Plan to survive - get compliant smoke alarms today
New smoke alarm laws are coming.
Interconnected compliant smoke alarms means when one goes off, they all go off.
All existing private homes, townhouses, and units require interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms by 1 January 2027. All registered caravans and motorhomes must also be fitted with a photoelectric smoke alarm.
Legislation introduced on 1 January 2017 requires all smoke alarms to comply with Australian Standard 3786-2014, and requires pre-existing smoke alarms to be replaced with interconnected smoke alarms if the smoke alarm has expired; does not work anymore and/or converting the home into a rental property.
What does it mean to be compliant?
Smoke alarms must:
- be photoelectric.
- be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate and go off together.
- comply with the Standard AS3786-2014 which is marked on the body of the alarm. To locate the marking, you may need to remove from the bracket to look underneath.
- not contain an ionisation sensor.
- be hardwired installed by a licensed electrician (e.g. 240v) to the mains power supply with a secondary power source (i.e. non removable 10 year battery) or;
- be powered by 10 year non-removable batteries type photoelectric smoke alarm that can be installed yourself.
Avoid buying smoke alarms with this symbol, they are not photoelectric.
Legislated smoke alarm requirements
In July 1997, the Building Code of Australia required smoke alarms to be hardwired but had different alarm locations than current legislation. The Building Regulation 2021 requires all new dwellings to have smoke alarms hard wired and interconnected in specific locations. The Fire Services Act 1990 has retrospective requirements, for existing dwellings. For this reason, there may be a combination of hard wired and battery powered smoke alarms in a dwelling. When replacing expired/defective smoke alarms they should be replaced with whichever device was applicable to the time of construction.
Installing smoke alarms
Private homes, townhouses and units
Smoke alarms must be installed:
- on each storey
- in each bedroom
- in hallways that connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling
- if there is no hallway, between the bedroom and other parts of the storey; and
- if there are no bedrooms on a storey, at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.
QFD recommends recording or setting a reminder for when you need to update your alarms.
Queensland registered caravan and motorhomes
At least one working photoelectric smoke alarm should be installed inside the on the ceiling and is recommended to include one in the annexe if you sleep there.
Maintaining smoke alarms
Smoke alarms should be regularly dusted or vacuumed to make sure they continue working properly.
Although accidental alarms may go off when there is no fire, it can it can become dangerous and put you and/or your family at risk if you remove the alarm batteries or disable an interconnected system to silence the alarm.
Make sure you regularly test your smoke alarms to ensure they are working correctly.
The fire service is not permitted to disable sounding alarms in unattended residences.
More information
Select which of the following best describes you:
Owner occupier
All existing private homes, townhouses and units require interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms by 1 January 2027. All registered caravans and motorhomes must also be fitted with a photoelectric smoke alarm.
Find out:
- what to do if your alarm has expired
- where alarms are required to be installed
- if you can still use battery operated alarms
- how to prevent accidental alarms.
Landlord
Within 30 days before the start of a tenancy, the lessor/landlord must test and clean each smoke alarm in the home.
Some real estate agents may outsource smoke alarm maintenance to another company with associated fees paid by the landlord. The real estate may request a "certificate of compliance" from these companies as proof of service. This is not a legal requirement but may be part of the real estate agent's internal process.
Property owners/Landlords will receive an infringement notice if they are proven to have not complied with the legislation.
Renter
As a renter or tenant, landlords are responsible for the installation of smoke alarms that comply with legislation.
During a tenancy, the renter must test and clean each smoke alarm in the home, at least once every 12 months.
To test a smoke alarm, press the ‘test’ button. Cleaning should be done according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which is usually vacuuming.
You do not need to be qualified or licensed to clean or test a domestic smoke alarm.
Learn more about maintaining smoke alarms in your rental property.
Contact us to make a complaint about non-compliant alarms in your rental.
Building or renovating
As part of a building approval process, requiring a Building Certifier, all new homes and renovations should have the required smoke alarms installed in line with the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) formally known as Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Building Regulation 2006.
Selling or leasing
All homes or units being sold, will require photoelectric, interconnected smoke alarms.
The obligations on property sellers are triggered by the date the initial sale contract is signed.
When a contract of sale is signed after 31/12/2021, the seller is obligated to upgrade the dwelling to the updated interconnected domestic smoke alarm standard prior to the dwelling being transferred.
The property seller must declare on a “form 24” to the buyer as part of the transfer process that this obligation has been discharged. A “form 24” is a standard compliance statement that should be provided by conveyancer.
Hardwired interconnected smoke alarms installed by a licensed electrician require a Certificate of testing and compliance which is issued in accordance with s227 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 for installations of hardwired smoke alarms.
Caravans and motorhomes
From 1 July 2024, all caravans or motorhomes whose Queensland registration is commencing or being transferred must have a photoelectric smoke alarm installed on the ceiling.
From 1 January 2027, all other Queensland registered caravans and motorhomes must have a photoelectric smoke alarm installed. Queensland Fire Department (QFD) recommends unregistered caravans and motorhomes, as well as mobile homes, have a working smoke alarm installed to give occupants early warning of fire.
Deaf or hard of hearing
Queensland Fire Department provides funding through the Deaf Connect Smoke Alarm Subsidy Scheme to help Queenslanders who are deaf or hard of hearing to purchase specialty smoke alarms.
To find out if you are eligible contact:
Deaf Connect
Email: smoke.alarms@deafconnect.org.au
Phone: 07 3892 8500
TTY: 07 3892 8501