Wading through the legislative requirements and technical data sheets of smoke alarms is probably not something the average homeowner considers a fun weekend task. Yet this is precisely what we do as qualified electricians because it ensures that our smoke alarm installations will provide maximum protection through complete coverage of the home. Further reasons include the following:

• Isolated, battery-powered smoke alarms are convenient and may be correctly placed by the occupants, however, we recommend having a well-versed company undertake this.. This is a task that only a licensed electrician should perform because it often requires a bit of rewiring to isolate the smoke alarms on their own circuit.
• Smoke alarms cannot be placed haphazardly. A trained understanding of the behaviour and flow of smoke and other noxious gases inside the home is required to place the alarms correctly. At the same time, it’s necessary to prevent false alarms, especially from the kitchen, without adding risk through non-placement.
• Smoke alarms must be interlinked so that if a detector is triggered in one part of the home, it activates all the alarms. This increases the time available for the occupants to respond to the threat. It also requires dedicated wiring and setup of the smoke alarms.