Many modern homes have bedrooms on different levels of the home. Some homes are long with bedrooms at each end. Some people sleep with doors closed. In all these cases it may take time for smoke to reach a smoke alarm, especially if doors are closed. Without a smoke alarm a fire is more likely to damage or destroy the property. It is also more likely to cause serious injury or death.
Some smoke alarms can be interconnected so that if one goes off, they all do. This system alerts occupants to get out and call fire services faster, saves lives, and potentially the property from significant damage. CFA and FRV recommend that smoke alarms should be interconnected, even in existing homes.
| TYPE | POWER | PROS/CONS |
| Good smoke alarms | Smoke alarms powered by a 9v battery | CONS - Cost to replace battery each year |
| Better smoke alarms | A smoke alarm powered by a 10-year lithium battery in a tamper proof chamber | PROS - The battery will not need to be replaced each year |
| Best smoke alarms | Wireless interconnected smoke alarm with a 10-year lithium backup battery | PROS - When one smoke alarm sounds, all smoke alarms will sound |
The table below lists several simple ways to ensure that your smoke alarm is working and will activate to protect you should a fire occur in your home:
| ACTION | WHEN | HOW |
| TEST Your smoke alarm batteries | Every month | Press and hold the test button until the smoke alarm beeps three times |
| CLEAN Your smoke alarms | Every year minimum | Dust, vacuum or gently wipe around the cover to clean it so it will sound if there is smoke |
| REPLACE Your 9v smoke alarm batteries | Every year | This advice is not relevant if you have a 10-year lithium battery smoke alarm |
| REPLACE All smoke alarm units | Every 10 years | It is best to replace with hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms. Otherwise, replace it with a unit that has a tamper proof chamber and 10-year lithium battery |
New legislation requires that all new homes (and those undergoing significant renovation) after May 2014, where there is a need for multiple smoke alarms, must be interconnected so that if one smoke alarm activates, they all do.
| PROPERTY TYPE | MINIMUM SMOKE ALARM REQUIREMENT |
| Residential home constructed before 1 August 1997 | Stand-alone 9v battery powered smoke alarms installed |
| Residential home constructed, largely renovated, or extended after 1 August 1997 | Hard wired smoke alarms that are connected to 240v mains power and have a back up battery |
| Residential home constructed, largely renovated, or extended after 1 May 2014 | Interconnected hard wired smoke alarms that are connected to 240v mains power and have a back up battery |
