Smoke Alarm Blind Spots – Are your Properties Unknowingly Non-Compliant and Unprotected?

Safeguarding the properties you manage is a multifaceted task, which includes having a keen awareness of significant industry trends and a proactive approach to potential threats that could affect your business. This article will explore the primary trends within the smoke alarm industry we have identified in the past year and will provide strategies to effectively mitigate risks to your office. 

Queensland’s Smoke Alarm Legislation – A Recap

Over the past seven years, Queensland has undergone significant changes in smoke alarm compliance, unfortunately driven by tragic events which prompted investigations and subsequent legislative adjustments. Here’s a quick timeline for your reference: 

• 2017: New legislation commenced, requiring all new and renovated properties to meet new smoke alarm requirements. 
• From 2022: The same requirements extended to all rentals and properties being sold. 
• By 2027: All owner-occupied properties must also comply. 

Despite a significant number of rental properties now meeting the 2022 requirements, the ongoing risks associated with house fires remains. The incorporation of additional interconnected smoke alarms in bedrooms and other critical areas, while improving safety, necessitates consistent maintenance for sustained effectiveness. 

Amidst the focus on new smoke alarm requirements, it’s crucial to remember the unchanging QLD fire safety standard for rental properties, which has been in place since 2007. Regular smoke alarm checks within 30 days prior to a new lease, replacement of smoke alarms prior to their expiry, and routine battery replacements ensure the highest standard of effectiveness. These requirements, recently overshadowed by the introduction of new legislation, remain an ongoing commitment to the safety of tenants, landlords, and your agency. 

Key Takeaway: It’s essential to ensure you adhere to the ongoing smoke alarm maintenance requirements in order for your properties to remain compliant. All smoke alarms must be checked within 30 days prior to lease, be replaced prior to expiry date and have batteries replaced.    

Risk #1: Non-Compliant Properties Still Being Discovered – The Cost of Inexperienced Providers

As we examine trends and challenges over the past five years, one persistent issue is the prevalence of non-compliance, often stemming from inexperienced providers who carried out the initial smoke alarm upgrade at a property. Reasons for non-compliance include: 

1. Faulty alarms: Cheaper, inferior alarms lead to malfunctioning products. 
2. Failure to meet Australian Standards: Subpar alarms often sourced online can pose serious risks to occupants.
3. Interconnection challenges: Ensuring all smoke alarms in a property simultaneously sound when triggered is a complicated component of the new legislation and some providers struggle to meet this requirement.
4. Incorrect installations: Alarms positioned incorrectly (too close to fans and air-conditioners or in dead air space) compromise their ability to adequately detect fire. 

Despite our ongoing efforts to educate and rectify non-compliance when identified, a concerning 13% of properties inspected by our company just last month, where the initial upgrade was completed by another provider, were non-compliant. This underscores the importance of sourcing a provider who thoroughly understands complex legal requirements and has a proven track record.  

Key Takeaway: If smoke alarm upgrades or inspections in your properties were not completed by suitably experienced service providers, they may be non-compliant and unprotected without you being aware of it.  

It is crucial to note that the credibility of smoke alarm compliance reports hinges on the reliability of the issuing company. A compliance report might indicate that a property meets the necessary standards, but if it’s issued by an unreliable source, it could be offering a false sense of security to property owners and tenants. In other words, an inaccurate compliance report may leave your property vulnerable in the event of a fire therefore selecting a reputable and professional provider is of utmost importance.  

Key takeaway: Compliance Reports are only as reliable as the company providing them. 

Risk #2: The Rise in Nuisance Alarms and Tenant Damage Increases Risk

Nuisance alarms, where alarms sound without the presence of an actual fire, are becoming more prevalent. This trend is, in part, a consequence of the 2022 legislation, which mandated the installation of up to five times as many smoke alarms in properties compared to prior requirements. While this measure was implemented to enhance safety, it has inadvertently increased the likelihood of nuisance alarms. The interconnected nature of all alarms further amplifies this probability. 

Smoke Alarm Solutions is committed to installing only the highest quality smoke alarms. While even top-quality alarms can be triggered by environmental factors such as humidity, nighttime temperature drops, and insects, the use of subpar quality alarms often exacerbate the issue due to inherent problems in the product’s circuitry. This not only frustrates tenants but has also resulted in a growing number of cases where tenants tamper with or damage alarms without informing their property manager, leaving a property unprotected.  

Our 24/7 Emergency Service is designed to swiftly address these challenges, offering assistance to ensure alarms remain in place and continue to provide protection against the threat of fire.  

Key takeaway: It’s important to provide a convenient, responsive support solution to nuisance alarms to your tenants. Doing so will reduce the likelihood of tenant damage to alarms and help to ensure your properties remain protected and compliant.

Risk #3: The Risk of Missed Inspections Could Jeopardise Your Office’s Reputation

Another notable trend we’ve observed is the increase in missed smoke alarm inspections. Unlike Smoke Alarm Solutions, not all service providers offer the courtesy of reminders for an annual inspection. While the law doesn’t explicitly mandate yearly attendance, we recognise its importance in ensuring the ongoing functionality of your smoke alarms, especially given the increasing incidents of unreported damage by tenants. Consequently, if we haven’t received a work order from you within the past 12 months, we proactively send a reminder about the upcoming inspection. 

Key takeaway: It’s prudent to verify whether your current provider includes annual inspections and reminders as part of their services to enhance your peace of mind. 

Don’t forget about properties being sold!

Since January 2022, compliance requirements for rental properties also apply to Queensland properties being sold. Integrating smoke alarm compliance into the listing process is a proactive approach, avoiding delays and potential penalties of up to 0.15% of the purchase price, and contributing to a smoother sales process. Read more here. 

Choosing a Provider to Mitigate Business Risks

Amidst these trends and potential threats, the choice of a smoke alarm compliance provider becomes a strategic decision. Smoke Alarm Solutions distinguishes itself with a dedicated commitment to excellence, providing a comprehensive service crafted to prioritise safety and instil peace of mind. From one inspection per year minimum, to our 24/7 Emergency Service, seamless switching process plus free training and resources, we offer a range of service inclusions to ensure your tenants are safe, landlords’ investments are protected and the risk to your business is minimised.  

For any enquiries or further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your business’s success and the safety of your clients are our top priorities.