From 1st January 2027, Queensland’s deadline for household smoke alarm compliance matures, and it’s very important to ensure your dwelling meets the Australian Standards AS 3786-2014. We’re here to help you understand the new requirements — and give you peace of mind that your smoke alarm obligations are met. This is not just a safety issue, it could affect your home insurance too.

WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW IN QUEENSLAND?

• At least 1 smoke alarm is required on each level of a home.
• There must be a smoke alarm in any passageway or corridor leading to bedrooms.
• If a corridor or passageway does not lead to a bedroom, but could be an escape path, then a smoke alarms should be fitted in this path.
• In Queensland, all bedrooms must contain photoelectric smoke alarms.
• All smoke alarms in the home must be interconnected. 
• Smoke alarms must be replaced every 10 years.

TOP 5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A SMOKE ALARM

 1.  Photoelectric Smoke Alarm

The new law states that all the smoke alarms need to be photoelectric. This means they pick up smouldering smoke and will provide the earliest detection and set off the alarm faster. This will give you and your family the most amount of time to escape or attend to the issue. Photoelectric smoke alarms are the only choice because of their superior performance.

2. Lifespan and warranty

A good smoke alarm should come with a warranty of at least 5 years or more, and have a lifespan of at least 10 years.

3. Reputable brand

Choose a smoke alarm which has been manufactured by a reputable brand and recognised in Australia. This will help ensure you are getting a device which has met other strict safety standards. We recommend brands such as Brooks and Clipsal. In our 20 + years of experience, we have found that Brooks alarms simply give far less false alarms! We all want to avoid any unnecessary 3am wake ups!

4. Battery Back Up

There needs to be a plan B when it comes to safety in case the mains power is out, so a battery back-up for a smoke alarm is mandatory. Look for a 10 year lithium battery. Brooks provide wireless options which also allow for a clean installation and avoids the need for costly wiring.

5. Easy Testing and Maintenance

Smoke alarms should be tested by the home owner regularly and be easy to do so with a touch of a button. If you already have smoke alarms installed, make sure they are tested and working correctly. In addition to this, a licensed electrician can conduct a more thorough testing, cleaning and maintenance, as well as provide a compliance certificate for insurance purposes.

By focusing on these features, you will be making sure that you are choosing the best and most reliable protection for your home and family.

REMEMBER: Smoke alarms should only be installed by a qualified electrician.

KEY SMOKE ALARM NOTES:

1) Test the alarms monthly – this can be done by pressing the test button.

2) Keep smoke alarms clean – clean away dust and debris (such as spider webs) which could interfere with their operation.

3) Never tamper with an alarm – they should never be painted, do not ever remove the batteries unless replacing them

4) Get smoke alarms professionally checked or replaced – know when they are due to expire and call Fully Wired Electrical to organise for our electricians to come and quickly replace your smoke alarms BEFORE they are at the end of their functional life.

For more information, please get in touch or visit our website:

www.fullywired.com.au or Ph: 1300 38 55 99