Everything you wish you knew before buying a photoelectric smoke alarm
In the first of this multi-part series we will review Australian Standard 3786:2014 and take a look at what it means for smoke alarm conformity in Australia. The full name of the standard which encompasses smoke alarm conformity in Australia is ‘Australian Standard 3786:2014 Smoke alarms using scattered light, transmitted light or ionization’. Standards are documents that set out specifications, procedures and guidelines that aim to ensure products are safe, consistent, and reliable. When a standard such as AS 3786:2014 is referenced by state or national legislation, then it becomes mandatory in the eyes of the law. The Australian Standard document is broken down into several key components – the two of interest that we will be reviewing throughout this multi-part series are the ‘tests’ and ‘general requirements’ for smoke alarms. Section 4.17 of the Australian Standard states that; ‘ The smoke alarm shall be so designed that a sphere of diameter larger than 1.3 ±0.05 mm cannot pass