SMOKE ALARM COMPLIANCE IN QLD

AU/ NZ SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

QUEENSLAND - For more details visit the government website.

For dwellings being sold, leased or an existing lease renewed

From 1 January 2022

Home Owners

From 1 January 2027
  • Smoke alarm installation in a Class 1a building (house, duplex, villa or town house) at a glance

  • Note: For guidance only. Always check with the latest NCC Building Code of Australia and local regulations.

  • Type
  • Photoelectric type (AS 3786:2014) and not also contain an ionisation sensor (from 01-01-2017)
  • If replacement - 240V mains powered with battery back-up or Non-removable 10-year battery powered type (only like for like)
  • If leased or sold - 240V mains powered with battery back-up or Non-removable 10-year battery powered type
  • If new build or substantial renovation - 240V mains powered with battery back-up Alarm locations
  • 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.
  • Smoke alarm installation in a Class 1a building (house, duplex, villa or town house) at a glance

  • Note: For guidance only. Always check with the latest NCC Building Code of Australia and local regulations.

  • Type
  • Photoelectric type (AS 3786:2014) and not also contain an ionisation sensor (from 01-01-2017)
  • If replacement - 240V mains powered with battery back-up or Non-removable 10-year battery powered type (only like for like)
  • If leased or sold - 240V mains powered with battery back-up or Non-removable 10-year battery powered type
  • If new build or substantial renovation - 240V mains powered with battery back-up Alarm locations
  • 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.
Installing smoke alarms
Installing smoke alarms
  • For the best protection, smoke alarms should be installed on each storey:
  • in every bedroom
  • in hallways that connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling
  • if there is no hallway, between the bedrooms, and
  • if there are no bedrooms on a storey, at least one smoke alarm should be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.
Any person can legally install a battery powered smoke alarm. However, 240-volt smoke alarms connect to the electricity supply and must be connected by a licensed electrician. For more information read the Smoke Alarm Installation Information Sheet.
  • For the best protection, smoke alarms should be installed on each storey:

  • in every bedroom
  • in hallways that connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling
  • if there is no hallway, between the bedrooms, and
  • if there are no bedrooms on a storey, at least one smoke alarm should be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.
Any person can legally install a battery powered smoke alarm. However, 240-volt smoke alarms connect to the electricity supply and must be connected by a licensed electrician. For more information read the Smoke Alarm Installation Information Sheet.
Landlords
New dwellings and dwellings being substantially renovated
Landlords are responsible for the installation of smoke alarms that comply with new Smoke Alarm legislation, introduced on 1 January, 2017. Existing smoke alarms manufactured more than 10 years ago, as well as any smoke alarms that do not operate when tested, must be replaced with photoelectric smoke alarms that comply with Australian Standard 3786–2014. All smoke alarms should be interconnected within the dwelling.
New Tenancies
Within 30 days before the start of a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the lessor/landlord must test and clean each smoke alarm in the dwelling.During a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the tenant must test and clean each smoke alarm in the dwelling, 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 licenced to clean or test a domestic smoke alarm. 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.
New dwellings and dwellings being substantially renovated
  • All new homes or units and substantially renovated homes or units that are subject to a building application submitted from 1 January 2017, will require the installation of hardwired, photoelectric interconnected smoke alarms.
  • Smoke alarms in the dwelling must:

  • be photoelectric (AS3786-2014); and
  • not also contain an ionisation sensor; and
  • be hardwired to the mains power supply with a secondary power source (i.e. battery); and
  • be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together.
  • All new homes or units and substantially renovated homes or units that are subject to a building application submitted from 1 January 2017, will require the installation of hardwired, photoelectric interconnected smoke alarms. Smoke alarms in the dwelling must:
  • be photoelectric (AS3786-2014); and
  • not also contain an ionisation sensor; and
  • be hardwired to the mains power supply with a secondary power source (i.e. battery); and
  • be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together.