Are Your Smoke Alarms Up to Scratch? What FNQ Homeowners Need to Know

Smoke Alarms Have Changed, Has Your Home?

If your smoke alarms are more than a few years old (or you’re not even sure where they all are) chances are, your home isn’t as safe (or compliant) as it should be.

There’ve been some big changes to Queensland’s smoke alarm laws recently, and they affect all homes, not just rentals. Whether you live in your place full-time, rent it out, or plan to sell, your alarms need to meet updated safety standards.

I’m Ryan from Chilled Electrical FNQ, and I’ve helped homeowners across Port Douglas, Mossman and the Tablelands get their homes sorted without the stress. So if you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry — I’ve got you.

What the New Smoke Alarm Standards Require

Let’s keep it simple.

To meet current Queensland safety standards, your home must have:

Smoke alarms that are:

• Photoelectric (not ionisation)
• Hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10-year battery
• Interconnected, so when one alarm goes off, they all do
• Installed in every bedroom, in hallways, and on every level of the home

If that doesn’t sound like your setup, it’s time for an upgrade.

Why Interconnected Photoelectric Alarms Matter

Photoelectric alarms are designed to detect slow, smouldering fires, the kind caused by electrical faults or things like chargers left on the bed. They give earlier warning than old-school ionisation alarms, which means:

• More time to get out safely
• Less risk of smoke inhalation
• Better protection for your family, especially at night

And with interconnected alarms, if something happens in the kids’ room, you’ll hear it in yours,instantly.

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How to Know If Your Smoke Alarms Are Outdated

Here are a few signs your current alarms aren’t cutting it anymore:

Red flags:

• Your alarms are more than 10 years old
• You still have round, yellowing plastic alarms
• There’s only one or two alarms in the whole house
• The alarms aren’t interconnected
• You’re not sure what kind they are (or where they even are!)

Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone, but the fix is easier than you might think.

What a Proper Smoke Alarm Setup Looks Like

Every home’s layout is different, but here’s the standard:

• One alarm in every bedroom
• One in each hallway outside bedrooms
• One on every storey of the home
• All alarms interconnected, either wirelessly or through cabling
• All alarms photoelectric and compliant with AS 3786:2014

We’ll tailor the setup to your home, no cookie-cutter installs, no unnecessary extras.

Why You Shouldn’t DIY This Job

This isn’t one of those “quick jobs” you want to knock out yourself. By law, installing or replacing hardwired smoke alarms must be done by a licensed electrician, and even battery models need to be installed correctly to be compliant and effective.

DIY installs can leave you:

• Still non-compliant
• Exposed during insurance claims
• At risk if the alarms don’t trigger correctly in an emergency

We’ve seen too many dodgy installs up here, don’t take the chance.

What It Costs to Upgrade Your Smoke Alarms

Most full upgrades fall between $600–$1,200, depending on:

• The size and layout of your home
• Whether existing wiring can be reused
• How many alarms are needed

We keep our quotes honest and transparent, and we won’t upsell you alarms you don’t need.

We Know FNQ Homes and How to Get Them Compliant

We’ve upgraded smoke alarms in everything from older Queenslanders to modern beach homes across:

• Mossman
• Port Douglas
• Julatten
• Daintree
• Cairns
• Cairns Northern Beaches

FNQ homes can be a bit tricky with their high ceilings, timber walls, and unique layouts, but that’s our bread and butter. We’ll sort it quickly and properly so you can get on with life.

Final Word: Don’t Wait Until There’s a Fire

Smoke alarms aren’t just a box to tick for compliance, they’re one of the most important safety tools in your home.

Whether you're:

• Selling
• Renting
• Renovating
• Or just haven’t thought about your alarms in years...

Now’s the time to make sure your home is properly protected.

Need a local sparkie who actually shows up?

Give us a shout. We’ll come take a look, walk you through exactly what’s needed (no BS), and get it sorted. Easy as.

Servicing FNQ:

Port Douglas | Mossman | Julatten | Daintree | Cairns Northern Beaches | Cairns