QLD Smoke Alarm Legislation

The $35 booking fee is used to secure your installation appointment and reserve a certified electrician for your preferred date and time.

The booking fee is already included in the total price shown in our calculator (inc GST). It is not an extra charge and is not added later.

If the installation cannot proceed due to unforeseen circumstances, the booking fee component is fully refundable.

Yes. Any price displayed in our calculator already includes the $35 booking fee, covering:

• The required smoke alarms
• Any optional controllers selected
• The booking fee

Important:

The calculator provides an estimate based on the information entered. The final number of smoke alarms required for compliance will be confirmed by the electrician on-site.

If the home layout, number of bedrooms, storeys, or compliance requirements differ from the details provided, the final price may be adjusted accordingly. Any changes will be clearly explained and confirmed with you before proceeding.

We do not charge by the hour and there are no hidden call-out fees.

The total price is based on:

• The number of smoke alarms required for Queensland compliance
• The type of alarms needed (hardwired replacements and/or battery alarms)
• Your home's layout and number of storeys

Your electrician will confirm the required number of alarms on-site before completing the installation.

• The $35 booking fee is paid upfront to secure your installation appointment
• The remaining balance is paid after the installation is completed
• Secure card payment is accepted on-site
• Your Certificate of Compliance is issued once full payment has been made

Any smoke alarm connected to mains power must legally be installed by a certified electrician.

All PowerSmartCo installations are carried out by certified electricians who are trained and experienced in current Queensland smoke alarm regulations, ensuring safe and compliant installation.

Most homes are completed within approximately one hour, depending on the size and layout of the property and the number of alarms required.

Installations are scheduled in morning or afternoon time windows, agreed with you at the time of booking.

A smoke alarm controller is like a remote control for your smoke alarms.

It allows you to:

• Test all smoke alarms from one place
• Silence an alarm without climbing a ladder or reaching the ceiling
• See which specific alarm has been triggered

It is not mandatory, but many homeowners find it convenient and safer, especially in homes with high ceilings or multiple smoke alarms.

This option can be discussed with your electrician on the day of installation.

Yes. All smoke alarms supplied and installed by PowerSmartCo comply with Queensland smoke alarm legislation and meet Australian Standard AS 3786:2023.

Our smoke alarms also come with a 10-year manufacturer's warranty, providing long-term reliability and peace of mind.

A photoelectric smoke alarm uses a light beam and sensor to detect visible smoke particles. When smoke enters the alarm chamber, it scatters the light beam, which triggers the sensor and sounds the alarm. This technology is particularly effective at detecting smoldering fires that produce visible smoke before bursting into flames, which are common in residential settings from sources like cigarettes, overheated wiring, or bedding.

Under Queensland's updated smoke alarm legislation (which commenced on January 1, 2017), photoelectric smoke alarms are the only type permitted for installation in all homes. This requirement is being phased in, with all existing homes required to have compliant photoelectric alarms installed by January 1, 2027.

Key requirements:

• All new and substantially renovated homes must have photoelectric alarms
• All existing homes must upgrade to photoelectric alarms by 2027
• All rental properties must have photoelectric alarms by January 1, 2022
• Failure to comply can result in fines for property owners and landlords

Why they're required: Photoelectric alarms provide earlier warning for the smoldering fires most common in homes, giving occupants more time to escape. This legislation change is designed to reduce fire-related fatalities in Queensland.

Yes. Photoelectric smoke alarms are significantly more effective at detecting smoldering fires, which are responsible for most fatal residential fires. These include fires that start in:

• Mattresses and bedding
• Upholstered furniture
• Electrical wiring
• Carpets and curtains

Smoldering fires produce large amounts of toxic smoke long before flames appear, and photoelectric technology detects this smoke at the earliest stage. While ionization alarms may respond slightly faster to fast-flaming fires (like kitchen grease fires), overall, photoelectric alarms provide the best protection for homes because they give earlier warning for the most deadly types of fires.

Photoelectric smoke alarms are specifically designed for home safety because they provide the earliest possible warning for smoldering fires, which are the leading cause of fire-related deaths in Australian homes. These fires typically start from cigarettes, electrical faults in walls, or overheating appliances and can smolder for hours before bursting into flames. During this smoldering phase, they produce large amounts of toxic smoke that can incapacitate sleeping occupants. Photoelectric technology detects this visible smoke at the earliest stage, giving families crucial extra minutes to escape compared to other alarm types. Queensland's mandatory switch to photoelectric alarms is based on extensive research showing they provide the best protection for residential settings.

Yes, photoelectric smoke alarms are significantly less prone to nuisance alarms from cooking activities or bathroom steam compared to ionization alarms. This is because they're designed to detect larger smoke particles from smoldering fires rather than the tiny particles produced by burnt toast or steam. However, for optimal performance and to further reduce false alarms, it's important that alarms are correctly positioned. Queensland regulations require smoke alarms to be installed at least 3 meters away from cooking appliances and bathrooms. This combination of photoelectric technology and proper placement dramatically reduces false alarms, ensuring your alarms only sound when there's a genuine fire risk.

Yes. All our photoelectric smoke alarms are interconnected, which is now mandatory under Queensland's updated smoke alarm legislation. Interconnection means that when one alarm detects smoke, all smoke alarms in the home will sound simultaneously, providing whole-home warning regardless of where the fire starts. This is particularly critical for multi-storey homes or larger properties where a fire in one area might not be heard elsewhere. For homes built or substantially renovated after January 1, 2017, and for all rental properties from 2022, interconnection is required by law. Our electricians ensure your system is properly interconnected during installation.

The photoelectric smoke alarms we install have a 10-year lifespan from the date of manufacture and come with a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. They're equipped with a non-removable lithium battery designed to last the entire 10-year life of the alarm, eliminating the need for annual battery changes. After 10 years, the entire alarm unit must be replaced to ensure optimal performance and safety, as required by Australian Standard AS 3786:2023. We recommend keeping a record of your installation date, and our system will remind you when replacement is due. Importantly, under Queensland's phase-in requirements, all homes must have compliant photoelectric alarms installed by January 1, 2027, so upgrading now ensures you avoid potential fines and provides immediate safety benefits.

Smoke alarms are required:

• In every bedroom
• In hallways connecting bedrooms to other areas
• Between bedrooms and living areas if no hallway exists
• On every storey of the home
• On storeys without bedrooms, along the most likely exit path

For caravans and motorhomes, smoke alarms must be installed near sleeping areas.

PowerSmartCo currently provides smoke alarm upgrades only in Queensland, servicing:

• Brisbane Metro
• Gold Coast, all the way to Coolangatta

We are expanding and will be including additional suburbs across Queensland shortly.