Yes. All Quell® products are subjected to rigorous internal and independent testing. All smoke alarms are tested and approved in accordance with Australian Standards.
Not withstanding guarantees which cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law, Kidde Australia warrants that Quell products will be free from manufacturing defects for a minimum period of at least 1 year. Refer to the Product User Manual for the specified warranty period of your purchased product.
Faulty products should be returned to your place of purchase.
User manuals can be found at www.quell.com.au on the products page, along with the datasheet and features and benefits. There may also be a QR code on the back of the product/packaging that will take you to the manual.
QLD Legislation Changes
All Queensland homes, units, and registered caravans and motorhomes must have compliant smoke alarms installed by 1 January 2027.
Updated smoke alarm legislation commenced on 1 January 2017 with a 10-year phased rollout. The final stage of implementation is 1 January 2027.
Smoke alarms must be photoelectric, interconnected, comply with Standard AS3786-2014, not contain an ionisation sensor, and be hardwired or be powered by a 10-year non-removable battery.
Interconnected smoke alarms are connected to all other smoke alarms in your home either directly or wirelessly. This means that if one smoke alarm detects smoke, they all go off.
No matter where you live in Queensland or what sort of home you live in, you must have compliant smoke alarms installed by 1 January 2027.
Smoke alarms need to be installed on each storey, in each bedroom, and in hallways which connects bedrooms to the rest of your home.
Smoke alarms can save your life. Your family’s safety is priceless.
Interconnected Smoke Alarms
The right number depends on the size and layout of your home. For the best level of protection, smoke alarms should be installed in bedrooms, hallways connecting sleeping areas and on every level of the home.
Yes. Many interconnected smoke alarms are available as wireless models, making them suitable for existing homes without the need to run cables through walls and ceilings.
Wireless interconnected alarms communicate using radio frequency technology and don’t require wiring between alarms. Hard-wired alarms are connected through the home’s electrical wiring and are commonly installed in new homes and major renovations. Hard-wired systems should be installed by a licensed electrician.
Many wireless interconnected smoke alarms are designed to be easy to install and don’t require wiring between alarms. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions supplied with the alarm.
If you’re using a wireless interconnected system, it’s often easy to expand the network later. This can be particularly useful if you renovate, add a bedroom or create a new living space and want to extend protection to additional areas of the home.
Smoke alarm requirements vary across Australia and can change over time. If you’re installing or upgrading smoke alarms, it’s worth checking the current requirements in your state or territory. Interconnected smoke alarms are already required in some situations and are becoming increasingly common in homes across Australia.
Smoke Alarms
There are many models of smoke alarm that come with concealed long life batteries, you can check the base of the alarm to see what type of model you have. If the model of smoke alarm you have requires a battery to be replaced Quell® recommends replacing smoke alarm batteries annually. We suggest picking an annual event like the first day of Autumn, as your battery replacement day so that you don’t forget.
Quell® recommends replacing smoke alarm every 10 years or if the smoke alarm becomes physically damaged.
Yes, 240V powered smoke alarms must have back up battery according to Australian Standards. It is important to replace the battery regularly on models with replacable batteries.
Photoelectric Sensors
Photoelectric smoke alarms have been designed to detect the types of fires that can smoulder for hours before bursting into flames, those fires most commonly found in the home. Photoelectric sensors are capable of detecting the larger smoke particles produced by burning foam, rubber and synthetic materials.
Ionization Sensors
Ionisation smoke alarms are designed to detect fast flaming fires as well as other fires that produce smaller smoke particles. Ionisation sensors are suitable for detecting burning paper, wood and flammable liquids.
Photoelectric-type alarms aim a light source into a sensing chamber at an angle away from the sensor. Smoke enters the chamber, reflecting light onto the light sensor; triggering the alarm.
Ionization-type smoke alarms have a small amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates, which ionizes the air and causes current to flow between the plates. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, thus reducing the flow of current and activating the alarm.
Yes. Regular cleaning of devices assists in preventing nuisance or unwanted alarms. We recommend you vacuum your smoke alarms monthly following the manufacturers instructions. This prevents dust build up and small insects making a home in your smoke alarm.
Interconnected smoke alarms communicate either via a wired or wireless connection between each device. When one smoke alarm activates, all other smoke alarms on the network will sound, providing increasing the probability of early notification for occupants in the event of an emergency.
On the back of the alarm there is a plain white sticker with a date on it, this date is the date of manufacture.
CO Alarms
CO alarms detect carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that cannot be seen and has no taste or smell. If you have a fuel burning appliance such as a gas cooktop, wood or gas heater in your home, it is recommended that you have it serviced regularly and you install a CO alarm in the vicinity of the appliance.
Potential Sources of CO in the home include but is not limited to;
Wood-burning stoves
Gas heaters and fires
Gas cooktops
Oil and coal burning appliances
Portable gas heaters
Blocked flues and chimneys
Fumes from cars
Barbeques
It is important to have a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in the home and in your Caravan/Motor Home. Both models are suitable for the home however the Q7DCO is also suitable for Caravans/Motorhomes due to its ability to better withstand high vibration situations and temperature fluctuations.
Avoid areas that create dead space or rooms that have humid conditions like a bathroom. Placing them behind drapes/curtains or large sofas, near windows or close to fans, where turbulent air can cause alarms to not function properly, is also not recommended. CO does not exclusively collect near the floor and can disperse unevenly throughout the home. We recommend installing an alarm in all sleeping quarters and living spaces throughout the home.
Yes, because they are smaller and have a higher respiratory rate than people, pets are often among the first to show symptoms. Nausea, vomiting and laboured breathing are some of the first signs of CO poisoning in pets; however, vomiting can easily be misdiagnosed. Drowsiness, lethargy, uncoordinated movements and bright red lips, ears and gums can also be signs.
No. Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, which is why it’s often called a silent danger.
No. Smoke alarms detect smoke from a fire, while carbon monoxide alarms detect carbon monoxide gas. Combination alarms that do both are also available.
Fire Extinguishers & Blankets
Fire extinguishers cannot be disposed of in the general waste and most councils will not collect them in a hard rubbish collection.
Check with your local council for household chemical collection.
Fire extinguishers in the home should be turned upside down every 6 months to ensure the powder does not set on the bottom of the extinguisher.
Every five years fire extinguishers should be pressure tested by a registered fire extinguisher service organisation.
If your extinguisher has be discharged, even partially, it should be replaced or refilled by a registered fire extinguisher service organisation.
An extinguisher showing signs of damage or rust should be replaced.
No, Quell does not have the facilities in Australia to provide a service to recharge your extinguisher.
The date of manufacture is stamped onto the neck of the extinguisher.
