Fire Safety, Standards, Legislation and Laws.
THE REQUIREMENT FOR SMOKE ALARMS
Is it law for residential properties to have mains powered smoke alarms installed? Residential properties that are subject to sale, transfer of ownership, rent or hire are required under the Building Regulations 2012 to have compliant mains powered smoke alarms installed:
• prior the transfer of ownership,
• where a dwelling is rented under a residential tenancy agreement or made available for such rental; or
• made available for hire.
What is a compliant smoke alarm?
This means smoke alarms that are:
[a] in accordance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) applicable at the time of installation of the alarms (the BCA specifies the minimum standards and location with which smoke alarms must comply). (Note: Dwellings approved for construction prior to 1 May 2015 do not have to comply with the BCA requirement for smoke alarms to be interconnected);
What is a compliant smoke alarm?
This means smoke alarms that are:
[a] in accordance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) applicable at the time of installation of the alarms (the BCA specifies the minimum standards and location with which smoke alarms must comply).
[b] not more than 10 years old at the time of the transfer of ownership, or making the dwelling available for rent or hire; and
[c] in working order; and
[d] permanently connected to consumer mains power.
What types of dwellings require smoke alarms?
The Regulations apply to the following residential buildings as classified in the BCA:
Class 1a – A single dwelling being a detached house, or row of houses, duplexes, town houses, terrace houses or villa units where attached dwellings are separated by a fire resisting wall.
Class 1b – Includes the following:
• boarding houses, guest houses, hostels, or
• four or more single dwellings located on one allotment and used for short term holiday accommodation.
Class 2 – Dwellings such as apartments and flats in a building containing two or more units.
Class 4 – A residential unit in a non-residential building if it is the only dwelling in the building
e.g. a caretaker’s residence.and
[b] not more than 10 years old at the time of the transfer of ownership, or making the dwelling available for rent or hire; and
[c] in working order; and
[d] permanently connected to consumer mains power.
How do you maintain a smoke alarm?
The Regulations do not specify what is required in order to maintain a smoke alarm in working order. DFESrecommends the following smoke alarm maintenance routine for property owners / landlords:
• Check the required power source is connected
and operating. Where a mains powered smoke
alarm is installed, alarms will have a visual display /
light to indicate that mains power is connected and
this should be easily seen when standing beneath
the alarm
• Test the smoke alarm during routine inspections, or
at least every six months
• Check the smoke alarms are within their service
life. Smoke alarms require replacement every 10
years. The date for replacement is often located on
the unit
• Replacing batteries annually, where appropriate.
Mains powered smoke alarms have back-up
batteries as well. * Always refer to the manufacturer’sguide when selecting batteries and follow testing procedures
Smoke Alarm Legislation
• This maintenance routine should be done a teach inspection or at intervals otherwise stated.
Please note: A licensed electrical contractor is required to disconnect or install mains powered smoke alarms. All other smoke alarm maintenance does not require a licensed electrical contractor.
• Generally, smoke alarms will sound a regular
warning ‘beep’ if the battery needs replacing. Refer to manufacturer’s guide for exact warning details
• Smoke alarms should never be painted
• Contact the manufacturer or supplier with any queries regarding your smoke alarm.
WHERE ARE SMOKE ALARMS REQUIRED AND WHAT TYPE SHOULD BE FITTED?
How many smoke alarms will have to be fitted to my house? The number of smoke alarms you will require will depend on the design of your property, in particular the number of bedrooms, how far they are separated and how many levels in your house.
Any smoke alarm used must conform to AS 3786. DFES recommends you install photo-electric smoke alarms and with the following features:
• Hush (Silence) function
• Test function
• Rechargeable back-up battery.
THERE ARE SMOKE ALARMS INSTALLED, DO THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS?
There are more than two hard wired smoke alarms installed and they have been fitted at different dates. What date should I use? The time the last smoke alarm was installed.
Smoke alarms are manufactured to a standard that requires them to perform for 10 years. After that time smoke alarms may malfunction and their efficiency may be compromised.
Do I require a Licensed Electrical Contractor
These smoke alarms do not require a licensed electrical contractor to install, as they are not connected to the mains power.
