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If an OC is not prepared to spend the money installing a full-blown, remotely monitored fire alarm system (following Bankstown), is there any legislation that anyone is aware of that would prevent them from installing a do-it-yourself system? I cannot see anything in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 that would prevent it.
A smoke detector warns the residents of that unit that there is a fire. Few such residents will risk their own safety by going to other units on levels above the fire to warn the residents there. They just flee. If they simply have to hit the alarm button as they leave, the risks to other residents can be substantially reduced.What I am thinking of is a siren on each level (high-rise block) together with a manual break-glass push-button, plus a battery-backed up power supply.
Suitable alarms can be purchased for $3.78
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Dual-Tone-Piezo-Siren-Security-Alarm-Systems-/120972104172
Suitable manual fire alarm buttons can be purchased for $10
Suitable power supplies with enclosure can be purchased for $100
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-DC-5A-POWER-SUPPLY-UPS-BATTERY-BACK-UP-CCTV-/370566553527
Backup batteries cost $22
https://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270981111254
The wiring to hook it all up is about $65 for two of these:
For a 10-storey building the materials would cost $325. Add the installation cost for an electrician (or building handyman) to run the cables up the service duct and install the alarms and switches, schedule a well documented 6-monthly test, (preferably in conjunction with a full fire drill) and the building will be infinitely safer than with no alarm.
Naturally a professionally installed, remotely monitored alarm would be preferable – and also thousands of dollars dearer (including the monitoring cost.) On top of that each (inevitable) false alarm call-out results in a $750 penalty from the fire brigade:
https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=77
Out of interest, how many people in buildings older than say 15 years have a remotely monitored alarm system installed in their building?
And how many have a full set of emergency evacuation procedures in place?
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