HOUSING SA SMOKE ALARMS

In reply to the Hon. J.A. DARLEY (25 September 2013).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): The Minister for Social Housing has received this advice:

1. Housing SA has always met the requirements of the Development Act which calls up the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Current requirements require hardwired smoke alarms for new construction and allow battery powered alarms in properties built prior to the BCA introducing the requirement of hardwired smoke alarms in 1995.

Approximately 6,000 of the 41,300 properties owned by the South Australian Housing Trust have hardwired smoke alarms.

2. Housing SA does not have a program to install hardwired smoke alarms in its properties which have only battery-powered smoke alarms.

3. The current policy allows either Housing SA or the tenant to replace the battery when the alarm indicates the battery is low. Housing SA is now using alarms which have inbuilt batteries. A new smoke alarm unit is provided when the unit reaches the end of its life. It is anticipated that the unit life will be approximately 15 years.