Smoke alarms

Smoke alarms are compulsory and must be installed in every residential building, on or near the ceiling of every storey.

Residential buildings include the following building classes as broadly defined in the National Construction Code (NCC):

• Class 1a: detached houses, row houses, town houses, terrace houses or villa units
• Class 1b: some boarding houses, guest houses or hostels
• Class 2: buildings containing sole-occupancy units (e.g. apartments, blocks of flats)
• Class 3: backpacker accommodation, residential parts of hotels or motels, residential parts of schools, accommodation for the aged, disabled or children
• Class 4: dwellings in non-residential buildings (e.g. houses attached to shops).

Smoke alarm locations

Smoke alarms need to be positioned to wake sleeping occupants. They must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house.

Victoria’s fire services (CFA and FRV) recommend that additional smoke alarms also be installed in every bedroom and living area for the best safety of occupants.

They should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall, or where installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.

Smoke alarms must meet the Australian Standard AS 3786 and complying models can be found at most electrical appliance or hardware stores.

Smoke alarm installation

Homes constructed after 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240V mains power and have a backup battery. Homes constructed before 1st August 1997 may have smoke alarms powered by a battery.

CFA and FRV recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a ten-year lithium battery that last the life of the smoke alarm unit.

Smoke alarms should also be interconnected, so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound.

Interconnected smoke alarms can be:

• hard-wired (which should be installed by an electrician), or
• wireless interconnected smoke alarms powered by a ten-year lithium battery (which can be easily installed without requiring an electrician).

Only working smoke alarms save lives

If you are renting a house or unit, it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure smoke alarms are installed and kept in working condition.

Regardless of whether you are renting or living in a home that you own, you should:

• check the smoke alarm is working every month by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds
• replace 9-volt smoke alarm batteries on an annual basis (or if the battery is lithium, replace the smoke alarm unit every ten years).
• replace the smoke alarm in accordance with manufacturer's specifications – generally after ten years. New units have an expiry date located under the battery.
• replace the battery if your smoke alarm emits a warning sound (a high-pitched single beep every 30 seconds)
• clean your alarm regularly with a vacuum cleaner to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance
• familiarise yourself with the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines.

A fine can be imposed on an owner who fails to comply with the smoke alarm requirements of the Building Regulations 2018.

More information

• CFA - smoke alarms
• CFA - Information and replacement of smoke alarms