1. GOLD COAST REAL ESTATE TEAM CONTACTS
Bryce Melville Rebecca Sheppard Yvette Mason Marieanne Golubinsky Meaghan Brodie
PARTNER SENIOR ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATE GRADUATE PARALEGAL
T: +61 7 5553 9424 T: +61 7 5553 9490 T: +61 7 5553 9530 T: +61 7 5553 9539 T: +61 7 5553 9411
bryce.melville@minterellison.com rebecca.sheppard@minterellison.com yvette.mason@minterellison.com marieanne.golubinsky@minterellison.com meaghan.brodie@minterellison.com
Property Developments
6 April 2016
A burning need for better smoke alarms
The Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic
Smoke Alarms) Amendment Bill 2016 (Qld)
(Bill) was introduced into parliament on 23
February 2016. The Legal Affairs and Community
Safety Committee reported on the Bill to
Parliament on 4 March 2016.
What are the changes?
The Bill:
 Outlines the appropriate method for testing
whether a smoke alarm is operational;
 Requires the installation of smoke alarms
that comply with Australian Standard 3786-
2014 in domestic dwellings;
 Requires that smoke alarms be
photoelectric, interconnected and powered
by an enduring power source (ie either hard-
wired or powered by ten year lithium
batteries); and
 Requires the installation of smoke alarms in
bedrooms in addition to living areas and
escape paths.
New dwellings or properties undergoing substantial
renovations will be required to comply from 2017.
Dwellings that are sold or let will need to meet the
new safety standards from 1 January 2022.
Who does this affect?
The Bill is designed to minimise the risk of house fire
fatalities and maximise the survival opportunities for
any Queenslanders who are caught in a house fire.
All Queensland home owners will need to ensure
that their smoke alarms are compliant with the new
requirements.
It is anticipated that the Bill will be passed by
Parliament later this year. We will keep you
informed of developments.
Further Information
If you would like further advice on the implications
of the Bill or assistance with your conveyancing
transactions, please contact us.
*Disclaimer
The information contained in this update is intended as a guide only.
Professional advice should be sought before applying any of the
information to particular circumstances. While every reasonable care has
been taken in the preparation of this update, MinterEllison does not
accept liability for any errors it may contain.