Requirement 01
Photoelectric
Ionisation alarms are no longer permitted. Photoelectric sensors detect smouldering fires earlier — the kind of fire that starts overnight.
The Legislation
What the law actually requires.
A plain-English breakdown of Queensland's smoke alarm legislation, the deadline, and what every owner-occupier needs to know.
How We Got Here
Three stages over ten years.
Queensland's smoke alarm legislation has rolled out in stages since 2017. Owner-occupiers are the final group.
- 1 January 2017Stage 1
New builds and substantially renovated homes required to install photoelectric, interconnected alarms.
- 1 January 2022Stage 2
All rental properties and homes being sold required to comply with the new standard.
- 1 January 2027Stage 3 — Final
Every remaining owner-occupied dwelling in Queensland must comply. No exceptions.
The Four Requirements
What your alarms must be.
Every alarm in a Queensland home must meet all four criteria — not three, not most. All four.
Requirement 02
Interconnected
When one alarm triggers, every alarm in the house sounds simultaneously. This is the biggest change — and the one that catches people out.
Requirement 03
Less than 10 years old
Every compliant alarm has a manufacture date stamped on it. If yours is older than 10 years, it must be replaced regardless of whether it still works.
Requirement 04
AS 3786:2014 compliant
Must meet the current Australian Standard for residential smoke alarms. Look for the AS 3786:2014 mark on the unit.
Placement
Where every alarm must go.
- 01In every bedroom
- 02In hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the dwelling
- 03On every level of the home (including basements and lofts)
- 04If no hallway exists, between the bedrooms and other parts of the level
Hardwired or Battery?
Both are legal. There's one exception.
The legislation permits either hardwired (240V mains with battery backup) or sealed 10-year lithium battery alarms in existing homes.
The Exception
If you're replacing an existing hardwired alarm, the replacement must also be hardwired. That's a specific provision in the Act and requires a licensed electrician.
For homes that currently have battery-operated alarms, or need alarms in newly required locations (like bedrooms), sealed 10-year wireless units are fully compliant.
If You Don't Comply
The fine is the smaller risk.
$834
Up to 5 penalty units · current rates
Maximum penalty for non-compliance after 1 January 2027.
Your home
Many home insurance policies require compliance with safety legislation. A non-compliant alarm during a fire claim could mean reduced payout — or no payout at all.
Next Step
Find out what your home needs.
Two-minute calculator. Get the exact alarm count for your bedrooms and levels.
AS 3786:2014Compliance Guarantee