Queensland Smoke Alarm Compliance Update
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Installing a smoke alarm is one of the most sensible measures you can take to manage fire risk. Smoke alarms are a requirement under smoke alarm legislation QLD. This applies to new homes and all existing homes undergoing building work. Individuals who are actually sleeping don't smell smoke and are unlikely to wake up during a fire. The most practical way to ensure house occupants wake up and get to safety is to install smoke alarms.
The new smoke alarm legislation affects Queensland rental properties. Property managers and landlords should ensure that their rental properties comply before 1st January 2022. QFES has advised that the penalty for non-compliance is $500 and will be strictly enforced.
How Many Smoke Alarms Are Required in Rental Properties?
By January 1, 2022, following smoke alarm standards QLD, smoke alarms in every Queensland rental property must be:
- Installed in every bedroom of the property.
- In hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or
- If there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey; and
- If there are no bedrooms on a storey at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.
- Must be 240v hardwired or 10 year lithium alarms 9v alarms will not be allowed.
- Must be photoelectric alarms ionisation alarms (the most common form of alarm) will not be allowed.
- Must be interconnected so that if one alarm sounds, they all do.
Where practicable smoke alarms must be placed on the ceiling. Smoke alarms must not be placed:
- Within 300mm of a corner of a ceiling and a wall.
- Within 300mm of a light fitting.
- Within 400mm of an air-conditioning vent.
- Within 400mm of the blades of a ceiling fan.
If it's unrealistic for the prescribed location requirements to be met the homeowner may put the alarm at another location that will provide a warning to occupants of the dwelling.
What Type of Smoke Alarms Are Required?
Smoke alarms must be of a photoelectric and must comply with Australian Standard (AS) 3786-2014:
- Smoke alarms must be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10 year battery.
- Smoke alarms must not contain an ionisation sensor.
- Smoke alarms must be less than 10 years old.
- Smoke alarms must operate when tested.
All smoke alarms must be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so they all activate together.
How Many Smoke Alarms Are Required in Existing Dwellings
The minimum legal requirement is that: Smoke alarms must be installed on each storey:
- In every bedroom.
- In hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or
- If there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey; and
- If there are no bedrooms on a storey at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.
Where practicable smoke alarms must be placed on the ceiling. Â Smoke alarms must not be placed:
- Within 300mm of a corner of a ceiling and a wall.
- Within 300mm of a light fitting.
- Within 400mm of an air-conditioning vent.
- Within 400mm of the blades of a ceiling fan.
If it's unrealistic for the prescribed location requirements to be met the homeowner may put the alarm at another location that will provide a warning to occupants of the dwelling.
What Type of Smoke Alarms Are Required?
Smoke alarms must be of a photoelectric and must comply with Australian Standard (AS) 3786-2014:
- Smoke alarms must be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10 year batterySmoke alarms must not contain an ionisation sensor.
- Smoke alarms must be less than 10 years old.
- Smoke alarms must operate when tested.
All smoke alarms must be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so they all activate together.
If you want to avoid fees and embarrassing PR problems, avoid getting caught up in code compliance issues. One way to do this is to update your smoke alarms or visit FCF if you need help in updating your smoke alarms. Check this site for locations.
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