Don’t be caught out by new smoke alarm legislation in Jan 2022

Too often we see cheap smoke alarm systems installed in family homes that simply do not comply with Queensland legislation. It is always worth investing in a smoke alarm system that will meet upcoming standards and keep your household safe. For additional piece of mind, enlisting a qualified Electrician to install your smoke alarm network will ensure that there is no dodgy wiring, and all alarms adhere to the appropriate Australian Standard. 

What does ‘interconnected’ mean?
This new legislation specifies that all Queensland households need to have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms installed in every bedroom of the home, as well as in the hallways that lead to or connect with bedrooms. Interconnected smoke alarms will also need to be installed on every level of multi-story dwellings.

The difference between regular smoke alarms, and interconnected smoke alarms is their ability to speak to one another. With an interconnected system, when one smoke alarm goes off, all the other alarms in the home sound off at the same time. This interconnected network aims to give everyone extra time to escape, no matter where they are in the home at the time.

How will I be affected as landlord?
From January 1, 2022 all new rental leases, or lease renewals, will need to comply with the new domestic smoke alarm legislation. So, before you hand over the keys to the tenants, you really need to make sure you have booked in a trusted electrician to install interconnected smoke alarms systems in all bedrooms.

Existing rental laws insist that 30 days prior to the start of a tenancy, the landlord must test and clean each smoke alarm in the home. For piece of mind, it’s always a simple and cost-effective exercise to hire a professional to help with the testing. The safety of your tenants is counting on a reliable smoke alarm network.

How will I be affected as an owner occupier?

Back in 2017 it was mandated that all existing smoke alarms that were more than 10 years old had to be replaced with photoelectric smoke alarms which comply with Australian Standards (AS) 3786-2014. If this task was completed in your home, you are already meeting current smoke alarm legislation.