Remember when info on Queensland’s new smoke alarm laws were everywhere?
Back in 2016, the Queensland Government announced sweeping changes to the state’s smoke alarm requirements, with a 10-year staged roll-out designed to give homeowners plenty of time to make the necessary changes.
At the time, 2027 probably seemed a lifetime away. Well… 1 January 2027 is in less than five months.
The final stage of Queensland’s smoke alarm legislation will come into effect at the beginning of next year, meaning all existing private homes, townhouses, units and manufactured homes will need to meet the new requirements.
For many homeowners, the generous time-frame may have made this one of those jobs that was easy to put off until “later”. But with the deadline now fast approaching, it is worth checking your property sooner rather than later.
So, what do the new requirements mean?
From 1 January 2027, smoke alarms in Queensland homes must:
- be photoelectric
- be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together
- comply with the Standard AS3786-2014
- not contain an ionisation sensor
- be hardwired and installed by a licensed electrician (e.g. 240v) to the mains power supply with a secondary power source (eg. non-removable 10-year battery, or a user-replaceable 9V battery)
- installed on each storey
- installed in each bedroom
- installed in hallways that connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling
It is also important to remember that the legislation has already applied to properties that have been sold or leased since 1 January 2022, while new and substantially renovated homes have had to comply since 2017. The 1 January 2027 deadline applies to the remaining existing dwellings.
Don’t leave it until December
If your property hasn’t yet been updated, now is a good time to find out what is required.
If you’re considering selling your property in the coming months, it may be worth getting your smoke alarms checked early rather than discovering a compliance issue when you’re preparing the property for market.
Acting now could save a last-minute scramble. And, more importantly, ensure your home is equipped to provide the earliest possible warning in the event of a fire.
Byrony O’Neill
0412 132 480