Smoke Alarm Laws and Home Building
Getting to know new Smoke Alarm Laws in Qld
Along the journey of building a new home you’ll be faced with many important decisions. Issues like finding the right block of land and creating the perfect design are front and centre as are lifestyle considerations. Mixed into the middle of all this planning is the underlying regulatory regime that impacts all those aforementioned considerations and more! Local Council and Queensland Government building regulations and by-laws impose a range of mandatory requirements on all homeowners and their builders.
One the more recent regulatory areas receiving some government attention has been around smoke alarms. It’s been common over the years for major legislative changes to evolve after a major incident or tragic event, and governments of all political persuasions are renowned for using tragedies to respond, often belatedly, to public pressure on a particular issue. In 2011, the death of seven people in a house fire on Brisbane’s south triggered a major change in smoke alarm legislation in Queensland.
The Queensland parliament passed new legislation that made smoke alarms mandatory. The new laws facilitated a phased-in approach from 2017 with full compliance required from 2027.
To provide you with a bit of ‘context’ we’ve outlined some of the key dates and milestones so you can implement the changes, where relevant, into your home building or renovation plans.
- 1 Jan 2017 – Updated laws applied to all NEW and substantially renovated dwellings.
- 1 Jan 2022 – All domestic dwellings (leased or sold) must be compliant.
So, what are the core details of the smoke alarm laws that apply according to the above-mentioned dates?
The smoke alarm laws require Queensland dwellings to have interconnected photo-electric smoke alarms:
- in all bedrooms,
- in hallways that connect bedrooms with the rest of the dwelling, and
- on every level.
Clearly, smoke alarms save lives and give people a precious few extra seconds to escape a burning house, and we believe their value in preventing a tragedy can’t be overstated.
Cost and budgeting are an important part of the construction process, and whilst the price of interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms has been a deterrent, the prices have been coming down over time as is the case with most technology when it becomes more mainstream.
The laws relating to newly constructed dwellings have been in place for a while now, and the 2022 deadline is also fast approaching. Increasing demand is seeing licenced electricians across the Toowoomba Region starting to quote extended waiting times which may impact on some. New homes and renovations completed by Highfields Builder are being completed in compliance with the new laws and all electrical work undertaken by our qualified electricians includes compliant smoke alarms. Rest easy!
Our blog on the smoke alarm laws is intended to give readers some general information about the laws in Queensland. It is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the relevant legislation. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service has published a range of comprehensive and easy to read information on smoke alarm laws and how they apply to homeowners. You can check it out at www.qfes.qld.gov.au/community-safety/smokealarms/Pages/default.aspx
When it comes time to plan your new home construction and any smoke alarm compliance, the team at Highfields Builder are ready to support you from that initial enquiry through to handover. We’re your local home building specialists across Toowoomba and nearby regions and build quality, energy efficient and cost-effective homes for owner occupation or investment purposes. Check us out at www.highfieldsbuilder.com.au and LIKE us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/highfieldsbuilder
This publication series covers home building, real estate, home finance and legal related issues in a general way. It is intended for general information purposes only and should not be regarded as legal advice. Highfields Builder Pty Ltd recommends that professional legal and/or financial advice should be obtained before taking any action on the basis of the general information presented in this publication.
Written and Published by www.presentprofessionally.com.au
Highfields Builder is your local home building specialist in the Toowoomba region
Scott, Bonni and the Highfields Builder team are focused on building strong relationships with customers and delivering outcomes that exceed expectations. The process of building a home can be complex and every customers situation is different. When you build with Highfields Builder you become part of a team committed to delivering the highest standards of excellence in residential home construction, from enquiry through to handover.
DISCLAIMER
This article may include information on home building, real estate, home finance and legal related issues in a general way. It is intended for general information purposes only and should not be regarded as legal advice. Highfields Builder Pty Ltd recommends that professional legal and financial advice should be obtained before taking any action on the basis of the general information presented in this publication.
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