similar. The alarm should stop when the cause of the fire alarm has been removed, which may take several minutes.
- Some alarms have hush buttons on the alarm or can be connected to a wall-mounted isolating switch. For these types of smoke alarms, press the hush button or the isolating switch for five seconds. This will temporarily stop the alarm. You must then ventilate the room/s.
- If the smoke alarm continues to sound once all of the smoke has cleared, contact the department's Call Centre (if in the Brisbane area) or your local QBuild office maintenance section for assistance.
How do I look after my smoke alarm?
Test your alarm once a week by doing the following:
If your alarm is round
- Check the red light on the cover flashes at least once every 60 seconds.
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Press the test button for up to 10 seconds to check the alarm is working. The alarm will stop a few seconds after the test button is released.
If your alarm is rectangular
- Check the green light on the cover of the alarm is on.
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Press the test button for up to 10 seconds to check the alarm is working. The alarm will stop a few seconds after the test button is released.
Clean your alarm every six months by doing the following:
- Vacuum lightly to remove dust, insects and cobwebs from the surface of the alarm.
- Wipe the alarm cover with a clean, damp (not wet) cloth.
- Dry the alarm cover with a clean lint-free cloth.
What else do I need to know about my smoke alarm?
- Never tamper with or open your alarm – this could result in an electrical shock.
- Never try to remove or replace batteries in your alarm.
- Do not allow paint, water or dust to contaminate your alarm.
- Avoid spraying aerosols or using solvents near your alarm.
What should I do if my smoke alarm is beeping?
- The alarm will beep periodically while the battery is recharging.
- Generally, this will occur after a power failure or if the power was disconnected and reconnected.
- If the beeping persists or there has been no recent power outage, contact the department's Call Centre (if in the Brisbane area) or your local QBuild maintenance section for assistance.
When should I call the maintenance section?
- If your smoke alarm is defective.
- If you have any concerns about looking after your smoke alarms.
Do I need to replace the battery?
No – all smoke alarms fitted by the department have a lithium battery with a ten-year lifespan.
What does it cost to operate a smoke alarm?
Approximately 70 cents per year.
What if I remove my smoke alarm?
Any removal of smoke alarms will be considered as damage to property and the costs to repair any damage will be charged to you (see Damage to your property)
