Smoke detectors

[Tony]

A couple of questions.  But first, the background.  All private homes here in Victoria, Australia MUST be fitted with smoke detectors.  There has to be a minimum of one on each floor; there are recommendations and guidelines for fitting more.  All new dwellings must be fitted with hard-wired detectors.

Statistics are showing fewer deaths, direct relationship seen to residents have more warning.  We have also noticed that we're getting called a lot earlier and are having more 'room' fires than 'house' fires.  Another 'feeling' is that we get called to fires by passers-by a lot quicker due to the prevalence of mobile phones in the community.

The questions are now obvious:
1.  In your area, is it mandatory to have smoke detectors fitted in private homes?
2.  If so, has there been any noticable difference in the types of calls?
3,  Has there been a drop in fatalities inhouse fires?

My reason for asking?  Simply insatiable curiosity!  Your knoeledge, thoughts and opinions please!

[Gel]

In Uk, the Building regulations cover New Build homes primarily, and there are slight differences between those that apply:
+England + Wales
+N Ireland
+Scotland
+Ireland

In England & Wales would also apply if you had a loft conversion done ie making a room in the loft space.

The last government data I saw showed a hard wired % of 13% ie 13% of homes had hard wired alarms; great majority had battery only, with disadvantages that brings.
Some EC countries ie Scandinavia, and US ones permit sealed in battery, or just battery alarms to meet local Regs.

Across UK & Eire there has been steady decline in domestic fire deaths; see data here:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/FireandEmergencyServices/


http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_fire/documents/divisionhomepage/031597.hcsp

The majority of domestic fires are dealt with by homowner, and of course they won't feature in government stats!
What has also driven reduction in deaths is Community Fire Safety thrust of Fire Brigades, allied to government funding for free smoke alarms, initially for the most needy/vulnerable, but increasingly available to anyone who rings up for a free Home Safety Check.

New dangers in the stats, show sources such as candles, which is a reflection on life styles.

US data shows that fires are getting hotter too; see
http://www.kiddefyrnetics.co.uk/utcfs/ws-405/Assets/Home%20Fires%20Hotter.pdf

Look at UK web link for more details on sources of ignition.

[kurnal]

Hi Volfirie
Is there any move towards residential and domestic sprinklers down under?

[Tony]

Hi Volfirie
Is there any move towards residential and domestic sprinklers down under?

I've no idea about the other States, but here there's a limited amount of it happening.  We have the good fortune of being able to enforce changes of various types in new housing developments.  Things like road width, turnaround areas, breaks on steep hills.  And I've heard of a couple of developments in rural areas (where a farmer has sold and the developer put in plans for a residential estate) where the development was well outside reasonable response times for the nearest Brigade.  In those cases my organisation was able to stipulate domestic sprinkler systems for any dwelling; along with a flat 'NO' to the building of a new Station.

We 'encourage' people building on the fringe of small towns and villages, or on rural hobby farms, to fit external sprinklers as welll on roofs and under eaves.  These being for protection from bushfires.

With the super-flimsy modern construction methods, I'd be happier with a requirement for domestic sprinklers!  I loath pre-fabricated trusses.

[wee brian]

What you find, when you analyse the (UK) stats is that people with smoke alarms apear to have less fires.

I think there are two reasons for this;
People who own smoke alarms are more careful/sensible (thats why they got one)

Smoke alrms detect fires in their early stages and put them out themselves (so they dont get into the official figures)

You may find this report of interest
http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/consultations/partB/BD2538__D2_V2__Final_Report_226779_for_publication.pdf