Everything you need to know about the Mandatory Upgrade of Smoke Alarms in Queensland

The Fire and Emergency Services Amendment Act of 2016 mandated that every property in Queensland must have a working and interconnected smoke alarms as precautionary measures for fire incident in the area. Commencing on the 1st of January 2017, this act will run for 10 years with the expectation that all properties in Queensland have properly complied with the installation of smoke alarms by the year 2027. 

The act imposes earlier compliance for rentals, properties for lease and other paid accommodations as they are expected to adhere with the regulations concerning the installation or upgrading of smoke alarms by the 1st of January 2022 which is fast approaching. So if you happened to run a property rental business, you might want to have the compliance done as early as this year to avoid the rush or the penalty whilst you fail to comply by the deadline.

As the 2022 deadline is nearing, the demand in installation services for smoke alarms is getting higher and higher by the passing month, so it is highly advised that you arrange your properties’ compliance as early as now. Additionally, the closer the deadline, the higher rates you will pay for the service, making it wise to take actions ahead of time.

Even though there’s a longer period allotted for homeowners to comply with this safety standard, it is still better to work on it now as following the regulations for smoke alarms can save lives in case of fire. Although 2027 is still far ahead, we may want to make our household safe now. So whether you are running property rentals or you have a house of your own, this article will get you guided to the things you should know about the mandatory upgrade of smoke alarms in Queensland.

First of all, we need to know that photoelectric smoke alarms are the recommended type for compliance with the regulation. Though most households are utilizing ionization type smoke alarms, the photoelectric type is proven to detect smoke faster. Additionally, instead of a radioactive element, photoelectric alarms make use of light-emitting diode in order to detect smoke making it more environmentally friendly as compared to its counterpart. 

So if you are still using ionization smoke alarms, you might want to upgrade it soon in order to comply with the regulations. 

If you are wondering whether to upgrade or not, the answer is quite simple, it is a matter of years and capacity. If your photoelectric smoke alarms were installed not more than 10 years ago, it will pass the compliance test as long as it functions well upon checking. 

If you are not sure whether your smoke alarms will still work when 2022 comes, better consult an electrical contractor to have it checked for you so you will have it ready when the compliance check is conducted.

According to the legislation, there must be a photoelectric smoke alarm in every room, hallways and stories of a property. Furthermore, these smoke alarms must be interconnected to one another in order to set off all at once when smoke particles are detected anywhere in the property. 

Lastly, we should remember that smoke alarms must also be hardwired. Otherwise, it must be installed with 10 years of lifespan lithium battery.

Now that you have the idea about the guidelines set for compliance to the Fire and Emergency Services Amendment Act of 2016 QLD, you may want to assess if there is a need to upgrade your existing smoke alarms in Paddington, Greenslopes, Fairfield, Holland Park, Ascot, Windsor, and the West End. 

Whether you are managing property rentals or homeowners, following these guidelines is very important since we do not know when smoke alarms might become handy. Ensuring the safety of the occupants must always be a priority alongside compliance. So even if it was still early, consider having your smoke alarms be assessed today.