Smoke alarm laws vary slightly between each state and territory within Australia – it is unsurprising then that there is a great deal of misinformation regarding smoke alarm requirements, particularly in Queensland which is undergoing a graduated phasing in of new smoke alarm legislation.
In this new series of knowledge articles, freshly updated for 2024, we will dispel many of the smoke alarm myths and rumours and replace them with fact. Direct links to all government sources and referenced legislation will be included, ensuring readers can verify the authenticity of the information.
A question we’re often asked is ‘do smoke alarms in Queensland need to be hardwired?’ The short answer to this question is no not always, – it depends on the type of dwelling and situation. Although there are a lot of houses built that require hardwired smoke alarms, there are just as many that have the option to use non-removeable battery powered smoke alarms and still be 100% legally compliant. Continue reading below to find out when the law says hardwired smoke alarms must be used in Queensland (and conversely when lithium battery powered smoke alarms cannot be used)
What is a hardwired smoke alarm?
A hardwired smoke alarm is a smoke alarm which is physically hardwired into a dwelling’s 240 volt mains electricity supply. Unlike lithium battery powered smoke alarms, hardwired smoke alarms cannot be DIY installed as there is wiring involved and should always be installed by a trade qualified and licensed Electrician. Whilst they derive their power from the household mains electricity supply, hardwired smoke alarms must also have an internal battery back-up which allows for continuous operation should household mains electricity be temporarily disrupted (for example, if there is a power black-out during a thunderstorm – not uncommon in QLD!).
When must I install hardwired smoke alarms in QLD?
There are 3 main scenarios in Queensland when it is a statutory requirement for 240 volt hardwired smoke alarms to be installed in your home. They are as follows;
- If you are constructing a brand new home
- If you are performing a substantial renovation
- If you are replacing an existing hardwired smoke alarm
1) If you are constructing a brand new home
If you are constructing a brand new home in QLD then hardwired smoke alarms are required as part of the building approval process – Queensland’s Building Regulations 2021 (part 4 – smoke alarms for domestic dwellings) and Australia’s National Construction Code 2022 Volume Two and Part 9.5 of the associated Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Housing Provisions detail minimum necessary standards for the construction of new domestic dwellings, including the standards for fire safety and smoke alarms.
Page 14 of Queensland’s Building Regulations 2021 states that when constructing a new home, the smoke alarms must be hardwired to the domestic dwelling’s electricity supply; and must be interconnected to every other smoke alarm installed in the dwelling.
2) If you are performing a substantial renovation
If you are performing a substantial renovation to your QLD property, then 240V hardwired smoke alarms must be installed as part of the renovation process. Division 5A (section 104RBA) of the QLD Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 states that hardwired smoke alarms must be installed when a substantial renovation is being performed to an existing QLD dwelling. The Act goes on to define a ‘substantial renovation’ as work carried out under a building development approval for alterations, or if the total building works surpass 50 per cent of the dwelling’s volume over three years.
QLD Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) website also states that as part of a building approval process requiring a Building Certifier, all new homes and renovations should have the required smoke alarms installed pursuant to the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC).
3) If you are replacing an existing hardwired smoke alarm
Division 5A (section 104RC) of the QLD Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 states that if the smoke alarm being replaced was hardwired to the domestic dwelling’s electricity supply, then the replacement smoke alarm must also be hardwired to the dwelling’s electricity supply (i.e. you can’t remove a 240V hardwired smoke alarm and replace it with a battery powered smoke alarm).
Outside of the 3 scenarios described above, it is legal and perfectly acceptable in QLD to install smoke alarms which are powered by a non-replaceable 10-year battery and maintain compliance. As there is no wiring involved, battery powered smoke alarms can also be DIY installed. Both the QLD Government and the QLD Fire and Emergency Services state this on their websites at the links below.
If there are some existing hardwired smoke detectors in your home, a combination of both hard wired and wireless 10-year battery powered alarms can even be installed to meet compliance, while offering a more affordable DIY approach. For example, replace the existing 240V hardwired smoke alarms in your home with new 240V hard wired, and then in those extra locations around your home where smoke alarms are still needed (and none installed), you can install wireless 10-year battery powered smoke alarms and have them all interconnected with one another – compliance is achieved!
QLD Fire and Emergency Services state here; ‘An existing dwelling with battery operated smoke alarms may replace them when required with battery operated photoelectric type smoke alarms that meet the Australian Standard 3786–2014.
The QLD Government states here; ‘alarms should also be hard-wired to the 240v power supply OR powered by a non-removable 10 year battery’. and here ‘there are compliant smoke alarms available (e.g. wireless alarms) which don’t need electrical work to be carried out during installation. A licensed electrician will need to be engaged if the installation involves electrical work’.
Smoke alarms powered by a non-removeable 10-year battery offer an affordable solution to smoke alarm installation in your QLD property. Unlike hardwired alarms, there is no electrical wiring required which means they are often easier and more cost effective to install.
When purchasing smoke alarms with a non-removeable 10-year battery just be sure that they are the photoelectric type, they are less than 10 years old from manufacture date (it must be printed on the alarm), they comply with Australian Standard 3786:2014 and that you install them in all the prescribed locations in your home as required by the Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008 (Part5A).
We trust you found value in this article which explains the three instances in Queensland that mandate the installation of hardwired smoke alarms in residential homes. Beyond these three situations, it is entirely sound and permissible to undertake a do-it-yourself (DIY) installation of smoke alarms powered by a non-removable 10-year battery to achieve legal compliance.
We love talking smoke alarms! – feel free to call us with any questions 0478 596 402
Referenced legislation in this article:
Queensland Building Regulations 2021 (Part 4)
Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Housing Provisions Part 9.5 Smoke alarms
QLD Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990
QLD Fire and Emergency Services Website – smoke alarms for new builds or renovationshttps://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/prepare/fire/smoke-alarms/new-builds-or-renovations