The smoke alarm campaign run by Victoria’s fire services (CFA and FRV) seeks to ensure that all Victorians are aware of the importance of having working smoke alarms in their home, especially in bedrooms and living areas.
Working smoke alarms are proven to improve the safety of occupants by providing a vital warning when a fire occurs.
There are regulations and recommendations regarding the type, location and installation of smoke alarms as well as the rights and responsibilities of tenants and rental providers (real estate agents and landlords) that everyone should know.
This campaign provides important information and tips to make it easier for people to understand the importance of working smoke alarms installed, especially in bedrooms and living areas.
How you can help
We need your assistance to ensure that all Victorians recognise the critical role of working smoke alarms in saving lives, particularly in bedrooms and living areas.
Having working smoke alarms installed in homes helps improve the safety of occupants. We know that people from certain demographics are more likely to die in a house fire, including:
- seniors and elderly people aged over 65
- young children aged under 4
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- smokers
- males, particularly those aged over 45
- people who live in the most socially and financially disadvantaged locations
- people who live alone
- people who had medications or alcohol in their blood.
Source: Preventable residential fire fatalities in Australia July 2003 to June 2017
This is why we ask that you share these resources and materials with your community and networks and speak about the campaign online or in-person using the key messages as a guide.
Direct people to the Silence is deadly campaign page.
Key messages
Primary key messages
- Only working smoke alarms saves lives.
- Victorian fire services recommend that smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom, living area, and hallway.
- Smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound.
- Victorian fire services recommend smoke alarms are powered by a 10 year long-life battery.
- Smoke alarm units, including those attached to mains power, should be replaced at minimum every 10 years.
Supplementary messages
- Replaceable 9-volt batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly.
- Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall, or where installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.
- Smoke alarms should be tested monthly as per the manufacturer’s guide, by pressing the test button on the alarm and waiting for the test alarm to sound.
What the law requires
- Smoke alarms must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house.
- Smoke alarms must be on each level of a multi-storey home.
- Homes constructed (or significantly renovated) before 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms powered by either a battery or connected to 240v mains power with a backup battery.
- Homes constructed (or significantly renovated) after 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240v mains power and have a backup battery. Smoke alarms installed in homes constructed (or significantly renovated) after 1 May 2014 must also be interconnected.
EDM or newsletter copy
The below copy can be used in your e-newsletters to your clients, along with any of the creative on this page.
Install smoke alarms in your home
Did you know that most fatal fires start at night in bedrooms and living areas, and the smell of smoke alone may not wake you up?
Over the past 10 years, Victorian firefighters have responded to more than 32,000 house fires, many of which have resulted in death and serious injury.
Cranbourne father and electrician, Michael Vamplew experienced every parent's worst nightmare when he woke to screams for help by his two-year-old daughter Harlow.
Michael at the time had smoke alarms installed in his hallway, but in this instance, it wasn’t enough to alert him to the fire before it had engulfed the bedroom as the door was closed. Thankfully, Michael, Harlow and his family made a safe escape.
A year on, Michael along with CFA and FRV is urging all Victorians to install smoke alarms in bedrooms to ensure his experience doesn't happen to another family.
When smoke alarms are interconnected, if any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound. This ensures that you are alerted to fire no matter where it starts in the home, and could provide your household vital seconds to escape.
CFA and FRV recommend you install smoke alarms powered by long life, 10-year batteries.
Learn more about how you can protect your family: https://www.vic.gov.au/smoke-alarms
Video clips
Flyers, posters and postcards
Audio clips
Enquiries
Enquiries on this communications kit can be emailed to cfapromotions@cfa.vic.gov.au or media@frv.vic.gov.au.
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Social media collateral