Frequently asked questions
Have questions about your Emerald Smoke Alarms? Our FAQ page answers the most common queries about installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Find quick, clear answers to keep your smoke alarms in top shape.
Explore our FAQ section below for the information you need.
Most commonly asked questions
Emerald Alarms specialises in quality smoke detection systems designed to keep your home safe. Our range includes smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, Heat alarms, water and smoke alarm accessories.
Legislation states that you must replace smoke alarms every 10 years, regardless of their condition. Smoke alarms have a limited lifespan, and their sensors can degrade over time, reducing their effectiveness. Like all electrical appliances, smoke alarms don’t last forever and will suffer from wear and tear over time. Electrical components degrade and accumulate dust, insects, and other airborne contaminants, compromising their efficiency and sensitivity. So, they must be replaced every 10 years to ensure the safety of homes and families. This applies to all types of smoke alarms, whether they are hardwired or battery-powered.
To meet Australian standards, smoke alarms must have a way to identify their age. All smoke alarms must be replaced when they reach their 10-year service life. As a guide, there is a date or batch code printed on the inside of every Emerald smoke alarm unit – this is a legal requirement. Some installers may also write the installation date on the alarm or on installation documentation.
To ensure your protection, they must be replaced.
Hardwired models are connected to your home’s electrical system and usually have a battery backup. If you look up at your smoke alarm unit, you will see a steady green light on it. This is a hard-wired smoke alarm.
That will depend on what State you live in. Please visit our Smoke Alarm Calculator to help you determine how many alarms you need.
When an alarm sirens it produces a loud, continuous, and often high-pitched sound that is designed to quickly alert you. When an alarm beeps, it emits a series of short, repetitive beeps at regular intervals.
Please note that the alarm will be non-operational in the event of a fire.
A: EP-RANG-1: Remove 9V battery
A: EP-RANG (before batch code 2407): Pree the centre button 6 times, wait for RED LED lights up, when the RED LED flicker quickly, press 6 times again, RED LED will turn solid and alarm will beep once
A: EP-RANG (from batch code 2407): Press the centre button 6 times within 3 seconds, alarm will beep once and turn off.
A: EP-VC-240 range: Disconnect 240V by release the hinge base, remove the 9V battery.
A: EP-HYB Hybrid: Press the centre button 6 times, alarm will beep once.
No, we are a manufacturer only.
No, we only sell to electrical wholesalers. You can purchase through them. Check out our Where To Buy page to find the closest wholesaler to you.
You can reach our customer support team via email at service@kpsaustralia.com or by phone at 1300 316 552. We’re available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM to assist with any questions or issues.
Yes, all our smoke alarms come with up to a 10 year warranty.
We suggest installing an Emerald Smoke Alarm Controller for added convenience. This device enables you to test, silence, and pinpoint triggered smoke alarms without having to access them on the ceiling. Simply press the ‘locate’ button to quickly identify and address any faulty alarms.
Yes, all our smoke alarms meet or exceed national safety standards and regulations. We ensure our products are tested and certified by recognized safety organizations to provide reliable protection.
Yes, they are compliant with the current AS3786:2014 standard.
Emerald smoke alarms have a date-code or a batch code label on the bottom of the alarm, which indicates the manufacturing date. The replacement date is 10 years after that. Emerald Smoke Alarms have a 10-year life after which they should be replaced to ensure you continue to receive the best possible protection coverage.
Installation
All hard-wired alarms must be installed by a licensed electrician. Our battery-operated smoke alarms (EP-RANG models) are a simple twist-and-go system. You attach the base to the roof and simply twist the smoke alarm into the base to turn it on. Please follow our installation guidelines online or in the product manual in terms of distance from the walls, fans etc.
Our Hybrid Alarms can be installed both ways; this means it has a Hardwire connection and a 10-year battery. If you require your Alarms to be installed using the hardwire connection, you will have to contact a licensed electrician to do this for you.
Installing our Hybrid Alarm using the stand-alone built-in battery is super simple. It can be installed on to the ceiling using the screws provided or a 3rd-party Magnetic base or 3M adhesive.
No, Emerald Alarms are not made to be interconnected with other brands, and doing so will void your warranty.
It is advisable to mount on a ceiling in a central position. Avoid areas where there is no air circulation. E.g., Corners of rooms and keep away from items which may prevent the free flow of air. Place the unit at least 300mm from any light fitting or decorative object which might obstruct smoke / heat entering the alarm. Keep at least 300mm away from walls.
Yes, but do not mount smoke alarms in tight corners, place the top edge of your smoke alarm 500mm below the ceiling. Keep at least 300mm from room corners.
Yes, in areas with sloping or peaked ceilings, install your Smoke Alarm 900mm from the highest point measured horizontally because “dead air” at the apex may prevent smoke from reaching the unit.
If you have safely determined that there is not a fire at the property, take the following steps to silence or hush your smoke alarm.
- Locate the triggered alarm (a flashing red light will help identify the origin).
- Press and release the silence button.
- Your alarm will silence and enter a reduced sensitivity reset cycle for approximately 8 minutes.
- During the reduced sensitivity reset cycle, the red LED light will flash every 8 seconds.
- Your alarm will automatically return to full sensitivity on completion of the reset cycle, and the red LED light will revert to flashing once every 40 seconds (normal operation).
Battery-operated and 240V hard-wired smoke alarms fitted with the radio frequency (RF) module can be interconnected. Up to 40 alarms can be connected. Emerald alarms will not connect with other manufacturers’ alarms.
- Ensure the smoke alarms are activated.
- Select the smoke alarm to be the central point of connection to all other smoke alarms.
- Press the TEST button on the central smoke alarm three times within two seconds and the red LED will flash quickly. This indicates the unit is in ‘pairing mode’ for 90 seconds.
- Within two seconds of the central smoke alarm being in pairing mode, press the TEST button three times on one of the other smoke alarms. The smoke alarm will then interface with the central smoke alarm. Completion of the pairing is indicated by a beep sound and one light flash.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 to pair other smoke alarms.
For more detailed instructions, please check the relevant product manual.
Maintenance
If your smoke alarm ‘chirps/beeps’ every 32-48 seconds, with a red LED, it usually indicates a low battery. Your smoke alarm will warn of a low battery for at least 30 days. If you have a HYBRID model, it will flash yellow once at the same time.
If you are getting a single beep from any other Emerald Smoke Alarms, please contact our customer service team on: 1300 316 552 service@kpsaustralia.com.au
If your smoke alarm goes off, first check for any signs of smoke or fire. If there’s no immediate danger, an environmental or installation issue may have set your alarm off. Once you have silenced your alarms, you will need to identify which alarm has triggered (Look for the alarm with the red flashing LED light every 5 seconds). You will need to eliminate all environmental factors. If this is a very recent installation, call your installer to check on any installation issues. If it is an older installation, please read through our diagnostic checklist and ensure you have eliminated any environmental issues.
False alarming is generally caused by an environmental or installation issue.
This includes:
- Insects and insect ingress or dust
- Humidity
- Incorrect Installation, such as:
- Incorrect placement of the alarm (too close to air con vent, fan, bathroom, laundry etc)
- Incorrect cabling used (eg aircon cable)
- Power & Ripple effects
- Shared circuit
- If alarms are hard-wired interconnected AND have an RF Module on each of the hardwired alarms or more than 1 RF Module on the same circuit
The Red light on the Smoke Alarm that has been triggered will flash every 5 seconds for 72 hours.
Using the test button on your smoke alarm will ensure an accurate and complete test of your alarm(s) so you can feel confident that they are working properly. To test a smoke alarm, simply press and hold the Test/Hush button on the unit for 3 seconds. This will check the smoke alarm’s electronics and sounder. If the smoke alarm is operating correctly, you will hear the alarm sound. If you have a controller:- Push the test button on your controller.
Alarms with a 9-volt Alkaline battery need to be changed annually, while the 10-year non-removable Lithium battery does not need to be changed during the alarm’s 10-year life span.
To replace the 9V battery, hang the alarm from the mounting base and remove the battery from the compartment. Once the battery has been removed, hold the TEST button down for 10 seconds to drain any remaining power being held in the unit. Replace the old battery with a new 9V battery from a reputable battery brand. The battery can only be inserted in one direction. Please ensure the polarity is correct. The smoke alarm can now be reinstalled onto the mounting base. Ensure to test your alarm.
It is very important that you regularly maintain your smoke alarms. At a minimum, we suggest:
Monthly: Testing. Press the ‘test’ button on your smoke alarm to ensure the electrical circuit, alarm, interconnection, and battery are functioning properly. If the alarm doesn’t sound, the battery may be dead, or there could be another issue that needs immediate attention.
4-6 weeks: Cleaning. Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to gently clean all sides and the cover of each smoke alarm in your home. Take a cloth sprayed with insect repellent and wipe the outside of the alarm.
| Wireless | Hardwired | |
| Normal Operation | Red LED flashes once every 32-48 seconds | Solid Green Light + Red LED flash every 40-48 Sec Yellow LED every 48 sec (EP-HYB only) AC power off. |
| Fault Signal | Beep once every 32-48 seconds WITHOUT LED lights | |
| Low Battery Signal | Red LED flashes once and beeps once every 32-48 seconds | Red LED flashes once and beeps once every 40-48 seconds |
| Triggered Alarm Signal | Red LED flashes rapidly while sirening | Red LED flashes rapidly while sirening |