Queensland Smoke Alarm Legislation

Queensland Smoke Alarm
Legislation

Helping landlords, tenants, buyers, and sellers stay compliant
with Queensland Fire & Emergency Services regulations.

Understanding Your Obligations

Queensland Fire & Emergency Services (QFES) regulations require specific smoke alarm compliance for all residential properties. Whether you're a landlord, tenant, buyer, or seller, understanding these requirements ensures safety and legal compliance across all Queensland properties.

Legislated Smoke Alarm Requirements

In July 1997, the Building Code of Australia required smoke alarms to be hardwired but had different alarm locations than current legislation. The Building Regulation 2021 requires all new dwellings to have smoke alarms hard wired and interconnected in specific locations. The Fire Services Act 1990 has retrospective requirements, for existing dwellings. For this reason, there may be a combination of hard wired and battery powered smoke alarms in a dwelling. When replacing expired/defective smoke alarms they should be replaced with whichever device was applicable to the time of construction.

What Does It Mean to Be Compliant?

Legislated Smoke Alarm Requirements

All smoke alarms must use photoelectric sensors, not ionisation technology.

Interconnected Network

When one alarm activates, all alarms throughout the property must sound simultaneously.

Strategic Bedroom Placement

Smoke alarms required in every bedroom and hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the dwelling.

Australian Standards Compliance

All alarms must meet AS3786-2014 certification requirements.

installed by a licensed electrician

(e.g. 240v) To the mains power supply with a secondary power source (i.e. non removable 10 year battery) or be powered by 10 year non-removable batteries type photoelectric smoke alarms

Pro Tip

Installation Guidelines

Homes, Townhouses & Units

Caravans & Motorhomes

At least one working photoelectric smoke alarm should be installed inside the on the ceiling and is recommended to include one in the annexe if you sleep there.

Stakeholder Responsibilities

Landlords

Compliance Obligations

Landlords are responsible for installing smoke alarms that meet the Legislation
Smoke Alarms MUST be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instruction during the tenancy.
Smoke Alarms MUST be tested at least once each year and compliance records must be kept.
Within 30 days before the start of a tenancy, each smoke alarm in the dwelling must be tested and cleaned.
Capital Electrical issue Property Managers with a "Certificate of Compliance" to document testing has been conducted.
Property owners/Landlords will receive an infringement notice if they are proven to have not complied with the legislation.

Tenants

Tenant Duties

Buyers & Sellers

Tenant Duties

All houses or units being sold, require photoelectric, interconnected smoke alarms.
The obligations is on the property SELLER and is triggered by the date the initial sale contract is signed.
As of 31/12/2021, it is mandatory that the SELLER upgrades the dwelling to interconnected smoke alarms standard prior to the dwelling being transferred.
The property seller must declare on a “Form 24” to the buyer as part of the transfer process that this obligation has been discharged. A “Form 24” is a standard compliance statement and should be provided by a conveyancer.

Capital Electrical Services

Capital Electrical can issue sellers with documentation to certify that compliant interconnected smoke alarms were installed by a licensed electrician and is issued accordance with s227 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 for installations of hardwired smoke alarms.

info@capitalelectric.com.au

1300 516 021