Smoke alarm legislation changes proposed

Earlier this year, Fire and Emergency Services Minister for Queensland Bill Byrne introduced proposed changes to state legislation around the installation of smoke detectors with the aim of reducing the number of house fire fatalities. New dwellings and properties undergoing substantial renovation must comply from 2017. 

According to Byrne, more than 150 people have died in these tragic circumstances since 2004 — deaths which could be prevented if adequate safeguards were in place. 

Byrne says that while smoke alarms play a critical role, the effectiveness depends on the type of device used, its location, its power source and whether alarms are interconnected. 

The proposed new legislation requires installation of high-tech smoke detectors in every dwelling by 2027 and will be phased in over the next decade. Detectors would need to be photoelectric, hard-wired or powered by a 10-year lithium battery. In addition to living area and escape path installations, smoke alarms would be located in bedrooms and interconnected with others in the house. 

In recommending these changes, Byrne says that the state government was acting on advice of the state coroner.

“We have acted because community safety is a priority and the coroner made very clear recommendations,” he said.

“Working smoke alarms save lives.

“A recent Bill introduced by the LNP did not implement all recommendations of the coroner in relations to this. Labor has listened to the coroner and listened to the experts,” he said. 

The implementation process would see approximately 72,000 state government-owned housing properties fitted with smoke alarms that meet the new safety standards within five years.  

Photoelectric alarms are recommended as they are more effective at detecting a wider range of fires and also sense smouldering fires and thick smoke. 

The provisions would be implemented over a 10-year period, with new dwellings or properties undergoing substantial renovations required to comply from 2017. From 1 January 2022, dwellings that are sold or leased will need to meet new safety standards. Households will be required to install a photoelectric smoke alarm any time they are replacing an existing alarm.