The deadline: 1 January 2027
The Queensland Government smoke alarm guidance sets out the deadline and the requirements for existing dwellings. Check which requirements apply to your property before choosing or replacing alarms.
For an owner-occupied home, that deadline is a reason to check the whole alarm arrangement, not simply whether there is one alarm somewhere in the house. The type, age, power source and positions all matter. A working alarm in a hallway does not, by itself, establish that the bedrooms and other levels are covered.
The Queensland Government also says registered caravans and motorhomes must have a photoelectric smoke alarm. The dwelling requirements below concern homes, townhouses, units and manufactured homes; do not treat a vehicle alarm as a substitute for the connected alarms required inside a dwelling.
Who it applies to: owners, landlords and sellers
The staged requirements began for new and substantially renovated homes on 1 January 2017, and applied to homes being leased or sold from 1 January 2022, as explained in the buying and installing smoke alarms guidance. The 2027 deadline extends the requirements to the remaining existing homes.
Making a dwelling compliant is the owner’s or landlord’s responsibility, not the tenant’s, according to the Queensland Government consumer guidance. A landlord should therefore consider the alarm arrangement across the property rather than rely on an occupant to choose and install replacements.
For a sale, the same guidance says sellers must lodge a Form 24 stating that the requirements have been met. Checking compliance belongs alongside the other property preparations; an alarm that sounds when tested still needs to meet the requirements for type, age, connection and placement.
The smoke alarm requirements
The smoke alarm guidance sets out the required alarm type and interconnection, while the consumer guidance explains age, power and testing requirements. Use the following list to check the arrangement as a whole.
- Photoelectric alarms, without an ionisation sensor.
- Interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling, so all activate together.
- Compliant with AS 3786:2014, marked on the alarm body.
- Less than 10 years old.
- Hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10-year battery.
- Operating when tested.
Where alarms must go
The Queensland Government placement guidance requires alarms in bedrooms, connecting hallways and on every level. Location is part of compliance, so replacing an existing alarm in the same spot may not address a missing bedroom alarm or an uncovered level.
Work through the layout of the dwelling rather than choosing an alarm quantity first. Bedrooms, the hallways connecting them and the route to an exit on a level without bedrooms provide the starting points. Ceiling placement and clearances also need to be considered together.
- In every bedroom.
- In hallways connecting bedrooms.
- On each level of the home.
- On a level without bedrooms, in the most likely path to the exit.
- On the ceiling where practicable.
- Not within 300mm of a ceiling and wall corner or 300mm of a light fitting.
- Not within 400mm of an air-conditioning vent or 400mm of ceiling fan blades.
Wireless or hardwired alarms?
Some homes can comply using interconnected wireless alarms with non-removable 10-year batteries, without any electrical work. The Queensland Government explicitly says compliant alarms exist that do not require an electrician for installation. It also says a licensed electrician is needed where the installation involves electrical work.
Wireless interconnection describes how the alarms communicate; it does not remove the other requirements. The alarms still need to be photoelectric, connected to every other alarm in the dwelling, correctly positioned and operating when tested. Check the alarm body for the required standard and consider the entire arrangement before choosing replacements.
Replacing existing hardwired alarms involves electrical work and is a reason to engage a licensed electrician. Renovations are another opportunity to coordinate the alarms with other electrical changes. A landlord wanting the property’s electrical and smoke alarm work organised together can discuss that scope with the electrician, without assuming a wireless installation always needs professional electrical work.
Whenever an alarm is installed or replaced, regardless of the home’s age, the consumer guidance says it must be a compliant interconnected photoelectric alarm. A replacement decision should therefore cover the required alarm characteristics and connection, not only the power source.
A landlord checklist
Landlords can use a property-wide check to bring the alarm arrangement into view before deciding on work. Separate the compliance questions from the practical arrangements for access. A property manager can help coordinate access and records, while the owner or landlord remains responsible for making the dwelling compliant.
If other electrical maintenance is needed, it can be discussed with the smoke alarm scope. Electrolite’s rental property service includes electrical repairs, smoke alarm work and planned upkeep, with access coordinated through the property manager.
- Check every bedroom, connecting hallway and level against the placement requirements.
- Confirm photoelectric type, AS 3786:2014 marking and no ionisation sensor.
- Check age, power source and operation when tested.
- Confirm all smoke alarms in the dwelling are interconnected.
- Arrange a licensed electrician for any installation involving electrical work.
- Coordinate property access for the work and keep the information about the completed installation.
How to test your smoke alarms
Homeowners may test their own smoke alarms using the test buttons on the alarms, according to the Queensland Government. You do not need to engage an electrician simply to press an alarm’s test button. Follow the instructions supplied with the alarm and do not open or alter electrical wiring.
An alarm must operate when tested, but a successful test is only one part of the requirements. Also check the alarm’s age and type, the required locations and interconnection across the dwelling. If an alarm does not operate or you cannot establish how the system connects, resolve that question before treating the property as compliant.
Book a smoke alarm upgrade
For electrical installation or smoke alarm work alongside rental maintenance, contact Electrolite to discuss the property. Our rental property maintenance service covers smoke alarm work, repairs and electrical checks with access coordinated through the property manager.