The rule in plain English
Queensland has been tightening its smoke alarm laws since 2017 — new builds first, then rentals and homes being sold from 2022. The last step is the big one: from 1 January 2027 every home in Queensland has to meet the same standard.
That standard says a home needs photoelectric alarms (the type that picks up smouldering fires early, not the old ionisation type), in every bedroom, in hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house, and on every storey. Every alarm must be interconnected so they all sound together, and each one must be either hardwired to the mains with battery backup or powered by a sealed 10-year battery. They have to be less than 10 years old and meet Australian Standard 3786-2014.
If your house was built or renovated before 2017 and nobody’s touched the alarms since, it almost certainly doesn’t comply. Most Cairns homes we visit still have one or two single-point alarms in a hallway — good in their day, not what the law now asks for.
What an upgrade involves
- A quick check of what you’ve got and what the rules need for your layout
- Old alarms removed; new photoelectric alarms installed in every bedroom, hallway and storey
- All alarms interconnected — hardwired where the wiring exists, wireless-linked where it doesn’t
- Every alarm tested, the interconnection proven, and a certificate of compliance for your records (or your property manager)
- One visit, typically two to three hours for a three-bedroom home
Does your home comply?
- Photoelectric alarm in every bedroom
- Alarm in each hallway that connects bedrooms
- At least one on every storey
- All interconnected — one goes, they all go
- Hardwired with battery backup, or sealed 10-year battery
- Every alarm under 10 years old
Any box unticked means an upgrade before 1 January 2027.
Landlords and sellers
Rentals and homes being sold have had to comply since 2022. Alarms in a rental must also be tested and cleaned within 30 days before each new tenancy. If yours haven’t been upgraded, they’re already non-compliant — we can sort it and supply the certification.
Why get it done by Great Northern
Book a smoke alarm compliance check
Tell us your suburb and roughly how many bedrooms. We’ll call you back within the hour during business hours with a price and a time.
- $0 call-out fee and a free, no-obligation quote
- We call you back within the hour during business hours
- Licensed electrical contractor — every job tested, certified and guaranteed
- Two owners on the phone, not a call centre
Frequently asked questions
What exactly changes on 1 January 2027?
From that date every Queensland home — not just rentals and homes being sold — must have photoelectric smoke alarms in every bedroom, in hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house, and on every storey, all interconnected, and either hardwired or powered by a sealed 10-year battery. Alarms must be less than 10 years old and meet Australian Standard 3786-2014.
What does 'interconnected' mean?
When one alarm detects smoke, every alarm in the house sounds. It’s what gets a sleeping family up when the fire starts at the other end of the house. Interconnection can be wired or wireless, as long as every required alarm is linked.
Hardwired or 10-year battery — which should I get?
If your home is already wired for alarms (most homes built after the mid-1990s are), hardwired photoelectric alarms with a battery backup are the standard choice and must be installed by a licensed electrician. Sealed 10-year battery alarms are an option where there’s no wiring, but they can’t be mixed into a hardwired system, and the whole set still has to be interconnected. We’ll tell you which applies to your house.
How long does an upgrade take?
A typical three-bedroom Cairns home takes two to three hours: we remove the old alarms, install and interconnect the new ones, test the lot and give you the certificate. Bigger or two-storey homes take a little longer.
I'm a landlord — what do I need to do?
Rental properties have had to comply since 1 January 2022, and the alarms must be tested and cleaned within 30 days before a new tenancy starts or is renewed. If your rental still has the old alarms, it’s already non-compliant. We can upgrade it and provide the certification your property manager needs.
Can I install the alarms myself?
Battery-only alarms can be fitted by anyone, but hardwired alarms are electrical work and must be installed by a licensed electrician in Queensland. Either way the system has to be interconnected and positioned correctly to comply — that’s the part most DIY jobs get wrong.
Areas we cover
Palm Cove to Gordonvale is home turf — the same run we’ve serviced for air conditioning since 2022 — with the Tablelands and Port Douglas by arrangement.