Smoke Alarms
Legislation
Compliance with smoke alarm laws and regulations varies depending on your state of residence within Australia.
Select your state below to access detailed information on state-specific legislation and a curated list of smoke alarms approved for use within that jurisdiction.
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), legislation mandates that all residential properties must be equipped with operational smoke alarms compliant with AS3786:2014 on every floor of the home. Over time, legislative changes have been implemented to ensure compliance with modern building codes.
For properties built before August 1, 1997:
owners may choose to install either hard-wired or battery-operated smoke alarms that meet AS3786:2014 standards. It is recommended that battery-operated alarms use a 10-year sealed lithium battery and ideally be interconnected for enhanced fire protection.
Properties constructed after August 1, 1997:
Require hard-wired smoke alarms. Additionally, any major renovations requiring a permit necessitate the installation of at least one smoke alarm on each level of the property, interconnected where multiple alarms are present.
From May 1, 2014, onwards:
All newly built properties or those undergoing significant renovations or extensions must have smoke alarms connected to mains power (240V) and interconnected, ensuring that activation of one alarm triggers all alarms in the property.
Since August 1, 2017:
landlords in the ACT are required to ensure smoke alarms compliant with AS3786:2014 are installed and operational before entering into any tenancy agreement. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor and positioned between sleeping areas and the rest of the dwelling.
As of August 24, 2018:
All leased properties must have smoke alarms approved to AS3786:2014 standards installed.
Tenants are responsible for replacing smoke alarm batteries as needed and conducting annual tests in accordance with recommendations from ACT Fire & Rescue.
