What Is A Heat Detector And What Does It Do?
Heat detectors, sometimes referred to as heat alarms, are specialized devices designed to monitor changes in ambient room temperature. These detectors are typically set to activate when they notice a significant rise in temperature, such as when a fire occurs. Unlike smoke alarms, which respond to the presence of smoke or particles in the air, heat detectors focus solely on temperature changes.
Our Emerald wireless heat detectors are an ideal example of such technology. These heat detectors are engineered to trigger when the temperature reaches and exceeds 55°C due to a fire. This temperature threshold ensures that the alarm responds to hazardous conditions that typically arise in fire situations, providing a valuable early warning to occupants.
Which Is Better – Smoke Alarm Or Heat Detector?
When it comes to protecting your home, both heat detectors and smoke alarms have their place. However, we recommend using heat detectors as a supplement to your existing interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm system, rather than a replacement for it. Each type of alarm serves a unique purpose, and together, they create a comprehensive fire detection system for your home.
The main advantage of heat detectors is that they are less susceptible to false alarms caused by environmental factors. Dust, cooking smoke, humidity, and other fumes often trigger nuisance alarms in conventional smoke detectors, especially in areas like kitchens or garages. Heat detectors are designed to ignore these common sources of false alerts and only activate when there is a significant rise in temperature, which is typically the result of a fire.
For this reason, heat detectors are particularly beneficial in certain areas of your home that are prone to environmental conditions that might trigger smoke alarms unnecessarily. Kitchens, for example, are notorious for setting off smoke alarms due to cooking fumes. Garages often contain car exhaust fumes, while laundry rooms can experience high humidity. Workshops and attics may have dust, which can also lead to false alarms in smoke detectors. Installing heat detectors in these areas can prevent the frustration of frequent false alarms while ensuring that you have reliable protection in place when a fire does occur.
Can Heat Alarms Be Interconnected?
Yes, heat detectors can absolutely be interconnected. Our Emerald heat detectors are designed to work seamlessly with other Emerald heat and smoke alarms. This means that when one heat alarm detects a fire, it will trigger all other interconnected heat alarms and smoke alarms within the same group, ensuring that everyone in the household is alerted to the danger as quickly as possible.
The Emerald heat detector we offer is the fully wireless EP-HA-RF-10 model. This alarm is powered by a long-life 10-year lithium battery, making it a low-maintenance option for homeowners. Thanks to its wireless capabilities, the Emerald heat detector can easily be interconnected with other Emerald smoke and heat alarms, providing complete coverage throughout the home without the need for complex wiring or installation.
Interconnecting your heat and smoke alarms is a key feature that enhances safety, especially in larger homes or multi-story buildings. If one alarm detects a fire, all alarms in the system will sound, providing earlier warnings in areas that might otherwise be too far away from the source of the fire. This interconnected system increases your chances of escaping safely and minimizing damage.
Are Your Heat Alarms Suitable For Compliance With The
NSW Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA)
Fire Safety Standard?
Yes! Our Emerald heat detectors are fully compliant with the NSW Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Fire Safety Standard. This standard applies to short-term rental properties, including holiday rentals, Airbnb accommodations, and other similar properties in New South Wales. It outlines strict fire safety requirements to ensure that these properties are adequately equipped to protect guests from fire hazards.
According to Section 4.1.2 of the STRA Fire Safety Standard, if there is a private locked garage on the same premises as the short-term rental accommodation, a heat alarm must be installed in that garage, even if it is not accessible to guests. Additionally, the heat alarm in the garage must be interconnected with the smoke alarms inside the dwelling. This interconnection can be either hardwired or wireless.
Our Emerald heat alarms are not only compliant with the STRA Fire Safety Standard but also meet Australian Standard 1603.3:2018 for automatic fire detection and alarm systems. This ensures that they are of the highest quality and meet all regulatory requirements for fire safety in residential settings, including rental properties. If you’re a property owner or manager in New South Wales, using our Emerald heat detectors will help ensure that your property is compliant with the STRA Fire Safety Standard, keeping both guests and property owners safe.
Interconnected smoke alarms / heat detectors and the
NSW Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Standard
Our Emerald heat detectors are fully compliant to Australian Standard 1603.3:2018 Automatic fire detection and alarm systems: Heat alarms, and are suitable for the NSW Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Fire Safety Standard.
Heat detectors are a requirement of the NSW Short Term Rental Accommodation Fire Safety Standard
Conclusion – Heat Detectors and Smoke Alarms
Heat detectors are an essential addition to any home’s fire safety plan. While they should complement, not replace, photoelectric smoke alarms, they offer unique advantages, particularly in areas where environmental conditions could trigger false alarms. Our Emerald wireless heat alarms provide reliable, low-maintenance fire detection and can be easily interconnected with other smoke and heat alarms in your home.
Additionally, with the added benefit of being compliant with the NSW Short-Term Rental Accommodation Fire Safety Standard, our heat alarms are a perfect solution for holiday rentals and other short-term accommodation properties.
For the ultimate peace of mind, consider integrating both smoke and heat alarms into your fire safety system to ensure comprehensive protection.
Want to know more? Watch our ZEN Smoke Alarm YouTube channel or call us on 0478 596 402 today
We love talking smoke alarms! (and heat alarms!)
ZEN Interconnected Smoke Alarms
New Farm, QLD, 4005