More than 1 million Queensland homes may still be non-compliant with incoming smoke alarm laws, with less than eight months until the January 1, 2027 deadline – raising concerns about supply shortages, installation delays, and potential insurance disputes.
From January 1, 2027, all existing owner-occupied homes in Queensland, including townhouses, units, and manufactured homes, must be fitted with interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. Alarms must be installed in every bedroom, in hallways connecting bedrooms to the rest of the dwelling, and on each storey. Queensland-registered caravans and motorhomes must also have at least one photoelectric smoke alarm installed.
National provider Smoke Alarm Solutions estimates that 70% to 80% of owner-occupied properties are yet to meet the standard.
National sales manager Maryke Olivier-Nelson noted that the scale of the task remained significant.
“People think they’re compliant because they’ve got one or two alarms, but that’s just not the case,” Olivier-Nelson told ABC. “Most homes need far more than that.”
The legislation was introduced in stages from 2017 following the 2011 Slacks Creek house fire, which killed 11 people. Earlier phases applied to new builds, rental properties, and homes being sold. The final phase applies to all remaining owner-occupied properties.
Queensland Fire Department superintendent Mark Halverson said interconnected alarms could significantly improve survival chances during house fires.
“That early warning is the real key,” Supt Halverson said. “It gives people time to wake up and safely evacuate.”
Townsville electrician Tom Vawdry said many homeowners were only discovering the requirements during property sales, when compliance documentation was requested.
“There’s going to be a supply and demand issue, stock availability, contractor availability, it all comes into it,” Vawdry said.
Professional installation for a four-bedroom home typically costs between $800 and $1,000, depending on whether alarms are hardwired or battery-powered. Queensland law requires 10-year non-removable battery smoke alarms.
Olivier-Nelson cautioned against opting for cheaper, low-quality products.
“Safety and your family’s lives are not an area to try and save money on,” she said.
The Insurance Council of Australia also warned homeowners to ensure properties complied with fire safety obligations. A spokesperson told ABC that insurers may examine whether non-compliance contributed to fire damage when assessing claims.
“If a policyholder makes a claim involving fire damage, the insurer may look to see if lack of compliance with the new laws contributed to the fire damage,” the spokesperson said.
Townsville electrician Brandon Lewis, who lost his home in a 2014 electrical fire, said the consequences of inadequate fire protection could be severe.
“This can happen to you,” Lewis said. “You don’t want to be left wondering if you could have done something differently.”
