Starting in 2017 the requirements for Smoke Alarms in new and existing properties have changed and will continue to change in stages up to 2027.
Property owners, residents and landlords and their agents should make sure that residential properties are compliant.
The goal of the legislation is to save lives through improvements to smoke alarm installations. Changes will be phased in in stages subject to criteria set out in the table at the end of this post. Changes to installation types include:
Smoke Alarms must be Photoelectric
Photoelectric refers to the method of operation of the smoke detector, older alarms are typically ionising type and will need to be replaced.
Smoke Alarms must be interconnected
Interconnection is when all smoke alarms in a property are connected so that when one activates, all alarms activate to alert occupants to a fire.
Smoke alarms are either Hardwired or 10 Year Battery
As electricians, we see hardwiring as your best bet to protect persons and property. Hardwiring is where a permanent 240v supply powers the smoke alarm with a battery back up.
In some buildings, its not possible to hardwire a smoke alarm, where that’s the case smoke alarms need to be the sort that has a non-removable lithium type battery rated for 10 years.
If the smoke alarm being upgraded is already pre-wired, the legislation requires that it be replaced with another hard-wired alarm – clients don’t have the option of preferring the lithium type.
Locations for Smoke Alarms
The new rules require more locations that smoke alarms be installed to then you find in many homes constructed before 2017.
Smoke alarms must be installed:
- on each storey:
- in each bedroom; and
- in hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or
- if there is no hallway, between the bedrooms 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 Alarms installed have to be installed on the ceiling if practicable and;
- cannot be within 300mm from a corner of a wall and the ceiling
- cannot be within 300mm of a light fitting
- cannot be within 400mm of an air-conditioning vent
- cannot be within 400mm of the blades of a fan
| Must Install photoelectric from | Interconnection required by | Alarm required in each bedroom from | Hardwired/10 Year Battery |
New Build | 1st January 2017 (before completion) | 1st January 2017 (before completion) | 1st January 2017 (before completion) | Must be Hardwired |
Existing dwellings | 1st January 2017 (when replacing existing or new install) | 1st January 2027 (or with new install) | 1st January 2027 | Hardwired or 10 Year Battery |
Dwellings sold, leased or an existing lease renewed | 1st January 2017 (when replacing existing or new install) | 1st January 2022 (or with new install) | 1st January 2022 | Hardwired or 10 Year Battery |
Substantial Renovation | 1st January 2017 (before renovation completion) | 1st January 2017 (before completion) | 1st January 2017 (before completion) | Must be Hardwired |
For more info on the changes the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service provides useful advice at their website: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/community-safety/smokealarms/Pages/default.aspx