Does the New Qld Smoke Alarm Legislation Apply to You?
What you really need to know about the new legislation that will be implemented January 1st 2017
Current Queensland Legislation and BCA requirements
1. Homes built before 1 July 1997 must have at least one 9 volt battery operated smoke alarm per level with living quarters.
2. Homes built or significantly renovated after 1 July 1997 must have a 230 volt (hard wired) smoke alarm on each level.
3. Buildings submitted for approval from 1 May 2014 must have a hard wired and interconnected smoke alarm on each level and in hallways connected to bedrooms.
NEW Qld SMOKE ALARM LEGISLATION 2017
From the 1st January 2017 and to be completed by the 31 December 2026
IONISATION SMOKE ALARMS
Ionisation smoke alarms from the 1st January 2017 cannot be used to meet regulatory compliance.
Ionisation smoke alarms and heat alarms are supplementary to the required installation of photoelectric smoke alarms. Any Ionisation smoke alarm installed prior to 1st January 2017 and used to meet regulatory compliance must be replaced with a photoelectric smoke alarm:
• By 1st January 2022, if it is within a home to be sold or leased, a Qld Government owned home, or
• By 1st January 2026, if it is within a home built prior to 1st July 1997, or
• When the smoke alarm reaches the manufacturer’s nominated replacement date, or
• When it becomes defective.
Queensland Homes built before 1 July 1997
All existing 9 volt alkaline battery operated smoke alarms will need to be replaced with a 10 year non-removable, battery, photoelectric smoke alarm or 230V mains-powered, photoelectric alarm, by 31 December 2026 or when:
• The smoke alarm reaches its expiry date or is defective.
Additional requirements for smoke alarm compliance in Qld
Photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms and hallways must be interconnected.
Smoke alarms installed in bedrooms and hallways will need to be either 230v mains powered or powered by a 10 year non-removable battery. These smoke alarms can be interconnected with an SDI cable to AS3000 or wirelessly through RadioLINK.
Qld Homes built or significantly renovated after 1 July 1997 and before 2014
Maintain existing 230V mains powered smoke alarm (If Ionisation, refer to requirements above). Plus, interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms and hallways, must be either 230V mains-powered or powered by a non-removable 10 year battery. These smoke alarms can be interconnected with an SDI cable to AS3000 or wirelessly through RadioLINK.
Homes Built after 1 May 2014 and before 31 December 2016
Maintain existing hard-wired and interconnected smoke alarms on each level and in hallway connected to bedrooms. Plus, interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms and hallways, either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10 year battery. These smoke alarms can be interconnected with an SDI cable to AS3000 or wirelessly through RadioLINK .
New Queensland Homes Built after 1st January 2017
Hardwired, interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms and hallways leading to bedrooms as well as one (1) in the exit path on any level not containing bedrooms.
IMPORTANT NOTE – Installation of 230V mains powered smoke alarms must only be done by a licensed electrician.
Always refer to the manufacturer’s data for product compatibility when interconnecting a combination of 230v mains=powered and standalone 10 year non-removable battery smoke alarms.
Please note: interconnection of smoke alarms made by different manufacturers/brands is not compatible. Please refer to your smoke alarms manufactures data for information on what products are compatible.
If you believe that you may need to change your smoke alarms due to the change in Qld smoke alarm legislation, please call us at Globe Electrical Solutions and we can advise you.
