Upcoming changes in QLD & NT Smoke Alarm Regulations

Smoke Alarm Regulations QLD

In Queensland, under the current and upcoming smoke alarm legislation, the focus is on:

• Every storey of the dwelling.
• Each bedroom.
• Hallways connecting bedrooms and the rest of the home.
• If no bedrooms exist on a level, at least one alarm must be in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.

Read this fact sheet.

What about the garage?

• Smoke alarms are not legally required in garages under these regulations—unless your garage is part of the living area or includes sleeping rooms.
• Since a garage is typically not a bedroom, hallway, or exit route for occupants, it’s outside the mandated installation zones.

So, if your garage currently has no smoke alarm:

You are still compliant with QLD law, assuming you have:

• Photoelectric alarms (AS 3786‑2014),
• Installed in all bedrooms and required hallways/storeys,
• Inter-connected, and under 10 years old,
• Either hardwired or powered by a sealed 10-year battery.

Tips & extra precautions

• Ensure all alarms are installed 300 mm from walls/corners, 400 mm from fans, vents, and lights.
• Although the law doesn’t require it, installing a smoke alarm in the garage can be a smart safety move, especially if it’s connected to the house and there’s a door leading into living areas.

Bottom line

You do not need a smoke alarm in the garage to comply with Queensland’s latest smoke alarm laws, provided your home’s bedrooms, hallways, and storeys are properly protected. That said, adding one in the garage is a prudent safety upgrade, although it’s optional from a legal standpoint.

Smoke Alarm Regulations NT

NT Electrical Safety regulations were updated recently –

Under the Electrical Safety Act 2022 and the Electrical Safety Regulations 2024, which commenced on 1 July 2024 in the Northern Territory (NT), specific requirements apply to the installation of smoke alarms in conjunction with solar battery systems.

1. Mandatory Installation in Residential Premises  (as on and after 1 July 2026)

Smoke alarms must be installed above energy storage systems located under the same roof as a habitable room for all installations made on or after 1 July 2026. All residential premises, including those with solar battery systems, must have approved smoke alarms installed.

An approved smoke alarm is defined as a photoelectric type that:

• Complies with AS 3786 (Smoke Alarms), and
• Is either hardwired to the mains power supply or is a sealed 10-year lithium battery unit.

2. Placement Considerations

Suppose the solar battery is installed within a habitable area of the residence (e.g., garage, hallway, laundry). In that case, a smoke alarm must be installed in that area to ensure early detection of any incidents.

According to NT Electrical Safety Regulation 143, the smoke alarm must be:

Located above or close to the energy storage system in any place where the energy storage system is located; and integrated with any other smoke alarms in the building in which the energy storage system is located.