15 December 2016
How the new QLD smoke alarm legislation affects you
Legislation passed in Queensland parliament this week will see the state become the first to introduce the requirement that interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms be fitted in every home. The legislation places Queensland at the forefront of home fire safety throughout the country.
The Fire and Emergency Services Minister Bill Byrne stated, “The absolute tragedy we saw at Slacks Creek where 11 people died is an incident we never want to be repeated and this legislation ensures people will be alerted to house fires as early as possible.”
What does the new smoke alarm legislation mean for you?
The new legislation states that every residence is required to be fitted with:
- Photoelectric smoke alarms
- An interconnected smoke alarm system
- Smoke alarms in all bedrooms
- Smoke alarms in hallways
- Either in a hardwired interconnected system installed by a licenced electrician or a system of 10-year lithium battery alarms with wireless interconnectivity.
When?
The installation timeframe is set within the 10-year phased rollout and 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 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
Also, all smoke alarms being replaced after this date must be photoelectric alarms.
Benefits of this style of smoke alarm system
An interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm system has been proven to provide the best protection and the fastest response time in a range of fire situations.
Photoelectric smoke alarms:
- are very effective at detecting smouldering fires providing the earliest warning of a fire
- reduce the incidence of false alarms which in turn decreases tampering
An interconnected system ensures all occupants of the home are alerted to a fire situation immediately as if one alarm is triggered by smoke all the alarms throughout the house will sound.
The Minister encourages all Queensland residents to update their home’s smoke alarm systems as soon as possible.
For more information on updating the smoke alarm system in your home contact our electrical team on 1300 762 260 or complete our booking request form today.
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