Some of the most important smoke alarms and frequently chosen alarms by Australian citizens are listed on one hand. They are typically ionisation smoke alarms, photoelectric smoke alarms and dual-sensor smoke alarms. The costs of installing these are different from each other and are listed their cost numbers as follows:
- Ionisation Smoke Alarms: Between $10 and $50 per unit
- Photoelectric Smoke Alarms: Between $18 and $100 per unit
- Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms: Between $20 and $60 or more per unit.
But if your choice is to instead go with a professional electrician to avail smoke alarm installation, then the cost would reach around $50 and $200 per alarm.
What Is The Need For A Smoke Alarm?
- Early Fire Detection: If your number one priority is ensuring your safety from fire hazards and accidents, then you need to install a smoke alarm right away. In fact, smoke alarms have sensors and detection mechanisms that promptly trigger the alarm activation and do pre-flame detection.
- Protection During Sleep: There are also smoke alarms that can be installed specifically in hallways just outside the sleeping areas and bedrooms for protection during sleep. So, when you are asleep, a smoke alarm detects any kind of fire hazards to protect your safety
- Life-Saving Alert: A smoke alarm is your life-saving alert as it wakes you up from a deep sleep by giving you warning signs by creating high-decibel-level noises. Therefore, if you install it in a proper place that has access to a very large space, then it would be very beneficial for you and your family.
- Fire Prevention: One of the major contributions of a smoke alarm is to prevent fire by alerting the occupant towards potential fire hazards. This includes detection of overheating appliances, electrical problems, etc
- Compliance With Building Codes: for every smoke alarm that is installed in a home the building will have a specific code given by the Australian jurisdiction and local regulatory body. This building code and compliance state that a property with a smoke alarm ensures the occupant's safety.
Thus, it is important to install a smoke alarm in your home to protect yourself when you are asleep or not. So, start your search today for gathering tools and materials for smoke alarm installation and await the results.
How Much Does A Smoke Alarm Cost?
The smoke alarm cost is based on different factors such as the alarm type, its brand and features. The potential cost of a few smoke alarms is estimated here in the form of a list.
- Battery-Powered Smoke Alarms: Ranges from $10 to $30 or more per unit
- Hard-Wired Smoke Alarms: Ranges from $20 to $50 or more per unit
- Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms: Ranges from $20 to $60 or more per unit
- Smart Smoke Alarms: Ranges from $50 to $150 or more per unit
- Photoelectric Smoke Alarms: Ranges from $18 to $100 per unit
- Ionisation Smoke Alarms: Ranges from $10 to $50 per unit
- Wi-Fi Smoke Alarms: Ranges from $30 to $60 or more per unit
Features To Look At When Choosing A Smoke Alarm
- Interconnectivity: When two smoke alarms are interconnected, they communicate to ensure all the occupants are alerted despite their location on the premises.
- Smart Technology: Ensure the smoke alarm you are purchasing is built with smart technology so that it sends alerts to your smartphone and other integrated systems.
- Hardwired And Battery Backup: An alarm with hardwired and battery backup into an electrical system provides continuous power to the system with uninterrupted protection.
- Voice Alerts: With voice alerts as a feature in a smoke alarm you can hear clear and spoken instructions in case of emergencies.
- Carbon Monoxide Detection: Choose a smoke alarm that detects smoke and carbon monoxide at the same time and gives you protection against their poisoning.
- Tamper Resistance: If a smoke alarm has a tamper-resistant feature, then it deters unauthorised removal and alarm disabling.
- Dual Sensor Technology: There are some smoke alarms that are a combination of photoelectric as well as ionisation sensors. This feature ensures the effectiveness of your smoke alarm in detecting flaming fires, slow fires, smouldering fires and faster-burning fires.
State Laws Regarding Smoke Alarms
- Installation Requirements- Most Australian states made it mandatory to follow the smoke alarm installation requirements such as the location of bathrooms, kitchens and sleeping areas. These regulations are applicable to both residential premises and commercial properties.
- Power Source- There is also a set of Australian laws that talks about the power source of smoke alarms and their safety. Certainly, a primary source of power is a home’s electrical system and the secondary power source should be a backup battery.
- Compliance And Penalties- Non-compliance with the regulations of a smoke alarm results in severe penalties ranging from small finance to typical enforcement actions. You might also face legal consequences such as court appearances and injections if you are persistent about non-compliance with smoke alarm regulations.
- Maintenance- There is one specific law that especially focuses on maintenance requirements of a smoke alarm which usually includes testing and replacing the batteries. In fact, the jurisdiction also speaks about maintenance of interconnection alarms, cleaning, replacing expired alarms, etc.
- Age Of Alarms- there are also some Australian jurisdictions that particularly have regulations in regard to the age factor of a smoke alarm. So, one needs to regularly replace the smoke alarm in order to ensure the optimal performance of the alarm every few years.
So, be a step ahead by ensuring your safety by abiding by all these state laws set by Australian governing bodies in regard to smoke alarms. In fact, this is not just beneficial for your safety but also improves the performance of the installed smoke alarm.
Cost It Takes To Install A Smoke Alarm
Depending on two key factors labour cost and the number of alarms costs of installing a smoke alarm can be estimated. In fact, if you want to choose a professional for smoke alarm installation then you get assistance from an electrician and you will be charged as follows:
- Labour Cost: From $45 to $60 per hour.
- Installation Of 1 Smoke Alarm: Between $140 and $170.
- Installation Of 2 Smoke Alarms: About $310.
Once you hire an electrician you will also be suggested how many smoke alarms your house requires. An expert may also recommend the installation of a carbon monoxide alarm and heat sensing alarm in a place like a kitchen. Based on your consent and requirement, an electrician installed the alarm and cost your smoke alarm installation accordingly. Thus, search for a certified electrician nearby for a quick smoke alarm installation at a budget-friendly cost.
Costs of various services and materials in this cost guide should be taken as estimates. These depend on location, preference and demands in the market.
