New Smoke Alarm Laws - What you need to know

Over the next decade, all Queensland homes (including rental properties) will need to upgrade their fire alarms under legislation passed on the 23rd of February, 2016.

The new laws, which come into effect on 1st of January, 2017, require that all smoke alarms be photoelectric and interconnected which are either hardwired or fitted with a 10-year battery.

The new laws were passed after 150 people being killed in various house fires around the state in the past 12 years and recommendations from the state coroner after a fire in Slacks Creek, Brisbane that claimed 11 people, eight of whom were children. ABC reported on the 1st of September, 2016, that the house was fitted with two smoke alarms, however, neither worked.

The full ABC report can be read here.

As part of the legislation, the requirements for having new alarms are as follows:

1st January, 2017- All new dwellings or substantially renovated properties

1st January, 2022- All dwelling sold or leased; all Government-owned housing

1st January, 2027- All domestic dwellings

Further to this, any houses approved for construction on or after 1st of May, 2014 must have the additional requirement of interconnected smoke alarms.

For more information regarding the legislation, including landlord and tenant responsibilities, what photoelectric fire alarms are and alarm installation and maintenance, please find relevant information at the QFES website.