Can you install smoke alarms on asbestos ceilings and walls?
Working on/with asbestos isn’t illegal as the installation of smoke alarms on asbestos is only classed as asbestos-related work and does not require a license. There are however strict guidelines on the handling and disposal of all contaminated material after installation as well as health risks associated with both our installers and the occupants of the dwelling. With this in mind, Check Systems has adopted a best practice approach and have eliminated the hazard altogether by not disturbing asbestos. Safe Work Queensland backs this approach as elimination is better than any control measures that could be implemented. The legislation also backs this approach in the sense that it allows for battery operated smoke alarms to be installed as opposed to hard wired. Health and Safety always takes precedence over everything else in the workplace and we take that very seriously.However, there are ways to avoid installing smoke alarms on asbestos-containing material and still satisfy QLD smoke alarm legislation. For example where likely asbestos containing material is present, our technicians will install smoke alarms:- on timber strips or any other material on the ceiling that is not asbestos, where present.- on to the wall, where the ceiling has sprayed on plaster which contains asbestos fibers.- using double-sided tape, where alarms cannot be screwed into the ceiling or the wall.