Published by JSR Electrical for Mackay homeowners. Not legal advice. Electrical and gas work must be carried out by appropriately licensed tradespeople. This page was not reviewed by a named individual expert.
Queensland is finishing a decade-long shift to interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. The rules already apply when you build, substantially renovate, sell or lease. From 1 January 2027 they apply to all remaining domestic dwellings. This guide separates those timelines so Mackay owners and landlords do not confuse “already required” with “still time until 2027”.
The checklist on this page is an education aid only. It does not certify that your dwelling is legally compliant, and it is not a substitute for reading Queensland Fire Department (QFD) guidance or obtaining professional installation advice.
What “compliant” means
QFD states that required smoke alarms must be photoelectric, must not contain an ionisation sensor, must comply with AS 3786-2014 (marked on the alarm), must be less than 10 years past manufacture, must operate when tested, and must be interconnected so that when one alarm activates, all required alarms sound.
Power may be hardwired or a non-removable 10-year battery. New dwellings and substantial renovations require hardwired alarms under building rules. Interconnection can be wired or wireless.
Where alarms must go
On each storey: in each bedroom; in hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the dwelling (or, if there is no hallway, between bedrooms and other parts of the storey); and if a storey has no bedrooms, at least one alarm on the most likely path of travel to exit. QFD also publishes clearance guidance (for example distances from corners, lights, air-conditioning vents and ceiling-fan blades).
Three timelines — do not mix them up
1. New builds and substantial renovations
From 1 January 2017, when a new dwelling is built or substantial renovations are made, the interconnected photoelectric standard applies under the staged reforms summarised by QFD.
2. Sale and lease (already in force)
From 1 January 2022, dwellings being sold or leased must meet the interconnected photoelectric requirements. QFD notes seller obligations are triggered by the date the sale contract is signed (contracts after 31 December 2021). Sellers declare compliance on the Property Information (Transfer) Form 24. The Residential Tenancies Authority explains that rental domestic dwellings must have interconnected photoelectric alarms, with testing duties for managers/owners around tenancy starts and for tenants during the tenancy.
3. All remaining dwellings — 1 January 2027
Homes that have not yet been caught by build, reno, sale or lease rules must still be upgraded by 1 January 2027. Waiting until the last months of 2026 is risky if electricians are booked out — especially in regional centres such as Mackay.
Hardwired work needs a licensed electrician
Queensland guidance is clear that installation involving electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician. Wireless interconnected options exist that may not require electrical work for every device — still follow manufacturer instructions and QFD location rules. Homeowners can test alarms themselves; testing is not the same as installation.
JSR offers compliant install work under our residential electrician Mackay services. Ask about the current ALARM10 promo when you request a quote. We do not issue a “council compliance certificate” through this webpage checklist.
Sources
- Queensland Fire Department — Smoke alarms
- QFD — Smoke alarm reforms
- QFD — Smoke alarm FAQ
- Residential Tenancies Authority — Smoke alarms
- qld.gov.au — Selling smoke alarms
Photoelectric versus older ionisation alarms
QFD’s reforms were driven by evidence that photoelectric alarms generally respond better to the smouldering fires common in homes, and that interconnection buys escape time when a fire starts in a bedroom at the other end of the dwelling. Ionisation-only alarms that do not meet the photoelectric requirement are outside the compliant set described in the reforms. If a label is missing or unreadable, do not guess — replace on the advice of a licensed installer after they inspect the dwelling.
Landlords, tenants and Form 24
For rentals, the Residential Tenancies Authority summarises that domestic dwellings must have interconnected photoelectric alarms. Managers/owners have testing and battery responsibilities around the start of a tenancy; tenants must test and clean at least annually during the tenancy. Installation of compliant alarms remains an owner responsibility — tenants are not expected to rewire a dwelling.
On sale, QFD explains that sellers signing contracts after 31 December 2021 must upgrade before transfer and declare that obligation discharged on Form 24. Hardwired interconnected installs by a licensed electrician involve the electrical safety certification pathway referenced by QFD (certificate of testing and compliance under the Electrical Safety Regulation). Keep documents with your conveyancing pack.
Caravans and motorhomes (briefly)
QFD and RTA materials also cover caravans and motorhomes with staged dates from mid-2024 for new registrations/transfers and the same 1 January 2027 horizon for remaining registered vehicles. This article focuses on class 1a / class 2 style domestic dwellings in Mackay suburbs; vehicle owners should read QFD’s dedicated pages for placement in sleeping areas and annexes.
Practical staging for Mackay households
If you already must comply because you are selling or leasing, treat 2027 as irrelevant — the earlier trigger wins. If you are an owner-occupier not selling, use 2027 as a firm deadline and book ahead of the peak. Combine the visit with a switchboard safety-switch check if the dwelling is older; interrelated electrical safety work is often more efficient in one attendance. Read our switchboard upgrade guide for RCD context.
Multi-storey townhouses and units need careful storey-by-storey planning. If a level has no bedroom, QFD still requires an alarm on the likely exit path. Interconnection must cover every required alarm in the dwelling — a lone hallway alarm that cannot trigger bedroom alarms is not enough under the interconnected standard described by QFD.