Seven steps to a safe and secure home
Australia has one of the world's safest environments, yet electricity and our surroundings still present many dangers.
The devastating truth is every year 15 Australians die and 300 are hospitalised with injuries and burns from preventable electrical accidents at home*.
To better protect the homes and families of Australians, the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules and State Building Codes have a number of stringent electrical standards in place. The question is, do you know what they are, and are you complying with them?
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1. Install a Safety Switch!
The famous Clipsal Safety Switch is an absolute must for any home. Why? In the case of faulty appliances or live wiring, this little lifesaver will disconnect the power and save you from a potentially fatal electric shock. Available in switchboard and wall mounted versions, and even portable plug-in options.
Learn more about Safety Switches
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2. Ensure you have up-to-date smoke alarms fitted
When you are asleep you lose your sense of smell. Your life depends on the ability to hear the smoke alarm. All mains wired smoke alarms have a limited service life, normally ten years. Avoid a tragedy by installing Clipsal 240V smoke alarms, with battery back up. With 24 hour protection you can sleep soundly knowing you have an early warning system in place.
Learn more about Smoke Alarms
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3. Protect electrical circuits with MCBs
Electrical circuits supply power to your expensive electrical equipment. So what happens if circuits overload or short circuit? Your electrical circuits can get extremely hot and possibly start a fire. To help protect circuits from damage, ensure you install miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) at the switchboard. Unlike fuses they can be easily reset once electrical circuits reach safe operating levels.
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4. Implement surge protection
Lighting strikes, power surges and voltage spikes are nasty and can destroy electronic equipment in an instant. Keep your valuable hi-tech appliances safeguarded with surge protection. Switchboard mounted surge protectors will prevent surges entering the home, whilst a surge protected power outlet or plug-in adaptor provides convenient in-house protection.
Learn more about Surge Protection
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5. Deter intruders with an Infrascan
Clipsal Infrascans are a great deterrent to intruders. Indoor and outdoor models turn lights on automatically upon detecting movement, and off again after a pre-set time. Offering the ultimate in hands free convenience, energy efficiency and of course, added safety!
Learn more about Motion Sensors
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6. Keep a close watch at all times
Whether you're deterring a potential burglar or watching the kids in the pool, one thing's for sure, you couldn't have done it without your Clipsal surveillance camera. Why not ask your electrician to link cameras to your TV, home networking system, the internet or a smart phone for the ultimate in remote surveillance.
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7. Speak to a licensed electrician
Nothing is more important than the safety and security of your family. To enforce this, Australia implements stringent laws and standards to ensure that every home should have a 240V smoke alarm and a Safety Switch installed.
Increasing the safety and security in your home is a must. For complete peace of mind and added protection, it is highly recommended that homes should follow all steps listed above.
For more information, contact a local licensed electrician
Abide by the law
By law, every new home and rental property in Australia is required to have a residual current device (Safety Switch) and a 240V smoke alarm installed by a qualified electrician.
Don't leave anything to chance
Although not a legal requirement it is recommended to replace fuses with miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), install surge protection and ensure that all smoke alarms are functioning. For added peace of mind you should consider Infrascan motion sensors and surveillance cameras.
