New Smoke Alarm Legislation Queensland
What you need to know
Residential property owners entering into an agreement to sell or lease their property should check to see whether the smoke alarm in the property is compliant.
Queensland’s 10-year fire safety legislation update came into effect in 2017. Under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, all new and substantially renovated dwellings must comply with the regulation for the prevention of fires and other incidental emergencies plus establish a framework for the management of compliant fire safety
What’s the risk?
Phase 2 of the legislation changes commenced on 1 January of 2022. Landlords and Sellers must ensure they have installed the correct compliant smoke alarms in the property being leased or sold. If a property is not compliant with these fire safety requirements, it places owners and occupants at significant risk.
To be compliant, the owner of the property must replace or install new smoke alarms with several new requirements in addition to the existing regulations which include the following:
must be installed in each bedroom as well as on each storey (as necessary) and in hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling;
have been manufactured less than 10 years before the smoke alarm is installed;
must be photoelectric, comply to AS 3786-2014, and powered by either 240 volts or a 10-year lithium battery;
must be operational when tested; and
must be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together.
For more information on what to include for installation requirements, visit Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.
It is recommended that owners discuss the above requirements with their real estate agent prior to signing a contract to sell or leasing their property.
Got any questions, give Lucas or Nick a call to discuss on (07) 3310 8716.
