What is the smoke alarm legislation for rental properties in Queensland?
Smoke alarm legislation for houses, townhouses, units and apartments is administered by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, under the:fire and emergency services Act 1990 and amendment Act 2016 (QLD)Smoke alarms must:Be of the photoelectric type (AS 3786-2014).Not containing an ionization sensor.Be less than 10 years old.Operate successfully during testing.Be interconnected so that all other smoke alarms in the dwelling activate simultaneously.Be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10-year battery.Be installed on each story as follows:In each bedroom.In hallways connecting bedrooms to the rest of the dwelling.If there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other areas of the same story.If there are no bedrooms on a story, at least one smoke alarm must be placed in the most likely path of travel for exiting the dwelling.Responsibilities for property managers/owners:Ensure that rental premises comply with health and safety requirements, including proper smoke alarm installation.Regularly test and clean smoke alarms within 30 days before the start of a tenancy (including renewed tenancies).Avoid removing smoke alarms or their batteries (except for replacement) or taking actions that reduce alarm effectiveness (e.g., painting).Responsibilities for tenants:Test and clean smoke alarms at least once every 12 months (using vacuuming or dusting).Notify the property manager/owner promptly if there are any issues with an alarm and allow access for installation or maintenance.Refrain from removing smoke alarms or compromising their effectiveness (e.g., painting or covering them).