New Laws for Domestic Smoke Alarms

Concurrent with new laws for existing dwellings, it is anticipated changes to Queensland building regulations will require a smoke alarm to be installed in each bedroom of a new house in addition to current requirements under the Building Code of Australia (i.e areas between the bedrooms and the remainder of the dwelling, and hallways). The smoke alarm must contain a photoelectric sensor (and not an ionisation sensor), and in accordance with current requirements under the Building Code, be hardwired and interconnected. These changes will apply to building applications received from 1 January 2017.

These requirements will be confirmed once the regulations have been made available.

Existing dwellings have to be fitted with interconnected smoke alarms powered by an enduring power source i.e. hard wired or a 10 year lithium battery. Premises that are sold or leased will be required to comply in five years, and full compliance of all premises is required within 10 years.