Smoke alarm testing during COVID-19

 

Hume will be conducting Annual Smoke Alarm Testing during COVID-19.

Your safety is our main priority. Hume is required to test your smoke alarm every year. We have taken steps to safeguard your wellbeing while we conduct annual smoke alarm testing. Contractors visiting your home have been cleared to work and follow strict safety protocols and social distancing. Contractors will check with you prior to visiting that you and your family are well and do not pose a risk to them.

Here are some points on why having a working smoke alarm is important and information regarding testing at your property:

• Smoke alarms can warn you of a fire if you are asleep or busy in a different part of your home.
• Smoke alarms give you extra warning time to leave your home before you are trapped by fire or smoke.
• You will be contacted by Smoke Alarm Testing Services (SATS) in the next 4-6 weeks to arrange a time for a contractor to check your smoke alarm is working.
• The contractor will always show you identification when they come to your home.
• You can call our Maintenance Line on (02) 9727 0688 with any questions about the testing or to confirm a contractor’s identity.
• We can work with you to communicate using a method that best suits you, including interpreter services, sign language, visual aids, or assistive technology.If you have difficulty understanding English, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service at 131 450. If you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, please contact the National Relay Service at 133 677.

Additionally, we ask that you remain vigilant and maintain your smoke alarm to ensures it’s in working order for when you need it most. The risk of a fatality in a home fire is halved if there is a working smoke alarm in a residential dwelling. It’s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home. If your smoke alarm is not working, you must report it to Hume straight away.

Fire and Rescue NSW recommend the following maintenance for your smoke alarm:

• Every month: Smoke alarms should be tested (by pressing the test button) to ensure the battery and the alarm work.
• Every six months: Smoke alarms should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. This will remove any dust or particles that could prevent the smoke alarm from working properly.
• Once a year: If your smoke alarm has a battery, you should replace it annually. A good way to remember is to change it when you change your clocks at the end of Daylight Saving. If your smoke alarm uses a lithium battery, it is inbuilt into the alarm and cannot be replaced. The entire unit needs to be replaced every 10 years.