The Silence is Deadly campaign run by Victoria’s fire services (CFA and FRV) is about ensuring that all of Victoria’s community members are aware of the importance of having working smoke alarms in their home.
Having working smoke alarms installed is proven to improve the safety of occupants by providing a vital warning when a fire occurs.
There are a number of regulations and recommendations regarding the type, location and installation of smoke alarms as well as the rights and responsibilities of tenants and rental providers (real estate agents and landlords) that are important for everyone to be aware of.
This campaign provides important information and tips to make it easier for people to understand the importance of working smoke alarms as well as the importance of having multiple and interconnected smoke alarms installed.
How you can help
We want to make sure that all Victorians understand the importance of working smoke alarms in saving lives. We need your help.
Having working smoke alarms installed in homes helps improve the safety of occupants. We know that people from certain demographics are more likely to die in a house fire, including:
- seniors and elderly people aged over 65
- young children aged under 4
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- smokers
- males, particularly those aged over 45
- people who live in the most socially and financially disadvantaged locations
- people who live alone
- people who had medications or alcohol in their blood.
Source: Preventable residential fire fatalities in Australia July 2003 to June 2017
This is why we ask that you share these resources and materials with your community and networks, and speak about the campaign online or in-person using the key messages as a guide.
Direct people to the Silence is deadly campaign page.
Key messages
Primary key messages
- Only working smoke alarms saves lives.
- Victorian fire services recommend that smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom, living area, and hallway.
- Smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound.
- Victorian fire services recommend smoke alarms are powered by a 10 year lithium battery.
- Smoke alarm units, including those attached to mains power, should be replaced at minimum every 10 years.
Supplementary messages
- Replaceable 9-volt batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly.
- Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall, or where installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.
- Smoke alarms should be tested monthly as per the manufacturer’s guide, by pressing the test button on the alarm and waiting for the test alarm to sound.
- Smoke alarms should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner at least once a year to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance.
What the law requires
- Smoke alarms must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house.
- Smoke alarms must be on each level of a multi-storey home.
- Homes constructed (or significantly renovated) before 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms powered by either a battery or connected to 240v mains power with a backup battery.
- Homes constructed (or significantly renovated) after 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240v mains power and have a backup battery. Smoke alarms installed in homes constructed (or significantly renovated) after 1 May 2014 must also be interconnected.
Social media collateral
EDM or newsletter copy
The below copy can be used in your e-newsletters to your clients, along with any of the creative on this page.
Install interconnected smoke alarms in your home
Did you know that most fatal fires start at night in bedrooms and living areas, and the smell of smoke alone may not wake you up?
Over the past 10 years, Victorian firefighters have responded to more than 32,000 house fires, many of which have resulted in death and serious injury.
That is why Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) are urging all Victorians to install interconnected smoke alarms in every bedroom, living area and hallway.
When smoke alarms are interconnected, if any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound. This ensures that you are alerted to fire no matter where it starts in the home, and could provide your household vital seconds to escape.
Make sure you test your smoke alarms monthly, replace 9-volt batteries every year and replace smoke alarm units every 10 years. CFA and FRV recommend you install smoke alarms powered by long life, 10-year lithium batteries.
Learn more about how you can protect your family: https://www.vic.gov.au/silence-deadly
Video clips
Flyers, posters and postcards
Audio clips
Smoke alarm tips
- Smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound.
- Legislation requires smoke alarms to be installed outside every sleeping area and on each level of a house.
- The latest research by Fire and Rescue NSW indicates that in all their tests where the fire started in the bedroom with the door closed, the hallway smoke alarms did not activate at all.
- Victorian Fire Services recommend additional smoke alarms are installed in every living area and bedroom.
- Fire services also recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a 10-year lithium battery, so you don’t need to remember to change the battery over the life of the alarm.
- Regardless of the type of smoke alarm you have, all smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
- Replaceable batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly.
- Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall, or where installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.
- Smoke alarms should be tested monthly as per the manufacturer’s guide, by pressing the test button on the alarm and wait for the test alarm to sound.
- Smoke alarms should be cleaned at least once a year with a duster or vacuum cleaner to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance.
Key statistics
Statistics are available on request by emailing cfapromotions@cfa.vic.gov.au or media@frv.vic.gov.au.
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