Smoke alarm goes off

Cause

Presence of smoke

Repair

  • check for smoke/fire. Be ready to call 111 for the fire brigade and to evacuate everyone in the house if a fire is found

  • if the smoke is from cooking, thoroughly ventilate the room by opening windows and doors. If the problem recurs, consider replacing the smoke alarm with a heat alarm that won’t be activated just by smoke

  • check that the alarm is in the right location in the house – see the third repair below

  • for more information about smoke alarms in houses, see this Level website page. You can also download the standard NZS 4514:2021 Interconnected smoke alarms for houses at no charge here.

Cause

Faulty detector

Repair

  • replace the faulty detector with a new photoelectric smoke alarm. Alarms are now available where the batteries last for 10 years

  • all rental properties must be fitted with smoke alarms. Alarms must have a battery life of at least 8 years or be hard-wired. Landlords are required to install smoke alarms, but the law places the responsibility on tenants to ensure alarms are kept in working order. This includes replacing batteries

  • for more information about smoke alarms in houses, see this Level website page. You can also download the standard NZS 4514:2021 Interconnected smoke alarms for houses at no charge here.

Cause

Detector too close to kitchen or in kitchen

Repair

  • replace a smoke alarm that is in or very close to a kitchen with a heat alarm to avoid nuisance activations. Heat alarms activate when there are dangerous increases in room temperature and are not activated by things such as smoke from burning toast. There are systems where both smoke alarms and heat alarms can be connected wirelessly. Models are available that can be hard-wired or operate with a 10-year sealed battery

  • ensure the alarm has a hush button, either on the alarm itself or another readily accessible location. These buttons allow temporary disablement of the audible alarm for situations such as nuisance activations

  • for new household units and for additions and alterations to existing homes, the Acceptable Solution for Building Code clause F7 Warning systems F7/AS1 requires interconnected smoke alarms. This was introduced in November 2023 with a 12-month transition period ending in November 2024. The amended Acceptable Solutions C/AS1 and C/AS2 cite NZS 4514: 2021 Interconnected smoke alarms for houses for their installation. With interconnected alarms, when one smoke alarm detects fire smoke, all alarms will sound. Some models connect wirelessly.

Cause

Batteries need to be replaced – alarm beeps continuously

Repair

  • replace the batteries, or replace the alarm with a new photoelectric smoke alarm. Models are now available where the batteries last for 10 years

  • all rental properties must be fitted with smoke alarms. Alarms must have a battery life of at least 8 years or be hard-wired. Landlords are required to install smoke alarms, but the law places the responsibility on tenants to ensure alarms are kept in working order. This includes replacing batteries

  • for more information about smoke alarms in houses, see this Level website page. You can also download the standard NZS 4514:2021 Interconnected smoke alarms for houses at no charge here.