Changes to QLD smoke alarm legislation will become effective from 31st of December 2021.

Smoke Alarms/Detectors

On Wednesday 31 August 2016, Queensland Parliament passed new smoke alarm legislation. This legislation was developed following recommendations handed down after the 2011 Slacks Creek fatal house fire which claimed 11 lives. In the years since, lives have continued to be lost in house fires in Queensland. This new legislation will save lives. It specifies that every Queensland residence will have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms of the home and in hallways where bedrooms are connected. Visit the QFES website for further details.

When is this happening?

Although the new legislation will take effect 01/01/2017, owners of rental properties will have 5 years to make the necessary changes to their properties to comply with the new legislation. All properties must be compliant with current legislation.

What about new or replacing existing smoke alarms?

Any new smoke alarm being installed, or existing smoke alarm being replaced from 1 January 2017 must also be a photoelectric-type alarm which complies with Australian Standard 3786:2014.

A smoke alarm which is hard wired to the domestic power supply must be replaced with a hard-wired photoelectric smoke alarm. Any smoke alarms that do not operate when tested must also be replaced.

What is a photoelectric smoke alarm?

As stated on the QFES website, “photoelectric smoke alarms, also known as optical or photo-optical, detect visible particles of combustion. They respond to a wide range of fires, but are particularly responsive to smouldering fires and the dense smoke given off by foam-filled furnishings or overheated PVC wiring”.

Where will smoke alarms need to be installed?

The new legislation means that prior to 31/12/2021 interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms will need to be installed on each storey and:
• in each bedroom
• in hallways that connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling
• if there is no hallway, between the bedroom and other parts of the storey
• 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.

For further information, you can download a copy of our flyer here.

Window Coverings:

A new safety standard has been set by the Australian Competition and Consumer commission to ensure the safety of children and infants with regards to the risk of strangulation from loop cord systems attached to window coverings such as blinds and curtains. This regulation deems that any hanging loops up to or longer than 1m must be fixed to the wall or window frame.

It’s a landlord’s obligation to ensure the safety and compliance of both smoke alarms and corded window covering. Substantial penalties of up to $220,000 for individuals and $1.1 million for companies can be inflicted for a breach of these safety standards, not to mention the risk of harming other and subsequent compensation claims. Let Queensland Fire Alarms and Compliance look after this for you and ensure the maintenance, testing and compliance of both smoke alarms and corded window coverings. Click here to download the PDF flyer.

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