Every fire death is one too many - How well is Austria protected against house fires?
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Ladies and Gentlemen!
October 13th is National Smoke Alarm Day this year. Ei Electronics has taken this opportunity to examine the level of smoke alarms installed in Austrian residential buildings. To put it briefly: There's still room for improvement; only one in two people has smoke alarms in their home. And fire departments play a key role in disseminating information.
After Ei Electronics published a comprehensive market study on the prevalence and acceptance of smoke detectors in 2021, they wanted to know if anything had changed in the meantime. The results of the representative survey* show that 49 percent of respondents now have smoke detectors – compared to just 44 percent in 2021.
There are certainly differences between the individual federal states, which is due not least to legal regulations.
In Austria, there is a general public law regulation requiring the installation of smoke detectors in new buildings (OIB Guideline 2). Only in the federal state of Carinthia do existing buildings also have to be equipped.
The TRVB 122 S serves as a simple and understandable basis for fire departments by showing where smoke detectors are appropriately installed.
Replace smoke detectors after ten years
Regarding the level of knowledge about the lifespan of smoke detectors, the current survey shows a positive development. Only 7 percent (2021: 18%) believe the devices can be used indefinitely. 62 percent, however, know that they must be replaced after ten years (2021: 50%). "This doesn't just apply to detectors with integrated batteries.
Devices with replaceable batteries should also be replaced after ten years according to DIN 14676, as the detection chamber loses its technical reliability," explains BFR Martin Mittnecker, Head of ÖBFV Department 4 - Preventive Fire and Disaster Protection.
However, there is still room to catch up when it comes to the question of how often smoke alarms are checked in their own homes. Only one in two people who have a smoke alarm checks it at least once a year (2021: 62%), and one in five (2021: 12%) doesn't check it at all. In Lower Austria and Burgenland, the number is as high as 30% who never check their smoke alarms.
Educate and raise awareness
Smoke Alarm Day, which the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association has set for October 13th, aims to further raise public awareness of the life-saving benefits of smoke alarms. As long as it isn't mandatory in all federal states to equip existing buildings, self-initiative is required. Fire departments, fire protection companies, chimney sweeps, and the electrical trade support smoke alarm awareness with various activities and campaigns. These experts have the necessary expertise and can provide consumers with competent advice.
Media and fire brigade as multipliers
The dense network of fire departments serves as a multiplier in communication. Included with this mailing is a poster outlining the most important points about smoke detectors. You can also create your own poster with your logo at www.feuerwehr.at/plakate and thus communicate the most important points about using smoke detectors to your readers.
Symbolic photo attached: Press team ffwrn.at (Publication is permitted free of charge if the source is correctly cited and in connection with the reporting on this press release.)
For further information I am gladly at your disposal.
Best regards,
Andreas Rieger
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Andreas Rieger, MA
Fire Chief
Head of ÖBFV Communications Department
Head of Department 1.3 – Public Relations and Awareness Raising
Head of the ÖBFV Communication Competence Center
Managing Director ÖBFV Medien GmbH
FEUERWEHR.AT - The print magazine of the ÖBFV
CCO Austrian Fire Brigade Association
CEO ÖBFV Medien GmbH
FEUERWEHR.AT - Official magazine of the Austrian Fire Brigade Association
andreas.rieger@feuerwehr.or.at
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a 100% subsidiary of the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association
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