Security and insurance

• What insurance do I need to arrange?
• My smoke alarm is making a soft beep about once a minute. What should I do?
• The smoke detector in the kitchen keeps setting off false alarms. Is there some way I can stop this happening?
• What should I do in future if the alarm is beeping because there's a fire in my house?
• You say, "Don't panic" in the event of a fire. Do you have any tips for keeping things calm?

What insurance do I need to arrange?

Pilbara Iron insures its own properties, registered home improvements and also covers you for public liability. You will need to arrange your own contents' insurance.

If you are in the Home Ownership Plan (HOP), please refer to the HOP handbook for more details about insurance.

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My smoke alarm is making a soft beep about once a minute. What should I do?

This is a signal that your battery is nearly flat. Replace it with a new one. We recommend you replace the battery once a year, anyway, on a day you can remember easily, such as a birthday or anniversary. Ideally, test the unit once a month.

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The smoke detector in the kitchen keeps setting off false alarms. Is there some way I can stop this happening?

Using a smoke detector in a room like the kitchen, which can get smoky (depending on your cooking skills!), or in a high humidity area such as a bathroom, can cause a false alarm. This is a nuisance. While you may be tempted, DO NOT remove the battery to quieten the alarm, or take the smoke alarm down. Keeping it simple: a smoke alarm cannot protect you if it is not powered or if it is not there.

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What should I do in future if the alarm is beeping because there's a fire in my house?

• Most importantly: DON'T PANIC
• Leave immediately using your pre-arranged escape plan - don't waste time getting dressed or picking up valuables - every second counts
• When leaving, don't open any inside door without feeling the surface first; if you see smoke through the cracks, don't open that door and go a different way
• Stay close to the floor if the air is smoky. Take shallow breaths through a cloth (this may be your t-shirt, for example) and wet it if possible
• Call the fire-brigade from a neighbour's house - not your own
• Don't return home until fire officials say that it is safe to do so

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You say, "Don't panic" in the event of a fire. Do you have any tips for keeping things calm?

Ah, that's what we like: someone who wants to "be prepared". This is especially important for families because, in the event of a fire, you may not be able to reach everyone.

We strongly suggest that you develop and practise a plan of escape. By involving the whole family right from the start, it's more likely that everyone will remember what they're supposed to do. We've broken it down into six steps. (You can skip step two if you don't have children.)

1. Hold a family meeting. Bring along a floor plan of the house.
2. At the meeting, get your children to colour in all the doors and windows on the floor plan.
3. Discuss at least two possible escape routes from each room, if this is feasible given the design of your house. It's important that all family members are shown the safest ways to get out of the house if there is a fire.
4. Decide on a place outside the house where you will all meet in the event of a fire.
5. Make sure everyone knows the sound of the fire alarm and train the family to move outside when they hear that sound.
6. Practise a fire drill about every six months.

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