Tag: wireless interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm

Ever wondered how to physically attach our ZEN smoke alarms onto your ceiling? You won’t believe how easy it is! A major benefit of ZEN wireless 10-year battery powered smoke alarms is that there is no electrical wiring involved – this means they can be installed without an electrician. ZEN smoke alarm bundle packs will even arrive to you already interconnected together as a group – no need to pair them up as we’ve done it for you!

Checklist:

  • ZEN wireless smoke alarm and its accompanying mounting bracket
  • Screws and anchor plugs (included with our ZEN smoke alarms)
  • Screwdriver or a cordless drill with 5mm drill bit
  • Pencil

STEP 1: Twist the mounting bracket to remove it from the rear of the ZEN smoke alarm.

STEP 2: Use a pencil to mark the location of the two mounting bracket slots on the ceiling position.

STEP 3: Use a 5mm drill bit to drill a pilot hole at each pencil location marked on the ceiling. Now insert an anchor plug into each pilot hole and use the two screws to affix the mounting bracket to the chosen position.

STEP 4: Press the ZEN smoke alarm to the mounting bracket and firmly rotate clockwise to lock it in place onto the bracket.

STEP 5: Push the surface of the ZEN smoke alarm (test button) to ensure it is working properly. If you have more than one interconnected smoke detector, then the others in the same group will also activate within approximately 10 seconds (this is normal). Allow all the interconnected smoke alarms to finish their full test cycle without pressing any other buttons – they will all stop automatically after approximately 10 seconds.

Where Should I Install

Wireless Interconnected Smoke Alarms?

Queensland smoke alarms should be placed inside every bedroom and the interconnecting hallway outside the bedrooms – if there is no common hallway outside the bedrooms then install a smoke alarm on the nearest route of exit or travel path from the dwelling. If it is a multi-story dwelling then there must be at least one smoke alarm installed on every level of the property.

Additionally, smoke detectors should not be installed within 30cm from the edge of a wall, within 30cm from a light fixture, 40cm from an air con vent and also within 40cm from a ceiling fan blade. It is preferable to install smoke detectors on the ceiling, as opposed to the wall.

Don’t forget – refer to your state legislation. Queensland smoke alarms laws state if an existing 240V hardwired smoke alarm is to be replaced, then it must be replaced with another 240V hardwired smoke alarm (requires an electrician).

WARNING – Do Not Use These Products

When Installing Your Smoke Alarms!

Be extremely wary using adhesive mounting kits or drill-free magnet mounting kits with your smoke alarms – we do not recommend using these products as they do NOT last. Whilst Australian Standard 3786:2014 doesn’t specify how smoke alarms should be attached to the ceiling, if you use the aforementioned products your smoke alarm will fall from the ceiling after a period of days, weeks or months, and it will become damaged when it smashes onto the floor.

How do we know this? – we stopped selling the adhesive kits / magnetic mounts several years ago. Consumer feedback indicated the products were unreliable, and in good conscience we could not continue selling them – we’d rather have happy satisfied customers at the expense of profits. Spend a few extra minutes and use the included screws to affix your smoke alarm to the ceiling – this is definetely the best way to install your wireless smoke alarms.

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today.

We love talking smoke alarms!

ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005

Queensland is undergoing a phased roll-out of new smoke alarm legislation, culminating in 2027. It is unsurprising then that there is misinformation regarding smoke alarm requirements – particularly surrounding the installation of 10-year battery powered smoke alarms vs 240V hardwired smoke alarms.

Can I Install 10-year Battery Powered Smoke Alarms In QLD?

YES! you can. It is legal and perfectly acceptable to install 10-year battery powered smoke alarms in your Queensland home, provided you are not performing any of the 3 activities below;

  1. Constructing a new home
  2. Performing a substantial renovation
  3. Replacing an existing 240V hardwired smoke alarm

Prior to installing any smoke alarm it is important to understand their differences and when each type is permissible. Information contained in this article is sourced directly from the QLD Government. We encourage you to view and read the legislation for yourself too – direct links to all official government sources are included at the bottom of this article.

Queensland’s Building Fire Safety (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2016 prescribes the legal ways of powering smoke alarms for domestic dwellings. It states that both 240V hardwired smoke alarms and 10-year battery powered smoke alarms are allowed. See the excerpt below;

Queensland’s Fire Department website states that 10-year battery powered smoke alarms are acceptable, provided the three scenarios previously mentioned above are not being performed.

Advantages Of 10-year Battery Powered Smoke Alarms

  • Wireless smoke alarms powered by a 10-year non-removeable battery can be easily DIY installed and don’t require the expense of an electrician.
  • As the battery is sealed inside the smoke alarm (non-removeable) it lasts for the entire 10-year lifespan of the alarm and never needs to be replaced – no more annoying low battery chirp. After 10 years the whole alarm is simply swapped out for a new one.
  • Added versatility through wireless RF interconnection. In some situations it is physically impossible to install 240V hardwired alarms – i.e. where there are solid concrete ceilings or no roof cavity.

Do QLD Smoke Alarms Need To Be Hardwired By 2027?

The short answer to this question is NO, they don’t. Although there are a lot of houses built in Queensland that require hardwired smoke alarms, there are just as many that have the option to use wireless 10-year battery powered smoke alarms and still be 100% compliant.

When Must I Install a 240V Hardwired Smoke Alarm In QLD?

There are 3 situations in Queensland where it is a statutory requirement for 240V hardwired smoke alarms to be installed in a domestic dwelling (and 10-year battery powered smoke alarms may not be used). Outside of these 3 scenarios it is acceptable to install 10-year battery powered smoke alarms in your home.

1) If You Are Constructing A New Home

If you are constructing a new home in QLD then hardwired smoke alarms are required as part of the building approval process. Queensland’s Building Regulation 2021 states that when constructing a new home, the smoke alarms must be hardwired to the domestic dwelling’s electricity supply.

2) If You Are Performing A Substantial Renovation

The Queensland Fire Services Act 1990 states that hardwired smoke alarms must be installed when a substantial renovation is being performed to a domestic dwelling.

3) If You Are Replacing An Existing Hardwired Smoke Alarm

The Queensland Fire Services Act 1990 also states that if a pre-existing smoke alarm being replaced was hardwired to the domestic dwelling’s electricity supply, then the replacement smoke alarm must be hardwired to the dwelling’s electricity supply.

Outside of the 3 scenarios described above, it is legal and perfectly acceptable in QLD to install wireless interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms which are

powered by a non-removeable 10-year battery.

Want to do some further reading? Links to all official sources in this article are provided below

QLD Building Fire Safety (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2016

States that both 240V hardwired smoke alarms and 10-year battery powered smoke alarms are allowed in domestic QLD dwellings.

QLD Building Regulation 2021

States that when constructing a new home in QLD, the smoke alarms must be hardwired to the domestic dwelling’s electricity supply.

QLD Fire and Services Act 1990 (formerly known as the QLD Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990)

States hardwired smoke alarms must be installed when performing a substantial renovation or replacing an existing hardwired smoke alarm.

QLD Fire Department website – 2027 Smoke Alarm Legislation Fact Sheet

States that smoke alarms must be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10 year battery, or a combination of both may be allowed.

States that existing hardwired smoke alarms that need replacement must be replaced with a hardwired smoke alarm.

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today

We love talking smoke alarms!

ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005

There are several important differences between ZEN wireless interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms and conventional smoke alarms.

ZEN Smoke Alarms Are Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

1) Our smoke alarms are photoelectric (not ionisation). Older conventional smoke alarms use radioactive ionisation as the process by which they detect smoke particles in the air. Ionisation smoke alarms are good at detecting smoke from fast flaming fires, but are less adept at detecting smoke from smouldering flames which is common of most house fires. Ionisation alarms have also been known to cause frustrating nuisance alarms, which might condition people to switch them off, putting themselves at risk. For these reasons the older style ionisation smoke alarms are being phased out both in Australia and internationally. All ZEN smoke alarms are the photoelectric type and do not also contain an ionisation sensor.

ZEN Smoke Alarms Are Interconnected Smoke Alarms

2) Older smoke alarms typically operated as stand-alone units. If a smoke alarm sensed smoke on the ground floor of a building – yes it may activate, but any other smoke alarms on the upper floors would not activate until smoke had entered the same air space – by this time it could be too late to initiate an effective response (or escape).

Our ZEN smoke alarm bundle packs (5, 7 or 10-packs) arrive to you already wirelessly ‘interconnected’ together – there is no complicated pairing process as we’ve done it for you! If one interconnected ZEN smoke alarm detects smoke anywhere within a building, then all smoke alarms paired within the same network will simultaneously initiate their alarm. This can provide increased early warning and response time for residents.

ZEN Smoke Alarms Have A 10-Year Long Life Battery

3) Our smoke alarms have a sealed (non-removeable) 10-year long life 3v lithium battery. Conventional smoke alarms are usually powered by a 9v replaceable battery. When the battery life becomes drained over time the smoke alarm begins to emit a loud intermittent ‘chirp’ noise. The chirp serves as a noisy (and annoying) reminder to replace the battery, and continues until the battery is replaced. As seen in past events, residents can remove the battery, disabling the chirping noise and the alarm itself, often with tragic consequences.

Because our smoke alarms are powered by a long life 10-year lithium  battery which is sealed inside the unit, the battery cannot be deliberately removed. At the end of the 10-year battery life span, the entire smoke alarm unit is simply replaced with a new one!

ZEN Smoke Alarms Can Be Easily DIY Installed

4) As there is no electrical wiring required, ZEN wireless smoke alarms can be easily DIY installed using the included screws and mounting bracket. A compliance certificate showing that the smoke alarms are Australian Standard 3786:2014 compliant is also included in the box with every ZEN smoke alarm.

ZEN Smoke Alarms Free Shipping And Same Day Dispatch

5) ZEN smoke alarms offer free Australia Post shipping for all orders over $100, and same day dispatch if placed before 1:30pm business days – how good is that! Customers tell us they love our super-fast Australia wide delivery. Note we are not an offshore drop shipper. All our Aussie stock is kept locally at warehouses in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast, QLD.

ZEN Smoke Alarms Are Remote Control Compatible

6) ZEN smoke alarm bundle packs include a free remote control device (can also be purchased separately). Whilst the alarms will work perfectly fine without it, the ZEN remote control provides added convenience in that it allows you to periodically test the alarms, without having to reach up to the ceiling to press the alarm itself.

Probably the best feature of the ZEN remote control though, is the silence (hush) button. The silence button eliminates rushing around in a mad panic when you burn the toast in the kitchen. It also allows you to quickly and easily identify the location of the source alarm or problem area.

ZEN Smoke Alarm Bundle Packs Include A FREE Fire Blanket!

7) All ZEN smoke alarm bundle packs (5, 7, 10 pack) also receive a FREE fire blanket! (in addition to the free bonus remote). The ZEN fire blanket provides an easy and effective way to quickly extinguish small fires, which can prevent them from spreading and causing more serious damage. Measuring 1m x 1m in size, the ZEN fire blanket perfectly complements the ZEN photoelectric smoke range and is ideal for your home kitchen, BBQ area, garage, caravan, car or boat.

ZEN Smoke Alarms Offer Amazing After-Sales Support

And Excellent Customer Service

8) Shop with confidence knowing you are buying from a well established, knowledgeable, and trustworthy company. Upholding good business ethics is important to us – we don’t hide behind online ‘contact us’ forms or Facebook Messenger – got a question or problem? – call Christian anytime on 0478 596 402 – he loves to help!

9) We are also members of professional industry associations such as the Fire Protection Association Australia (FPAA) – this is your symbol of trust. But don’t just take our word for it, see what others are saying with over 140 Google 5-star reviews! – ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms located in New Farm, QLD.

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today.

We love talking smoke alarms!

ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005

These new QLD smoke alarm laws have been implemented due to several fires which have tragically resulted in multiple fatalities in each instance.

Coronial inquest findings noted that had each property been fitted with functioning interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in prescribed locations, the occupants may have stood a better chance of survival.

Early smoke / fire detection improves escape time from a burning building. During a fire emergency, it was not only the heat and flames themselves which presented a life-threatening hazard, many victims were first overcome by an accumulation of smoke and toxic fumes.

Russell Island House Fire – Brisbane 2023

In the early morning of 6th August 2023, Emergency Services were called to a house fire on Russell Island, just off Brisbane’s southeast coast. The cause of the house fire remains undetermined, however it resulted in the loss of six lives – five young boys and their father who returned to the inferno in an attempt to rescue his children. The fire also destroyed two neighbouring homes and left several people needing treatment for burns and smoke inhalation.

The landlord and home owner was subsequently charged and fined for failing to install legally required and compliant smoke alarms in the Queensland rental property.

Slacks Creek House Fire – Brisbane 2011

Just before midnight on 23rd August 2011, an accidental fire ripped through a house in Slacks Creek, South Brisbane.

The fire was to cause the greatest loss of life in a domestic house fire in Australian history, with a total of 11 people (including many children) perishing due to smoke inhalation.

A finding from the 2014 Coronial Inquest stated that;
‘Once this particular fire started, it is likely that some or all of the deaths would have been prevented if the sleeping occupants had been quickly awoken and had realised that they needed to leave the house as quickly as possible … smoke alarms were either not present in the dwelling or were not maintained’.

Many recommendations from the Coronial Inquest were incorporated into the QLD Building Fire Safety (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2016.

The legislation itself may be viewed at the Queensland Government website below;
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/sl-2016-0221

Palace Backpackers Fire – Childers 2000

On 23rd June 2000 at 1am a disgruntled resident deliberately lit a fire inside the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers, southeast Queensland.

The fire spread rapidly throughout the old timber building and the hostel did not have working smoke detectors or alarms. The result? 15 young people sadly lost their lives. The arsonist was captured by police and sentenced to life in prison. The devastating effect of this event is still evident on the local township to this day.

Want to know more? Watch our ZEN quick start video or call us on 0478 596 402 today.

We love talking smoke alarms!

ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

New Farm, QLD, 4005