caravan smoke alarms

[muddymech]

Hi All

not sure if anyone has seen this but looks like smoke alarms are now compulsory on campervans
ian

Smoke alarms now compulsory in caravans and campervans

Posted: 25/02/2011

The NSW Government has improved the safety of tens of thousands of residents and holiday makers by making smoke alarms compulsory in caravans, campervans and other moveable dwellings where people sleep.



Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the regulation change takes effect from today and also applies to holiday vans, park van annexes and associated structures but not camping tents.

"Smoke alarms cost as little as $15 but will save something more precious than money - human life," Mr Kelly said.

"Caravans and campervans typically have limited escape options in the event of a fire, along with lightweight and combustible fittings, so a smoke alarm can mean the difference between life and death."

Minister for Emergency Services, Steve Whan, said NSW fire fighters have attended more than 692 blazes involving moveable accommodation vehicles over the past 10 years, which resulted in 12 deaths and 72 injuries.

"We want and need to bring this injury and death toll down," Mr Whan said.

In NSW alone, around 40,000 people live in moveable dwellings on a permanent basis while tens of thousands are used for short-term holiday or other accommodation each year.

Mr Kelly said the Government changed the law in 2006 to make smoke alarms compulsory in all homes where they were not already installed, and this policy has now been extended to moveable dwellings.

"We placed these proposed changes on public exhibition last year and there were just 12 submissions which were generally supportive or suggested improvements," Mr Kelly said.

"Changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation will apply to all new and existing moveable dwellings where people sleep, regardless of whether they are registered for road use or not.

"The Government will primarily rely on education to encourage moveable dwelling owners to install the smoke alarms, rather than inspections, and there will be no new powers for council or police.


Under the regulation:

• Owners of caravans and mobile homes will have six months to install a smoke alarm before on-the-spot fines of up to $200 (or up to $550 if the matter proceeds to court) will apply;
• Penalties will apply from today where people remove or interfere with a smoke alarm already installed in a caravan or mobile home;
• Dwellings which are not regularly moved but still used for sleeping (such as site vans and caravans in backyards) are covered by the regulation;
• Smoke alarms installed in moveable dwellings must have a 'hush' button to reduce the nuisance of false alarms from cooking or other smoke; and
• Owners of the moveable dwellings (as distinct to the tenant or the owner of the land where the dwelling is based) will be responsible for installing and maintaining or replacing the alarm.

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[ozscott]

Thanks mate - interesting. How is this for anal. I use smoke alarms in the centre point of the domes of my tent - have for years. Likewise when I use a camp trailer.

Cheers

[richard4u2]

i have one in the caravan but it is now disabled because every time you lit the gas burners the flaming thing went of and because of the small room in the caravan it was flaming loud

[ATH]

I took the batteries out of ours years ago as the slightest whiff of burnt toast set it off.
Total pain in the backside and a worthless bit of legistlation.
AlanH.

[CraigE]

As said in a small van even the threat of bringing the toaster out and they go off.
What they need to be purporting for vans are thermal detectors, but the issue with that is they are far more expensive than smoke detectors, which do not detect a fire but only smoke, dust or haze.

[Mellow Yellow]

What's the definition of a campervan?

Is it :-
(a) a fold-up or drop-top "mobile dwelling" with any form of cooking facilities,
(b) a fold-up or drop top "mobile dwelling" with INTERNAL fixed cooking facilities,
(c) a fold-up or drop top "mobile dwelling" where cooking could conceivably be undertaken internally?

In particular, does this proposed legislation cover camper/trailers? If so, what sort of camper trailer?

[Basil135]

There are smoke alarms available that are specifically for use in cooking areas. IIRC, they detect the larger smoke particles of combustible materials as opposed to those from burnt toast etc.

I think this legislation is warranted. As it states, there are limited escape routes from a van, so the earlier a warning can come, the better.

The best bet is a smokie with an in-built escape light.

And anal? I have my smoke alarms at home hooked to the alarm system, which is monitored. So, if they go off if we are home or not, I know there is someone that will do something about it.

[Disco44]

i have one in the caravan but it is now disabled because every time you lit the gas burners the flaming thing went of and because of the small room in the caravan it was flaming loud

Source a kitchen smoke alarm and that going off all the time can be alleviated.

[CraigE]

There are smoke alarms available that are specifically for use in cooking areas. IIRC, they detect the larger smoke particles of combustible materials as opposed to those from burnt toast etc.

I think this legislation is warranted. As it states, there are limited escape routes from a van, so the earlier a warning can come, the better.

The best bet is a smokie with an in-built escape light.

And anal? I have my smoke alarms at home hooked to the alarm system, which is monitored. So, if they go off if we are home or not, I know there is someone that will do something about it.

They dont work in kitchens let alone caravans. Get one and try it for yourself, they are a waste of time as they are still smoke dtectors with a higher limit. Have dealt with enough of them in the industry. The only way around it is thermal detectors.