Wormald backs calls For Compulsory Smoke Alarms

Statement from Wormald NZ

Media Release January 28, 2009

Wormald backs calls For Compulsory Smoke Alarms

Wormald, New Zealand's leading fire protection and detection company says it backs recent calls for making smoke alarms mandatory in homes.

Wormald General Manager and Vice President for New Zealand & Fiji, Keith Blind says that while it may not be popular in some quarters, compulsion is the quickest route to improving fire safety in the nation's homes.

"Continuing educational efforts by the Fire Service and fire protection companies like Wormald are very important. An awareness of the importance of smoke alarms in potentially saving lives, will make a real change and ensure that the greatest number of homes are fitted with smoke alarms.

"Introducing legislation is the strongest possible enforcement, signaling the need for and efficacy of smoke alarms.

"Sure there will be the inevitable questions and issues around the enforcement of such legislation, but safety concerns are paramount and should be placed ahead of largely philosophical debate."

"If there is an appetite for regulation, the starting point could be to make built-in smoke alarm systems mandatory in new homes and home extensions."

Mr Blind says that circumstances like the death of four children in an Auckland house fire earlier this month was extremely distressing, and dismayed everyone working in the fire protection industry.

"Incidents such as this tend to make us feel powerless, and calls for making smoke alarms compulsory are a very natural response."

In 2006 New South Wales in Australia passed legislation to make smoke alarms mandatory and Queensland followed in July 2007. At the time, while 82 percent of NSW homes had at least one smoke alarm, making them compulsory was another way of highlighting their importance.

Mr Blind says while the appropriate agencies and authorities consider mandating the installation of smoke alarms, educational efforts would be maintained about the two types of alarms available, where they should be placed in a home, and the need for ongoing maintenance on alarms, particularly the need to change the battery.

There are two basic types of smoke alarms, both of which are effective; however, each has varying capabilities.

Firstly, photoelectric smoke alarms respond quickly to smouldering fires and dense smoke as they detect visible particles of a fire caused by such things as overheated electrical wiring. These types of fires often occur when people are asleep. These alarms are recommended for use in any room, except bathrooms. Ideally they are installed in bedrooms or hallways to sleeping areas. Photoelectric smoke alarms are less likely to be set-off by normal cooking fumes.

Then there are the ionisation smoke alarms that detect invisible particles of fire (or combustion) that may occur from cooking. These alarms respond quickly to fast flaming fires that produce very little visible smoke. These are recommended for installation in hallways, living rooms and bedrooms. Ionisation smoke alarms are usually less expensive.

Both types of alarms can be battery operated or hardwired to a home's main power source. Alarms can also be monitored by a specialist company like ADT Security.

Mr Blind says that maintenance of smoke alarms is as important as installation as a number of fire incidents in the past year had shown that there were alarms without batteries.

"Ideally batteries should be replaced at least every 12 months regardless of whether the alarm is signaling the need for replacement. They should also be vacuumed to remove dust."

ENDS

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