home safety products
Home safety is of the utmost importance, for you and your family. While gas and electricity provide us with the luxuries of modern living, they can also be dangerous if not treated with the utmost care. There are a number of energy supply safety products available to make is all even more comfortable in our homes. The most common ones are listed below.
Electrical safety switches
Safety switches are compulsory in all residential dwellings built since 1991 and must be installed to existing homes within three months of transfer of ownership. However, installation is recommended in all homes.
When an electrical fault occurs, the switch turns off the power to the affected circuit within one-30th of a second.
Your home may already have a safety switch fitted to the main switchboard. Safety switches will have a ‘test’ reset button clearly marked on the front section and should be checked every three months to ensure the unit remains in good working order. The installation of a safety switch does not remove the necessity to exercise normal care and diligence with electricity.
New regulations regarding safety switches:
- From 1 March 2006, owners of leased domestic residences must have a safety switch installed for the power circuit of the residence within six months of a residential tenancy agreement being entered into, or by 29 February 2008 (whichever is the sooner).
- From 1 March 2008, owners of leased domestic residences must have a safety switch installed for the power circuit of the residential tenancy agreement has been entered into.
- These new changes will give tenants of domestic residences the same level of protection as owner-occupiers.
Types of safety switches:
- Switchboard safety switch protects everything connected to your power circuits. This type may be connected to all or individual circuits i.e. one for general power, one for lighting circuits. An electrical contractor must install switchboard type safety switches. These offer the convenience of permanent personal protection in the event of a fault occurring on a power circuit or appliances connected to the power circuit. The cost of installation of this type of safety switch to an existing home or circuit carries an additional charge since it must be installed by a licensed electrical contractor.
- Power outlet safety switch protects the rest of the power points, when installed on the first power point of a circuit. Purchase and installation charges apply since a licensed electrical contractor must install power outlet type safety switches.
- Portable safety switches should be used in all potentially hazardous situations such as where portable appliances or tools are being used and where flexible cords are at risk of being damaged. You can simply plug the portable safety switch into an existing power point and protect users from shock due to faulty appliances. This type offers the same personal protection to both you and the connected appliance as the other types. However, portable safety switches do not protect the power circuit. They are manually plugged into the appliance lead or power point and protect the appliances connected to them. They offer the simplicity of personal protection at a lower cost than the permanently installed type safety switches, but can be susceptible to damage due to their portability.
Surge and lightning protection
Electronic equipment can be subject to damage caused by power surges, voltage dips or brownouts. Some of these problems may occur due to lightning strikes, windblown debris, birds or animals coming in contact with power lines, motor vehicles hitting power poles, vandalism or as a result of someone digging up an underground cable. It's possible to protect against damage from most of these situations, however, full protection may be difficult to ensure.
Surge and lightning protector types:
- Surge diverters and protectors provide basic overall protection for all electrical appliances and equipment. They can be installed at your main switchboard by a licensed electrical contractor and can be an invaluable aid against damage. Newer types are fitted with a replaceable module to allow quick replacement without the need to disconnect wiring. These units show visual indication when overload has occurred and a replacement module is required. If you do not replace spent modules or surge protectors as necessary, appliances connected to the circuits will still operate as normal, but will be vulnerable to possible damage resulting from power surges.
- Power point protectors are installed by licensed electrical contractors and replace regular power points to provide specific protection in key areas (e.g. home computer, facsimile, phone, home entertainment equipment). These units have visual fault indicators which, when extinguished, indicate a replacement metal oxide varistor (MVO) module is required. Some power point MVO modules are easily replaced by the user. Other types require the replacement work to be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor. Check the manufacturer's requirements for replacement modules before you purchase a power point surge protector.
- Portable protectors plug into the power point of your choice and provide ‘portability’. Newer model portable protectors have lights or buttons on the face of the board or plug, which indicate whether or not they continue to offer surge protection. Other portable units provide no indication they have ceased to protect your equipment since they continue to provide power to the appliance. Some portable surge protectors need to be replaced after only one surge. Portable protectors do not provide unlimited protection from damage to appliances.
Other safety devices
Plug-in circuit breaker
A plug-in circuit breaker replaces a reusable fuse. It's much safer to use a circuit breaker than replace a fuse and there's no risk of using an incorrect size wire.
Safety plugs
Safety plugs fit over power sockets that aren't being used. They are recommended for all homes with young children and are available from retail outlets and hardware stores.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms must be installed in homes built after July 1997. However, they are strongly recommended in all homes, regardless of age or condition. Remember, all smoke alarms have limitations but can dramatically increase your chances of getting possessions and people out of the home in the event of a fire. There are two types of smoke alarms, ionisation and photoelectric where each type offers a different level of sensitivity to fire.
Smoke alarm types:
- Ionisation smoke alarms are very sensitive and designed to detect invisible particles of combustion as small as 0.01 micron. Particles this small cannot be seen by the human eye.
- Photoelectric smoke alarms detect visible particles of combustion from 0.3 micron. This is generally associated with smoke that you can see.
Hot water safety devices
Hot water safety devices reduce the risk of scalding without reducing the effectiveness of your hot water system.
What types of hot water safety devices can I choose from?
- Hot water shut down valves are do-it-yourself devices to shut down hot water once the flowing water temperature reaches approximately 48°C. A separate valve is needed at each tap you wish to protect.
- Tempering valves are compulsory fitted to all new homes is now compulsory in most states. The temperature from the hot water tap to bathrooms and ensuites cannot exceed 50°C. Your plumber must install a tempering valve to these hot water pipes by your plumber after the electricity or gas has been connected. Hot water is detoured through a special pipe to the valve, which adds cold water to lower the temperature at the tap. The temperature-controlled water then flows to hot taps on the circuit (such as the shower, bath or basin).