Watch Smoke Alarms is now distributing a 520Hz square wave alarm, developed by Victoria University and long used in commercial buildings, differs from traditional high-pitched beeps. Its “dissonant” tone spreads across frequencies the human ear is most sensitive to, making it much harder to ignore.

Research by Professor Dorothy Bruck at Victoria University found the alarms are six to ten times more effective at waking children, seven times better for people with hearing loss and improve escape times for older adults and those under the influence of alcohol.

“Traditional smoke alarms failed to wake 77% of children, 56% of hearing-impaired individuals and 62% of young adults with even moderate blood alcohol levels (0.05 BAC),” Dorothy says.

“I’m incredibly grateful to see this research finally being used in Australian homes. However, I can’t help but feel frustrated that it’s taken nearly 20 years for this technology to be available to homeowners in Australia. Every year of delay has potentially cost lives that could have been saved with more effective alarm systems.”

The alarms will be distributed by Brisbane-based Watch Smoke Alarms. General manager Chris McDonald says fire safety standards outside Queensland remain outdated.

“Unlike Queensland, where homes must have fully interconnected smoke alarms, the rest of Australia continues to rely on ineffective alarm systems that fail to wake the most vulnerable people when it matters most,” he says.

McDonald urged other states to follow Queensland’s lead, which requires interconnected alarms in every bedroom, giving occupants an earlier warning and more time to respond.

Watch Smoke Alarms is calling on homeowners nationwide to upgrade to interconnected 520Hz alarms immediately, even where legislation doesn’t require it yet.