Mr CHRISTOPHER GULAPTIS (Clarence) [4.28 p.m.]:

 

0:00  I call the member for Clarence. Thank you Mr Speaker.  Mr Speaker, with winter in full swing I would like to address the House on a question that directly impacts the safety of every Australian this winter . . . and that question is, "Are ionization smoke alarms defective?"

 

00:16  There are two types of smoke alarms installed in most Australian homes, ionization and photoelectric. Both types may be battery or mains powered. Most Australian homes are fitted with ionization alarms because they have been widely promoted for decades. In 2004 the smoke alarm standard affecting commercial buildings was amended to mandate the installation of photoelectric smoke detectors. This begs an important question, "Are ionization smoke alarms defective?"

 

00:48  The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council is the peak representative body of all Australian and New Zealand fire brigades. In 2006 AFAC released an official position statement. Clause 3 states, "That all residential accommodation be fitted with photoelectric smoke alarms . . . ionization smoke alarms may not operate in time to alert occupants early enough to escape from smoldering fires."   In August 2008 the International Association of Fire Fighters said that photoelectric smoke alarms quote, "Will drastically reduce the loss of life among citizens and firefighters" end of quote. The Northern Territory enacted Australia's first residential photoelectric legislation. Since November 2011 photoelectric smoke alarms must be installed in all new Territory homes. Almost everyone agrees. We need to install photoelectric smoke alarms.

 

01:51  Last week I spoke with Mr Dean Dennis from Cincinnati, Ohio. Dean lost his daughter, Andrea along with three other students in a house fire 10 years ago. The house was fitted with ionization smoke alarms. Dean is regarded as a world expert on smoke alarm technology. He travels across the United States educating firefighters and senior fire department and government officials. He has been instrumental in numerous cities and States mandating the use of photoelectric smoke alarms. Cincinnati recently enacted legislation mandating photoelectric smoke alarms. Mr Dennis contacted me regarding the necessity of bringing this issue before this Parliament.  I recently consulted with Mr David Isaac, a committee member overseeing Australia's smoke alarm standard. Sunday's Sun-Herald newspaper featured a story titled, 'Flawed Detectors Pass the Test' with Mr Isaac's statement, quote, "ionization alarms are dangerous and the public have been misled into believing they are safe." end of quote.

 

02:58  In April 2012 I wrote to Mr Mark Brisson, the Australasian President of United Technologies Corporation. UTC is the world's largest manufacturer of fire safety equipment, and the manufacturer of the ionization smoke alarm in my home. UTC is the US parent company for the Quell, Chubb and Kidde brands of ionization alarms. I asked UTC what level of smoke did the Quell brand ionization smoke alarm in my own home activate under Australian Standards testing. Despite four written requests they have failed to answer my single question. I sent an open letter to the President of UTC, Mr Louis Chenevert, requesting an answer.

 

03:42  The CSIRO are paid by manufacturers to conduct testing of smoke alarms in accordance with the Australian Standard.
I have also written an open letter to Dr Megan Clark, the CEO of the CSIRO, requesting an answer to my question. I have also requested the media be allowed to film the testing of ionization alarms. The winter 2013 edition of the Volunteer Fire Fighter's Association magazine contains an article titled, 'Can Australian and US Smoke Alarm Standards be Trusted?' A copy of this article and a copy of all correspondence between myself, UTC and the CSIRO is being sent to every member of this Parliament. Lives are at stake - we have a moral imperative to get this right.

 

03:42  Adrian Butler, the Chairman of the World Fire Safety Foundation is one of my constituents. He believes the test data held by the CSIRO and manufacturers is the key to saving thousands of lives around the world each year. David Isaac informed me photoelectric alarms typically activate between 8 to 12 per cent smoke in the CSIRO tests. What level of smoke did the Quell-branded UTC ionization smoke alarm in my home activate under CSIRO testing? Will the CSIRO allow the media to film their smoke alarm testing? Mr Speaker, my interest in this matter is to save lives this winter and on this basis I ask both UTC and the CSIRO to answer my questions.

Mr Christopher Gulaptis, Private Members Statements, New South Wales Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Assembly, 20/6/2013, pp.21858:  www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20130620041

 

Note:

The audio and transcript above vary slightly from the Hansard transcript which is available on the Internet at the above link and in the document below.

Hansard transcripts are a verified accurate record of the proceedings of the Australian Parliament. They are not verbatim.

 

- The Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and Research Organization (CSIRO) is the national government body for scientific research in Australia. United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products.  Click HERE for CSIRO and UTC open letters referred to above.

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