On 1 January 2017, laws about smoke alarms commenced in Queensland.
As of this date, all new and substantially renovated homes must have had interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms compliant with Australian Standard 3786-2014 (AS 3786-2014) installed.
As part of the building process, new and substantially renovated homes should also have the compliant smoke alarms installed as required by the National Construction Code (NCC). This is formally known as Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Building Regulation 2006.
Smoke alarms must also:
The smoke alarms must be installed:
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.
Where practicable smoke alarms must be placed on the ceiling. Smoke alarms must not be placed within:
There are other special requirements for stairways, sloping ceilings, and ceilings with exposed beams which are explained in the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
If a homeowner or landlord installs or replaces a smoke alarm, regardless of the age of a dwelling, it must be replaced with a compliant interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm, that complies with AS 3786–2014.
From 1 January 2022, these requirements will apply to all houses leased and sold. If a landlord is not compliant by 1 January 2022, they will not be legally able to rent their property. Property sellers must continue to lodge a Form 24 stating the requirements of the law have been met.
From 1 January 2027, these requirements will apply to all homes.
Visit the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ website to read more about smoke alarms.
Dodgy traders may try to take advantage of the new requirements for smoke alarms.
Protect yourself by making sure you know the requirements for your home.
It's illegal for a business or trader to tell you something that's false or misleading. This includes:
Here are some examples of illegal things a dodgy business might try to say or do. You should also double-check any information passed on to you by your real estate agent or body corporate manager.
Only new or substantially renovated homes, where the building application was submitted on or after 1 January 2017, need to be compliant. Other dwellings have longer to become compliant (as above).
Making the dwelling compliant is the responsibility of the owner or landlord.
There are compliant smoke alarms available (e.g. wireless alarms) which don't need electrical work to be carried out during installation. A licensed electrician will need to be engaged if the installation involves electrical work.
Saying a smoke alarm is compliant with the law when it isn’t, or saying a smoke alarm isn’t compliant with the law when it is― for example, to get you to buy a more expensive product. Saying that you need more smoke alarms installed than the law says you do.
Saying you need a qualified technician or electrician to test your smoke alarms. You may test your own smoke alarms, by testing the test buttons on the alarm itself.
By 2027, every residential dwelling in Queensland will need to have compliant smoke alarms installed.
Given this demand for products, it’s possible supply will be limited or prices will rise, especially near the cut-off dates of 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2027.
The Queensland Government doesn’t set the prices for smoke alarms. Businesses can set their own prices.
To avoid any possible supply and demand issues, we strongly recommend you don’t wait until the last minute to make your home compliant.
If you believe a business is making misleading statements about smoke alarms, or breaching door-to-door trading rules, you can report it to us.
Last updated: 19 November 2020