New legislation in Queensland aims to ensure all homes are among the safest in Australia. It imposes additional obligations on owners and tenants with respect to the installation and testing of smoke alarms.

The laws require all Queensland dwellings to have photoelectric, interconnected smoke alarms in bedrooms, hallways that connect bedrooms and other parts of the dwelling. They must also be hardwired or powered by a 10-year battery and meet minimum performance standards.

Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

Photoelectric smoke alarms use a beam of light to detect visible smoke. When the amount of smoke reaches a threshold, the alarm is triggered.

These types of smoke alarms are highly recommended by fire services across Australia, as they’re sensitive to smouldering, smoky fires which aren’t easily seen with the naked eye. They also respond to smaller amounts of smoky smoke much more quickly than ionisation smoke detectors.

To be compliant with new smoke alarm regulations, homes must have a minimum of one per level or apartment and in every hallway that connects bedrooms to the rest of the house. They must also be mains-powered or 10-year battery powered and interconnected if required.

The smoke alarms you buy must be government compliant — they must be labelled with an Australian Standard and have a date stamp on the back of them. They can’t be older than 10 years and must be replaced when they expire.

Interconnected Smoke Alarms

New Queensland smoke alarm legislation requires every dwelling to have interconnected Australian Standard (AS) 3786–2014 photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms, in hallways where bedrooms are connected and on each level.

This is an important safety requirement for family homes, as it means that even if there is no one in a room, the alarm will sound in case of a fire. This will allow people to escape the fire quickly and safely, reducing the risk of injury or death.

Unlike ionisation smoke alarms, which rely on visible flames to activate the alarm, photoelectric alarms are sensitive to particles created by smoke that are more effective at detecting fires.

These hardwired Smoke Alarms are connected to your home’s mains power supply, and fitted with a back-up battery to ensure they remain in operation if there is a power outage. They’re also less prone to being tampered with and are less likely to fail in a fire.

Hardwired Smoke Alarms

Queensland’s smoke alarm regulations qld have been amended and updated due to numerous tragic fires, including the Slacks Creek fire which claimed 11 lives back in 2011. Smoke alarms play an important role in warning people of fires in their homes.

New and substantially renovated residential dwellings must have interconnected photoelectric (AS 3786–2014) smoke alarms which are either hardwired into the building’s main power supply or powered by a non-removable minimum 10-year lifespan battery, that operates when tested. They must also be less than 10 years old and interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so that they all activate together when a fire is detected.

By January 2022 all dwellings that are being leased, re-leased or sold must have photoelectric interconnected smoke alarms. These must be either hardwired into the building’s power supply or powered by a non-removable 10-year lifespan battery, that operates when tested.

Battery Operated Smoke Alarms

The Queensland Government is phasing in new smoke alarm regulations over 10 years from 1 January 2017. Under the law, all homes must be fitted with photoelectric, interconnected hardwired smoke alarms in bedrooms, living areas and escape paths by 2027.

For those who do not have mains power to the house, battery operated smoke alarms can be installed to provide early warning of fire. These are commonly 9-volt batteries but a 10-year non replaceable lithium battery can also be used, providing continuous protection for your home.

These are generally the most common smoke alarms seen in homes across Australia and are commonly placed on ceilings. You should place them AWAY from light fittings and corners, as well as air conditioning vents and stairways.

Ensure that the alarm has a good quality battery and replace it regularly (at least once a year) to avoid the inconvenience of changing the alarm itself in a panic. It is also important to clean the unit with a vacuum cleaner every now and then to remove dust that could interfere with its ability to detect smoke.