From 1 January 2022

From 1 January 2022, at the commencement of a new lease or lease renewal, you must ensure your dwelling/unit meets the requirements of the domestic smoke alarm legislation. This may involve installing interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms into the bedrooms in addition to the currently required smoke alarms. For further information see below.

What’s required by law?

When it is time for your property’s alarms to be upgraded, those alarms must:

be photoelectric and comply with Australian Standard 3786-2014
not also contain an ionisation sensor; and
be less than 10 years old; and
operate when tested; and
be interconnected with every other ‘required’ smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together.

Any existing smoke alarm being replaced from 1 January 2017 must be a photoelectric-type alarm that complies with Australian Standard 3786-2014.

If a smoke alarm that is hardwired to the domestic power supply needs replacement, it must be replaced with a hardwired photoelectric smoke alarm.

In existing domestic dwellings, it is possible to have a combination of smoke alarms (240v and battery operated) and interconnectivity can be both wired and/or wireless.

What to buy?

Smoke alarms must comply with the Standard AS 3786-2014. The body of the alarm must be marked with AS3786-2014.

What to avoid?

Smoke alarms with this symbol are not photoelectric.

Exactly where should they be placed?

Where practicable smoke alarms must be placed on the ceiling.

Smoke alarms must not be placed within:

300mm of a corner of a ceiling and a wall
300mm of a light fitting
400mm of an air-conditioning vent
400mm of the blades of a ceiling fan.

There are special requirements for stairways, sloping ceilings, and ceilings with exposed beams.

Avoid installing smoke alarms in dead air space. This is an area in which trapped hot air will prevent smoke from reaching the alarm. This space generally occurs at the apex of cathedral ceilings, the corner junction of walls and ceilings, and between exposed floor joists.

Avoiding nuisance alarms

Every dwelling is different so you will need to assess yours. Avoid installing smoke alarms near windows, doors, fans or air-conditioners. Excessive air movement may prevent smoke and gases from reaching the smoke alarm or cause nuisance alarms.

Accidental alarms can be a nuisance and become dangerous if homeowners remove the alarm batteries or disable an interconnected system to silence the alarm.

Nuisance alarms can be avoided by not placing alarms in or near kitchens where cooking smoke can set them off, or in or near bathrooms where steam often causes accidental alarms.

Also avoid insect-infested areas, as insects can trigger an alarm.

Source – QLD Fire and Emergency Services