Smoke alarms
maintenance, testing & installations
Changes to Queensland smoke alarm legislation will have an impact on all rental properties by 2022 or owner-occupied properties by 2027.
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legislation
Smoke alarm maintenance is governed by both State and Federal legislation, and non-compliance is considered an offense.
Landlords who overlook tenant safety can face serious consequences, but with the right guidance, these risks are easily avoided. As a Property Manager, you’re entrusted with one of the landlord’s most valuable assets. At CIR Electrical, we’re here to simplify the process, ensuring your properties stay fully compliant—quickly and efficiently.
Federal Legislation
Landlords must ensure that their rental property is properly fitted with the required number of working smoke alarms, complying with the Australian Standard (3786:2015), and that they are installed as outlined in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) part 3.7.2.3. This legislation is applicable to all states of Australia.
State Legislation
As of 1st July 2007, changes were applied to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990, stating that every smoke alarm in a Queensland rental property requires ongoing maintenance. Under this legislation, Landlords or agents must test and clean each smoke alarm within 30 days prior to each tenancy change or renewal. Not only this, but each smoke alarm and battery must be replaced before the expiry date. The legislation prohibits the transfer of these responsibilities to the tenant.
New legislation as set out in the Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Amendment Act 2016 and the Building Fire Safety (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2016, requires Queensland landlords to ensure a higher level of safety in their rental properties. These new requirements, which need to be in place by 1st January 2022 for rental properties, necessitate the following additional measures, over and above the standards set out in the Fire and Rescue Services Amendment Act 2006 and are as follows:
- Smoke alarms must be installed in every bedroom of a home
- All smoke alarms must be powered by either 240 volt or 10 year lithium battery
- All smoke alarms must be interconnected to each other
- All smoke alarms must be photoelectric rather than ionisation
Services + Pricing
Delivering value for money, our pricing is based on transparency and simplicity. No added conditions, no surprises just a balance of qualified service, knowledge of the industry and competitive pricing.
As a Landlord, there is an ongoing responsibility to have smoke alarms tested and cleaned within 30 days prior to each tenancy change or renewal. For less than $100 per year (which is usually tax deductible), your legislative obligations can be met, mitigating the risks involved with non-compliance including dismissal of insurance claims, personal injury or worse.
Once Off Inspection - from $80
For Rental Properties or Owner Occupied
Under this service, we will:
- Service, clean, replace 9V battery where required, complete a point in time testand ensure all smoke alarms are complaint with current legislation.
- Ensure all smoke alarms meet AS 3786:2014
- Send a test certificate following inspection
- Additional charges will apply if any existing smoke alarms are expired, faulty or missing
- A quotation can be submitted to upgrade the property to comply with new legislation if required
- Warranty periods apply to all smoke alarms replaced by our qualified technicians
Annual Program - $99
Our Annual Smoke Alarm Program ensures your property complies with Queensland legislation to increase the safety of your tenants and the protection of your investment property.
The Annual Smoke Alarm Program covers:
- Carry-out unlimited smoke alarm compliance inspections to ensure smoke alarms are compliant with current legislation, including re-attendance when beeping or faulty alarms require attention
- Service, clean and maintain smoke alarms and change 9 volt batteries where required
- Ensure all smoke alarms meet AS 3786:2014
- Record circuits protected by safety switch
- Test all outlet circuit safety switches.
- Send a test certificate following each inspection
- Additional charges will apply if any existing smoke alarms are expired, faulty or missing
- Warranty periods apply to all smoke alarms replaced by our qualified technicians.
- Initial inspection will include a quote to supply and install any additional alarms to meet new legislation. This quote will ensure your property compliance with Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Amendment Act 2016 and the Building Fire Safety (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Legislation Amendment Regulation 2016
Installations, Upgrades & Replacements
New state-based legislation necessitates the following additional measures in QLD rental properties by 2022 and owner-occupied properties by 2027.
- Smoke alarms must be installed in every bedroom of a home
- All smoke alarms must be powered by either 240 volt or 10 year lithium battery
- All smoke alarms must be interconnected to each other (so that if one alarm sounds, they all do)
- All smoke alarms must be photoelectric (ionisation alarms, the most common form will not be allowed)
- All smoke alarms must meet new Australian Standard 3786:2014
For most owners, this will mean that majority of properties will need to be upgraded, as very few homes have alarms inside bedrooms.
In the short term an owner doesn’t have to do anything until 2021 if they don’t wish to (as long as their property meets existing legislation); however some owners may wish to be aware of what is required for their property moving forward.
Conditions apply for this installation charge i.e. access to ceiling space, property layout. CIR Electrical is more than happy to meet you on site to discuss required locations and run through your options.
CIR Electrical can provide a quote to upgrade your smoke alarms specific to your property free of charge.