Smoke Alarm 2020 Legislation QLD
Smoke alarms save lives. Reports have found that the risk of death in a house fire is reduced by more than half if properly maintained smoke alarms are installed. Therefore this post is drawing attention to the upcoming smoke alarm legislation (due to take effect 2022).
THE NEW SMOKE ALARM LEGISLATION EXPLAINED
By 1st January 2022, smoke alarms in every Queensland rental property must be:
Installed in every bedroom of the property
Must be 240v hardwired or 10 year lithium alarms – 9v alarms will not be allowed
Must be photoelectric alarms – ionisation alarms (the most common form of alarm) will not be allowed
Must be interconnected so that if one alarm sounds, they all do
For most landlords, this will mean that every current smoke alarm must be replaced and new ones installed – as very few rental properties have interconnected, photoelectric alarms inside bedrooms. Depending on the number of bedrooms and storeys in the property this could cost between $500 – $2,000.
HOW MANY SMOKE ALARMS ARE REQUIRED?
Smoke alarms must be installed on each storey:
In every bedroom
In hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or
If there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey; and
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
WHAT TYPE OF SMOKE ALARMS ARE REQUIRED?
Smoke alarms must be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10 year battery
Smoke alarms must not contain an ionisation sensor
Smoke alarms must be less than 10 years old
Smoke alarms must operate when tested
