Smoke Alarm Facts

• If your property was built after 1997, it should have 240v (hard-wired with battery back-up) smoke alarms installed as a requirement under the Building Code of Australia and in accordance with Australian Standards, Residential Tenancies Authority and the Fire and Rescue Services Act.
• If your property has undergone major renovations since 1997, it should have included 240v (hard-wired with battery back-up) smoke alarms installed as a requirement under the Building Code of Australia and in accordance with Australian Standards, Residential Tenancies Authority and the Fire and Rescue Services Act.
• Every year hundreds of people die in residential fires. Most of these deaths are due to the effects of smoke inhalation (QFRS).
• Smoke alarms are early detection devices that save lives and property.
• Only working smoke alarms can save lives and your property – they should be maintained, cleaned and tested regularly
• The risk of death from fire is three times more likely in homes that do not have working smoke alarms when compared to homes with working, maintained smoke alarms.
• Today’s houses have a safe escape time of only 3 minutes in the event of a fire (QFRS). Properly maintained smoke alarms can provide valuable seconds for the protection of life and property.
• It is the lessor’s responsibility to test and maintain smoke alarms in rental properties at least every 12 months
• It is the lessor’s responsibility to replace smoke alarms when required, clean and test smoke alarms periodically, and change the batteries before the start of a new tenancy or at the renewal of existing tenancy agreements.