QEL does smoke alarm compliance works and have already completed single domestic residences as well as working with body corporates to complete whole apartment buildings. QEL is also looking after the annual testing for some of these sites (which can be completed at the same time as the emergency lighting test).
SMOKE ALARM COMPLIANCE:
The new smoke alarms must be the following (with some slight variations for new and renovated dwellings):
Smoke alarms in the dwelling must: i) be photoelectric (AS 3786-2014); and ii) not also contain an ionisation sensor; and iii) be hardwired to the mains power supply (if an existing hard wired smoke alarm or for new renovations and homes) with a secondary power source (i.e. battery); and iv) be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together. If additional smoke alarms need to be installed in non-renovated, pre-existing dwellings then these can be lithium battery only (not hard wired) smoke alarms but still need to be interconnected with all other smoke alarms.
Smoke alarms must be installed on each storey: i) in each bedroom; and ii) in hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or iii) if there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey; and iv) if there are no bedrooms on a storey at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.
For detailed information download the smoke alarm legislation.
For a comprehensive guide to working out what category dwelling your property falls under then follow the flow chart.
Existing dwellings that are private homes need to be complaint by January 2027 while dwellings leased out need to be complaint by January 2022. New and renovated dwellings need to be complaint as part of the completion of the home or renovation (i.e now).
QEL already have pricing options available for clients to completely install smoke alarms to compliance with premium quality smoke alarms (enquire via email or phone). QEL will not use inferior cheap smoke alarms as there are many smoke alarms being sold during this compliance push that do have warranty and comply to standards but are cheaply made by companies that will likely not honour warranty issues. QEL will only complete works to the new compliance laws.
For existing dwellings, the new smoke alarms QEL installs will all have a sealed lithium battery. Existing hard wired smoke alarms will be replaced with hard wired smoke alarms while all areas requiring new smoke alarms will have lithium battery only smoke alarms installed (unless otherwise directed). These smoke alarms will all be the same brand as they need to be able to be interconnected via wireless RF. This means that smoke alarms will all communicate with one another and if one activates then all will activate (as per the new compliance standards). Existing interconnecting cables will not be used and no new interconnecting cable needs to be installed.
QEL has a few smoke alarm options available but recommend local Australian company Redbusbar with their smokesight smoke alarms. These smoke alarms are made locally within Brisbane (Albion) and have a unique feature of being able to be turned off by clapping twice instead of pushing the button with a broom or similar. You can find more information about their smoke alarms here
WARRANTY:
Most complaint smoke alarms will have a 5 year warranty. Smoke Sights smoke alarms have a 5 year warranty and for current ongoing QEL customers all service and labour costs will be covered for the 5 years. Single dwellings and apartments not regularly serviced by QEL will have a 2 year full service warranty. Otherwise there maybe a charge for QEL to work out the issue and have the smoke alarm replaced (it depends on the customer and issue). Customers can still claim warranty with the manufacturer themselves.
Smoke alarms will start ‘chirping’ if the RF battery or lithium battery becomes low or stops working. The RF battery needs to be replaced (recommended every 3 years). This should be done during the testing and is not a warranty issue.
TESTING:
The new smoke alarms need to be tested every year. Some smoke alarms have additional batteries that are not the sealed lithium battery to run the RF interconnecting parts of the alarm. These need to be changed every 3 years (recommended). QEL can also complete the testing (and battery changes) as part of their service. If the dwelling also has the emergency lighting tested by QEL then the cost to complete testing will be less and the test completed at the same time. The cost of the test depends on how many dwellings, etc but can be quoted by QEL. The cost of battery replacements will just be added when completed.
Many real estates and fire companies offer a fixed price ‘service’ for looking after you smoke alarms. All the test is is having someone push a button on the smoke alarm to make sure they all activate together once a year. The RF batteries will also be replaced every few years and the service usually includes replacement alarms. The new complaint alarms have to be replaced after 10 years so you should consider the cost of the service compared to having the alarms tested every year, batteries also replaced every 3 years and smoke alarms totally replaced after 10 years to remain complaint.
Not doing the annual testing is a bad idea. The RF batteries will not last 10 years and smoke alarms will begin chipping when they become faulty/low. It is also non-complaint.
FAQ
What if I already have 9 volt & 9 volt hard wired smoke alarms?
These are non-compliant they need to be removed and in their place lithium RF interconnected smoke alarms need to be installed (by Jan 2022 for leased dwellings and Jan 2027 for private). Other areas such as bedrooms may also require additional lithium RF interconnected smoke alarms to comply with the new standard. All the new alarms have to be the same brand (as well as comply with the new standard) so that they can communicate with one another via the RF interconnection.
Do I have to install hard wired 240V smoke alarms or run cable to the smoke alarms (for existing dwellings)?
No. You only need to replace pre-existing hard wired smoke alarms with hard wired alarms. All other new alarms can be lithium battery only.
I replaced my alarms with lithium complaint alarms but need new ones for other areas in order to be complaint.
You either need to install the same brand alarm in the new areas and add them to the existing RF network or remove them and install all new alarms so that they are all communicating with one another via the RF interconnection. QEL can look into trying to supply the same alarms in these cases. The alarms maybe interconnected via a cable and will NOT interconnect via RF with the other alarms. In that case they will need to be replaced unless running cable to all new alarms is cheaper.
I thought the new smoke alarms had sealed lithium batteries but there are other batteries as well. What’s the go?
There is a sealed (non-removable) lithium battery which powers the smoke alarm but there may also be additional removable batteries within the alarm that powers the RF interconnection. These need to be replaced every 3 years as part of testing. If they become faulty or low the smoke alarm will start chirping so having them tested and serviced is important.
Can I service and test the smoke alarms myself?
It is recommended that you self-test your smoke alarms every 3 months. You just push the button on one of them and make sure they all activate together. You can also change the batteries yourself for the non-lithium batteries used for the RF interconnect. You can also pull the smoke alarms down but leave the bases where they are. Do not take down a base for a hard-wired smoke alarm. This is connected via 240 Volts and needs to be done by an electrician. The annual testing requested by real estates for tenants however needs to be done by someone who can sign off a compliance letter (fire company or electrician).