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Jul 9, 2024

Preparing for Change: Queensland's Updated Smoke Alarm Legislation in 2027

Do you own your home in Queensland? From January 1st 2027, new QLD smoke alarm laws will come into effect. This mandates that smoke alarms meet the same standards in all types of homes and residences: houses, units, townhouses, villas, caravans, and motorhomes.

If you aren’t sure whether you meet this, we have you covered.

Why Photoelectric Smoke Alarms?

Unlike currently commonly used systems like ionisation alarms, photoelectric alarms provide a range of health and safety benefits. This in turn enhances the fire safety of your home.
See what advantages photoelectric smoke alarms offer:

  • Works promptly to detect fires, especially a smouldering fire. This is important because it’s commonly the type of fire that spreads in a home while families sleep.
  • Highly reliable.
  • Minimal false alarms.

According to reports, photoelectric alarms respond to smoky, smouldering fires within a few minutes (not longer than 5 mins). While ionisation alarms can take up to 20 minutes!

How does it work?

Need more information to answer the question “how do these alarms protect our homes?” Unlike ionisation smoke alarms that ‘smell’ smoke, photoelectric smoke alarms ‘see’ smoke with its sensor.
Our experts at DC Smoke have broken this down for you below.

How photoelectric smoke alarms detect smoke:

1

These alarms all have a light that is directed into a ‘sensing chamber’

2

When smoke enters this chamber, its visible particles disrupts the light

3

The light then sparks the sensor, causing the alarm to go
off

Through interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms, that the new legislation mandates, when one alarm goes off, all alarms will go off. These loud alarms throughout your home provide everyone proper time to evacuate.

What Does the Legislation Require?

By 2027, every Queensland private home, unit and townhouse must have interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms.

These are the main requirements:

Location: Smoke alarms must be installed in particular spaces across the home. An alarm must be present on every bedroom, hallway connecting bedrooms, and on every floor. (*More location requirements apply for these alarms.)
Interconnected: All smoke alarms must be interconnected together. This means that when one alarm goes off, all alarms in the house will sound.
Power: Smoke alarms should be either connected to the main power supply and equipped with a backup battery that lasts for 10 years; or powered by a built-in non-removable 10-year battery. If you are replacing an old smoke alarm that was hardwired to the main power supply, the new alarm must also be hardwired.
Type of smoke alarm: You must use only photoelectric smoke alarms, ionisation alarms should not be used.

*Read this info sheet for more information.

Compliance Deadlines

The deadlines for compliance are based on the property type. It’s important to be aware of this so you can be prepared.

See the below:

Homeowners: All owner-occupied homes must comply by January 1, 2027.
Landlords: Rental properties must comply by the next lease renewal. Or in the event where a new lease commences from January 1, 2022. 
Selling a Home: Properties sold after January 1, 2022, must meet these standards before the completed sale. They must also be cleaned and tested for operation and compliance within 30 days before a sale.
Building homes: All new home constructions must comply with the regulations outlined by the National Construction Code. Similarly, all smoke alarms must be cleaned and inspected for compliance and to ensure they work within 30 days before a sale.

Why Compliance is More Than Important

Oftentimes, in the usual busy demands of day-to-day life, it can be easy to get sidetracked and forget to take the right steps to ensure you’re complying with all mandatory regulations for everyone’s safety, around your home. 

Smoke alarm batteries get taken out and left out, blinds get installed in family homes without being checked that they’re kid safe. 

If you don’t have smoke alarms installed to these new smoke alarms installed by Jan 1, 2027 if you’re a homeowner, you will face penalties. But, it’s really about more than just checking off a box on a checklist. 
Interconnected photoelectric alarms save lives. At the end of the day, ensuring that your home or investment property is compliant isn’t just about avoiding unnecessary fees and delays in sales. It’s about keeping our family, other loved ones, and neighbours safe. 

This is why we really encourage every household in Queensland to become compliant now, even before the deadline for these laws make it mandatory.

Can I install my own QLD-2027 compliant smoke alarms myself?

If your current smoke alarms are battery operated, there’s nothing in the law that stops you from upgrading your smoke alarms yourself. If you have any alarms hardwired into your main power, then you require an electrician for these alarms.

However, the installation must accurately meet Queensland’s new smoke alarm legislation; and comply with Australian standard 3786-2014; and other rules laid out in Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 for properties with stairways, sloping ceilings and ceilings with exposed beams. In the case you install your own alarms, you must either; create your own Smoke Alarm Compliance Certificate or arrange an inspection to receive a certificate from an electrician.

If this isn’t the case, you face the penalties and your home will not be as fire safe.

QLD Smoke Alarm Compliance Certificate

Once your smoke alarms are installed, you must gain a compliance certificate. Our smoke alarm experts in Queensland provide this to you at the end of your installation. 
It is an important document for landlords, property sellers, and homeowners. This document also assists you in filling out a part of ‘Form 24’, the transfer documents, which requires you to declare if compliant smoke alarms are installed in the property.

Penalties for Property Sellers

Without compliant alarms installed by the settlement date of a sale, the property buyer is entitled to a 0.15% reduction of the sales price if requested. You may also face a penalty of approximately $685.

How can I prepare for the deadline? 

Now that you have the right information, you’re able to prepare.

Follow these simple steps:

1

Assess Your Smoke Alarms

Check your current smoke alarms against the new QLD smoke alarm standards. Get a thorough, accurate assessment by contacting a professional like DC Smoke. 

2

Get Your Smoke Alarms Installed

If your smoke alarms are compliant, you can receive a smoke alarm certificate from your hired electrician after an inspection. If your home isn’t compliant, it’s important to get your smoke alarms upgraded according to the Queensland smoke alarm 2027 guidelines.

3

Compliance Certificate

After completing a compliant installation, we give you a Smoke Alarm Compliance Certificate. Giving you more than just compliance, but peace of mind for your home and family. 

4

After 10 Years

After all these steps, you’re done! Unless your smoke alarms stop working, you usually don’t require another service until 10 years. Read more about smoke alarm maintenance, we include tips for what you can do yourself.

Book Your Smoke Alarm Compliance Inspection

So, are you prepared to meet Queensland’s 2027 smoke alarm standards? 

Don’t wait until the last minute. Act now to ensure your home is compliant and your family is protected. Reach out to us today and schedule your smoke alarm compliance inspection. At DC Smoke, we specialise in helping homeowners like you achieve full compliance with Queensland’s smoke alarm legislation well ahead of the 2027 deadline. Our team of experts provides comprehensive inspections and tailored solutions to ensure your smoke alarms meet all current standards.

Ensuring your property is equipped with the latest photoelectric smoke alarms isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s a crucial step towards safeguarding your home and loved ones from unexpected fires. That’s why we take this responsibility very seriously.

DC Smoke Alarms: The Experts in Home Safety

Our experts at DC Smoke Alarms specialises in compliant smoke alarm solutions. We offer a full-service for smoke alarms, so you can be assured that we’ll have you covered:

Consultation and Assessment

Tailored alarm installation advice for your property’s needs.

Installation Services

Professional installation meeting all legal standards.

Certification

Issuance of compliance certificates after installation.

Maintenance Programs

We can also provide ongoing maintenance and testing support to ensure your alarms function correctly.

Call us on 1300 268 905 to discuss your smoke alarm needs and get started. Let us tell you how we can assist you.

Reach Out to your Local Smoke Alarm Installer

We know that keeping up with changing laws can be tough—which is why we’re here to keep you informed. For more information, visit Queensland Fire and Emergency Services or contact us directly at DC Smoke Alarms for our services to ensure your property meets the upcoming legal requirements.