Frequently Asked Questions

The lightbars are 67cm in length, 1.8cm wide and high for a standard two light system, with one green (doorbell) and one red (fire) light, each measuring 33.5cm. Adding extra lights to the system adds an extra 33.5cm to the lightbar.

The lightbar is a clear white when the lights are off so as not to be distracting when not in use. While it is visible, it is a discrete system that will not draw attention when not in use.

You can add as many lightbars as you want to the system. There is no limit to the number of lightbars you add. Keep in mind that in general, it is not necessary to add lightbars to hallways, as the notification will be flashing for three minutes, so if you are walking between rooms, you will reach the next room and be notified. To keep costs down, it is best to place lightbars in rooms where you spend longer periods of time. For example, if you only use the garage to park the car and then go straight to the house, you don’t need to add a lightbar. However, if you use the garage as a workspace as well, it would be beneficial to add a lightbar, as you will be spending a longer period of time in there.

Yes, it is possible to install the lightbars outside. They are weatherproof so you are able to feel safe knowing you will receive notifications wherever you are in your home.

There is a mute button for some of the functions of the lightbars. This will work with the doorbell, baby cry and duress alarms, motion sensors and will mute these functions for three minutes. To comply with Australian safety standards, the fire alarm cannot be muted. However, it will stop automatically after three minutes if there is no more smoke detected.

The system comes with a vibrating pad for the bed. This sits under the mattress and will vibrate to alert you when the system is triggered.

You are able to add extra vibrating pads for every person in the house.

The system has eight inputs. 

Three of these are taken by the doorbell, the fire alarm, and the doorbell mute button. This needs to be kept in mind when customising the system, as if you start adding extra features, each one will take up an input.

Each notification (doorbell, fire alarm, etc.) and each mute button count as an input. For example, having the standard system and adding two baby monitors, with a separate mute button for each monitor, brings the system up to seven inputs. However, within this structure the system is fully customisable.

Light colours are interchangeable. This makes for a system that works with people who have different conditions, such as people who are colour blind.

The lightbars are best suited to be installed where they are visible from anywhere in the room, or where the most time is spent. For example, if most of the time is spent watching the TV, setting up the Visualert system above the TV is ideal, as it will catch your eye when active. 

Another thing to keep in mind is using mirrors to bounce the light to be able to see the alerts from different areas in the same room. 

In a double storey house, it is better to place the lightbars on the bottom storey on the framing walls, to make routing the wires for the upper storey lightbars easier. However, on the upper storey they can be placed on any wall. I

Yes, the doorbell can be set up with either sound or no sound. For the system to be able to comply with Australian safety standards, the fire alarm will always have sound.

Yes, this system can be setup with either a traditional doorbell or a video doorbell.

Yes, the system will still work. The Visualert system has an inbuilt battery backup so you can always feel safe, even if there is a power outage.

Moving an existing Visualert system to a new house is possible. If the same amount of lightbars is required, there does not need to be any change to the system. 

If more lightbars are needed, they can be added on and the original panel can still be used. 

Visualert™ complies with the following Australian Standards: 

a) AS 1670.1:2018 ‘Fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems - System design, installation and commissioning, Part 1: Fire;’ 

b) AS 1603.11:2018 –‘Automatic fire detection and alarm systems, Part 11: Visual warning devices;’ and 

c)  AS 1603.17:2020 'Automatic fire detection and alarm systems-Warning equipment for people with hearing impairment.'

Visualert™ has a Regulatory Compliance Mark (‘RCM’), a trade mark owned by the electrical regulator (Regulatory Authorities (RAs)) and Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA), certifying compliance with the EESS (Electrical Equipment Safety System) and the

labelling requirements of ACMA (Australia Communications and Media Authority).

https://www.eess.gov.au/rcm/regulatory-compliance-mark-rcm-general/ 

Our manufacturer is registered as a Responsible Supplier under the ACMA and EESS schemes.

RCM confirms that Visualert™ is electrically safe and complies with EESS and relevant electrical safety laws and standards when imported or manufactured.

Visualert™ is built using high quality industrial parts and goes through a proper testing process for every system prior to shipping. Hence its unlikely to acquire any faults.

If there is a fault in the control box or the control box is damaged, all the lights will flash and activate simultaneously.

The law does not state that you MUST have hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms. But the Fire & Rescue authorities from 5 states in Australia 'RECOMMENDS' strongly to have hard-wired interconnected system as it is more reliable. See below the statements from each of these 5 states:

A hardwired smoke alarm is directly connected to a home’s mains power supply with a battery back-up. These alarms are more reliable in the longer term, and use a battery to provide back-up power if the AC power fails - QLD Fire and Emergency Services

Wherever possible, hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms recommended to be installed - Fire and Rescue NSW

The best protection is provided by photo-electric smoke alarms which are hard-wired to the 240-volt power supply and interconnected to give the earliest warning possible- The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service 

The installation of mains powered smoke alarms, wherever possible, is recommended as they are more reliable - WA DFES 

Wherever possible, hard-wired and interconnected smoke alarms to be installed - ACT Fire & Rescue 

Warranty is provided in 3 sections:
A. 1 year complete manufacturers warranty (All repair/replacement costs covered)

B. Up to 3 years individual parts warranty (see warranty of individual components below)

C. 5 Years warranty on smoke detectors 

Note: Regardless of the make or model, all smoke alarms need to be replaced at least every 10 years. Most smoke alarms have a use-by date or manufacture date printed on them so you’ll know when they should be replaced. New smoke alarms with a long lasting lithium battery have a 10 year lifespan to ensure you and your family have the highest level of protection. Our smoke alarms are manufactured to have a recommended service life of at least 10 years under normal conditions of use (Australian Standards – AS 3786).

Please see our warranty on individual parts below:

Steel Panel (3 years), Blue Mute Button (3 years), Warning siren (1 year), Glands (3 years), Ducting & din rail (3 years), Building wire (3 years), Power supply  (1 year),
Terminals & Earth terminals (3 years), pole relay bases (3 years), pole relays (2 year), Fuses (No Warranty), Isolation relay (2 years), Smoke Detectors (5 years), Vibrator Pad (1 year), LED lights (1 year), Strobe light (1 year), Flood lights (1 year), PLC  (3 years), Standard Doorbell  (1 year), Smart Doorbell  (1 year), Smart Doorbell components  (1 year), Baby Cry box  (1 year), Duress remote (1 year), Duress wall button (3 years), Panel Battery Back-up (1 year), CO alarm (3 years), Appliance sensor (3 years), Motion sensor (6 months) as these depend on street power, Standard mute button (1 year).
 

 According to NCC regulations, an external fire panel requires an audible alarm connected to it. Hence when the house loses power from the street, the panel gives out an audible siren as well as visual notification through the red strobe attached to the main control panel. This can be turned off by pressing a mute button attached to the panel. This event will also trigger the bed shaker as well in case this happens while the user is asleep so they can wake up and press the mute button to turn the alarm off.

Panel will continue to run on battery at this stage. Please note when the battery is flat, the system will not be able to alert you of any notifications. The main house power is required to charge the battery back up again.

We do not advise or give consent to turn the panel off due to safety concerns and this includes concerns of customers forgetting to turn the system back on. Hence at this point we do not give consent for this.

However we are working out a solution for this that will keep our customers safe and implement something that could be legally applicable.

• You can press the mute button on the panel itself to turn this alarm off. 
• If you are away, the alarm will turn off itself as soon as the power comes back.
• Unfortunately to keep it compliant to NCC standards, we cannot remove the alarm completely.

  Watch instructions in Auslan in our YouTube channel -->  https://youtu.be/RGUUIfiwImQ

False alarms are most commonly caused by something interfering with the sensor. Proper maintenance of your smoke alarms will also reduce the likelihood of any false alarms.

Here are 6 reasons why this can happen:

1. Insects & Dust

Insects and dust are common cause of false alarms.  Make sure the smoke alarm is regularly maintained.  Regularly clean and vacuum to remove any loose dust and foreign particles within the smoke alarm. WQhat

2. High Humidity & Dew Point

False alarms can occur if water vapor molecules develop inside the sensor chamber due to direct environmental conditions. Once humidity reaches 85% , false alarms could frequently happen and weak batteries can also increase the chance of false alarms. In high humidity, use a hair dryer to blow warm air through the smoke alarm to assist with drying out any moisture build up.

3. Cooking Fumes

Cooking fumes can cause the smoke alarm to activate especially when the smoke alarm is located too close to the kitchen.  It is recommended to locate smoke alarms at least 5m away from the kitchen always utilise your range hood / extraction fan when cooking. 

To avoid this you can Always switch on your range hood fan when cooking.

4. Steam

Steam from bathrooms and laundry can cause false alarm. Smoke alarms located inside or in front of bathrooms, showers and laundry can activate when steam enters the smoke alarm.

Hence  Always utilise your bathroom extraction fan while showering to help clear and reduce the amount of steam. Smoke alarms should not be installed within or directly outside bathrooms and laundries.

5. High Volume Air Movement

High air movement can cause the smoke alarm to false alarm as dust and other foreign particles are blown directly towards the smoke alarm, triggering the sensor to react the same way as it does to smoke. If a smoke alarm is installed too close to an air movement source, it will need to be re-located.

Make sure smoke alarms are not installed too close to split-systems, ceiling fans or air vents.

6. Electrical Issues

Electrical issues can cause smoke alarms to activate.  Unstable power or power interruptions can cause electrical spikes in the circuit, this may cause the smoke alarm to beep or alarm for a short period of time. Smoke alarms are commonly installed on a lighting circuit shared with other electrical products. These products can create electrical noise or interference which can activate the smoke alarm. This electrical noise and electro-magnetic interference may cause the smoke alarm to beep or alarm when other electrical products are activated. 

If your house faces power interruptions, Installing an EMI filter will help to filter out electrical interference. 

You can chat with your installer about EMI Filter installation.

Watch instructions in Auslan in our YouTube channel --> https://youtu.be/EdaX_DWzcZo

Step 1. 

Check for Fire If there’s a fire present, evacuate the residence immediately and call 000 from safety. If there is no fire, proceed to Step 2. 

Step 2. 

Find initiating smoke alarm with flashing RED light Identify the initiating smoke alarm by locating the unit with the flashing RED light. For interconnected smoke alarms, finding the initiating unit is the key to silencing all other smoke alarms in the property. 

Step 3. 

Press HUSH button on initiating alarm to silence ALL smoke alarms Press and hold the HUSH button for 3 seconds on the initiating smoke alarm with the flashing RED light. Pressing HUSH on the initiating alarm will silence all other interconnected units, so you can then find what caused the alarm. 

What are the next steps ?

Hush mode will silence the smoke alarms for a period of 9 minutes. If the alarm’s sensor is still detecting particles after the Hush period ends, the alarms will initiate again. You can keep using the Hush function until contaminants have cleared the air. If the alarm keeps activating randomly again after these procedures, you will need to potentially get an EMI Filter installed by your installer which can help avoid random triggers due to voltage fluctuations. You can contact support@assistivetechs.com to report the incident so we can guide you in the right direction. 

Regardless of the make or model, all smoke alarms need to be replaced at least every 10 years. Most smoke alarms have a use-by date or manufacture date printed on them so you’ll know when they should be replaced. New smoke alarms with a long lasting lithium battery have a 10 year lifespan to ensure you and your family have the highest level of protection.

• Both hard-wired and battery operated smoke alarms are manufactured to have a recommended service life of at least 10 years under normal conditions of use (Australian Standards – AS 3786).
• After 10 years smoke alarms may malfunction and their efficiency compromised with accumulated dust, insects, airborne contaminants and corrosion of electrical circuitry.
• A smoke alarm constantly monitors the air 24 hours a day. At the end of 10 years, it has gone through millions of monitoring cycles. After this much use, components may become less reliable. This means that as the smoke alarm gets older, the potential of failing to detect a fire increases.