New QLD Smoke Alarm Legislation

How does the new legislation effect your home in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Redlands and Sunshine Coast?

Queensland has recently introduced new legislation regarding smoke alarms to ensure maximum safety for all residents. These changes are designed to enhance fire prevention and protection in homes across the state. All homes in Queensland must now be equipped with interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. By understanding and complying with the new smoke alarm legislation, you can significantly reduce the risk of fire-related injuries and property damage.

Need help with assessing whether your smoke alarms comply? We offer a $198 Smoke Alarm Compliance Check which includes a certification certificate. Any upgrades to existing; or the installation of new hardwired smoke alarm systems, must be carried out by a licenced electrician.

Call us today 1300 054 488 or send us an enquiry here. We are also available 24/7 for electrical emergencies in the Greater Brisbane and Gold Coast areas. Financing options are also available. We Can Be There Today!

Key Changes

• Mandatory Photoelectric Smoke Alarms: All homes in Queensland must now be equipped with photoelectric smoke alarms. These detectors are more sensitive to smoke particles and provide earlier warnings, giving you more time to escape in case of a fire.
• Interconnected Alarms: It’s mandatory for all smoke alarms in a home to be interconnected. This means that when one alarm activates, all others will sound simultaneously, alerting you to a fire in any part of the house.
• Regular Testing: Smoke alarms should be tested monthly to ensure they are functioning properly. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) recommends testing them on the first day of each month.
• Battery Replacement: Batteries in smoke alarms should be replaced annually or as recommended by the manufacturer. Using fresh batteries ensures optimal performance and reliability.
• Regular Cleaning: Dust and debris can interfere with the sensitivity of smoke alarms. It’s essential to clean them regularly, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Exemptions

While most homes are subject to these new regulations, there may be some exemptions. For specific details and to determine if your property is exempt, please refer to the Queensland Government’s official website or consult with local authorities.

Resources

• Queensland Police Service (QPS): https://www.police.qld.gov.au/
• Queensland Government: https://www.qld.gov.au/

Stay Informed and Protected

By understanding and complying with the new smoke alarm legislation, you can significantly reduce the risk of fire-related injuries and property damage. For more information or to seek assistance, please contact your local fire and rescue service or visit the official government websites.

Queensland smoke alarm legislation changes

• Smoke alarms must be located:
  • on each storey
  • in all bedrooms
  • in hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house
  • if there’s no hallway, between bedrooms and other parts of the storey
  • 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 home
• All smoke alarms must be the photoelectric type.
• Smoke alarms must be either hardwired to your home’s mains power supply with a battery backup, or 10-year non-removable lithium battery powered alarms.
• Smoke alarms are required to be interconnected with every smoke alarm in the dwelling so if one is triggered all activate together providing the best and earliest warning of a fire.
• Interconnection can be either wired or wireless.

For your safety and the safety of everyone in your home, hardwired smoke alarms must be installed by a licenced electrician.

Photoelectric smoke alarms only

The updated legislation also states that every alarm replaced or installed from 1 January 2017 must be a photoelectric type smoke alarm.

Ionisation style smoke alarms should no longer be used to replace or upgrade old alarms.

Installation timeframes

The installation timeframe relevant for your property will vary depending on your situation.

• Homes built or significantly renovated with a completion date after 1 January 2017 will need to be installed with the new interconnected photoelectric alarm system
• Any homes leased or sold from 1 January 2017 will need to meet compliance after 5 years
• All owner-occupied residents will need to meet compliance after 10 years

More information on the latest QLD smoke alarm updates

For more information on updating the smoke alarms in your property contact our electrical team on 1300 054 488 or complete our booking request form today.

Read our blog post How the new QLD smoke alarm legislation affects you.

Download the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services fact sheet

 New Smoke Alarm Legislation (267 KB)