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Smoke Alarms

Did you know that you're twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven't got a smoke alarm.

A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you precious time to escape. It's cheap, easy to get hold of and easy to fit. There's no excuse for not having one.

But many people who have smoke alarms are in danger too. The alarm could be in the wrong place, there may not be enough smoke alarms for the size of their home, they may not have checked their alarm recently or the batteries could be missing.

Choosing A Fire Alarm

The detection method determines how well the alarm spots different kinds of fires. There are two detection methods - or you can combine both.

Ionisation
Ionisation alarms are sensitive to free-burning fires with flames - for example, chip pan fires. They detect these fires before the smoke becomes thick.

These are the cheapest and the most widely available smoke alarms. They start at under $5. You can find them in supermarkets as well as DIY and electrical shops.

Optical
Optical alarms are more effective at detecting slow-burning fires, like overheated electrical wiring. They are less likely to go off accidentally or when you're cooking.

Optical alarms are more expensive, starting at about $15. They are not quite as widely available, but are easy to get hold of in DIY and electrical shops.

Combined
Combined detectors are effective at detecting slow-burning as well as flaming fires - which are both common types of fire.