• Smoke alarms MUST be installed in all homes, units, flats, and townhouses.
• Smoke Alarms must meet requirements of AS3786 (photoelectric Alarms are NOT mandatory)
• Smoke alarms MUST be located between each area containing bedrooms and the remainder of the dwelling.
• Residential homes constructed before 1^st August 1997 need only 9 volts powered smoke alarms.
• Residential homes constructed after 1^st August 1997 must have 240V mains powered smoke alarms.
• All smoke alarms:
  • Must contain a battery
  • Need to be tested regularly
  • Need to be replaced after 10 years.

• Smoke alarms MUST be installed in all homes, units, flats, and townhouses.
• Smoke Alarms must meet requirements of AS3786 (photoelectric Alarms are NOT mandatory)
• Smoke alarms MUST be located between each area containing bedrooms and the remainder of the dwelling.
• Residential homes constructed before 1^st August 1997 need only 9 volt powered smoke alarms.
• Residential homes constructed after 1^st August 1997 must have 240V mains powered smoke alarms.
• All smoke alarms:
  • Must contain a battery
  • Need to be tested regularly
  • Need to be replaced after 10 years.

Queensland is taking the lead in Australia mandating that all premises be updated to increased minimum numbers of new Photoelectric technology, Interconnected, 240V or 10 years non-replaceable smoke alarms.

• QLD KEY Dates
  • As of now
    • All new buildings must be fitted with Photoelectric Smoke alarms which are;
      • 240V mains powered or powered by 10 years non-replaceable battery.
      • Installed on each floor, in each bedroom, and each hallway connecting bedrooms to the rest of the home.
      • Interconnected so that if one goes off they all go off.
    • In existing buildings;
      • Smoke alarms more than 10 years old must be replaced.
      • When replacing smoke alarms, the replacement Smoke Alarm MUST be Photoelectric.
    • By 1^st Jan 2022
      • All residences offered for sale, or units offered for lease must be fitted with Photoelectric Smoke alarms which are;
        • 240V mains powered or powered by 10 years non-replaceable battery.
        • Installed on each floor, in each bedroom, and each hallway connecting bedrooms to the rest of the home.
        • Interconnected so that if one goes off they all go off.
      • By 1^st January 2027
        • All dwellings must be fitted with Photoelectric Smoke alarms which are;
          • 240V mains powered or powered by 10 years non-replaceable battery.
          • Installed on each floor, in each bedroom, and each hallway connecting bedrooms to the rest of the home.
          • Interconnected so that if one goes off they all go off.

• Home built since 1^st Jan 1995 must have 240V mains powered smoke alarms fitted.
• All other homes must have battery powered smoke alarms.
• If a home is sold, the new owner has six months to upgrade to smoke alarms powered by 240V mains power or 10 years non-replaceable batteries.
• Photoelectric smoke alarms are recommended but not compulsory.
• From 1^st May 2014, all new homes (or homes undergoing extensions) must have interconnected smoke alarms fitted.

• Do not place Smoke Alarms in any of the following areas:
  • Places where the normal temperature can exceed 45^oC or be below 5^oC (e.g. attics; furnace rooms, directly above ovens or kettles etc.) as the heat & steam could cause nuisance alarms.
  • Near a decorative object, door, light fitting, window moulding etc., that may prevent smoke or heat from entering the Alarm.
  • Surfaces that are normally warmer or colder than the rest of the room (e.g. attic hatches). Temperature differences might stop smoke or heat from reaching the unit.
  • Next to or directly above heaters or air conditioning vents, windows, wall vents etc. that can change the direction of airflow.
  • ln very high or awkward areas (e.g. over stairwells) where it may be difficult to reach the alarm (for testing, hushing or battery replacement).
• Best Practice
  • Locate the unit at least 1m from dimmer controlled lights and wiring as some dimmers can cause interference.
  • Locate unit at least 1.5m and route wiring at least 1m away from fluorescent light fittings as electrical “noise” and/or flickering may affect the signals of interconnected models.