What is the new smoke alarm legislation in QLD?
Smoke alarms are your first line of defence against fire, so it’s important to make sure you’re up-to-date with the latest legislation.
By 1 January 2027, All homes must have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms installed, this not only applies to owner-occupied homes but also all rental/leased properties. Photoelectric smoke alarms are also known as photo-optical as they detect visible particles of combustion. In general, this type of smoke alarm is proven to be more effective in case of a fire or potential fire hazard, as they provide earlier warning of a fire, ensuring everyone has a better chance of surviving a fire.
So now is the time to make the change to photoelectric smoke alarms to ensure your family is safe and your household is compliant with the new legislation – it could mean the difference between life and death. Every homeowner or landlord needs to make this requirement a priority, not only for the safety of those who are living in the dwelling but as it is the law to have this system installed by January 2027. Remember it's all about safety first!
Important note - Any existing smoke alarms that were manufactured more than 10 years ago and any alarms that do not operate when tested must be replaced with photoelectric smoke alarms. To find the date an alarm was manufactured look on the back of the alarm and the date should be stamped on there.
What is the new Queensland Smoke Alarm legislation?
To comply with Australian Standards (AS 3786-2014) A photoelectric smoke alarm must be installed in every bedroom and hallway that connects to all the bedrooms. If the dwelling is multi-levelled this applies to every level. Should there not be any bedrooms on a particular level then an alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit a dwelling.
In regards to installation, Photoelectric smoke alarms need to be hardwired to the mains power supply, therefore they must be installed by a licensed electrician.
Recap on required smoke alarm installation areas:
- On each story
- In each bedroom
- In the hallways that connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling
- If there is no hallway, between the bedroom and other parts of the story and
- If there are no bedrooms on a story, at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling
What you need to know for various property situations
How do the smoke alarm regulations relate to owner-occupied properties?
All private homes must have the new interconnected smoke alarms installed. Whether it's a house, townhouse or unit they will require photoelectric interconnected smoke alarms. These must be hardwired (eg 240v) or non-removal 10-year battery-powered alarms.
New smoke alarm regulations for leased or exiting lease renewal properties
Landlords are responsible for the installation of smoke alarms that comply with the new alarm legislation and must install interconnected smoke alarms to ensure their tenants added safety against fire. Before the start of a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the lessor/landlord must test and clean each smoke alarm and ensure they are working efficiently.
Which smoke alarm regulations apply when selling a home?
If you are selling a residential dwelling you must have the new interconnected smoke alarms installed before selling the property. Therefore, when a contract of sale is signed after 31/12/21, the seller is obligated to upgrade the dwelling to the new photoelectric smoke alarm system, prior to the dwelling being transferred. The property seller must provide a ‘Form 24’ to the buyer as part of the transfer to declare this obligation has been discharged. See New smoke alarm legislation for more details.
Upgrading the smoke alarms in your Queensland home
If you don’t already have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms, now is the time to get them installed. We can help you do this quickly and easily – so you can be confident that your family will be safe in the event of a fire.
All Purpose Trade Solutions electricians are fully licensed and insured to install smoke alarms in accordance with the latest Queensland safety standards. Contact us today for more information or to book a smoke alarm consultation.
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