Smoke Alarm Compliance in Victoria: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

## What Victorian law actually requires Victorian law requires every home to have working smoke alarms that meet Australian Standard AS 3786, positioned on or near the ceiling of every storey. Homes built after 1 August 1997 must have them connected to mains power with a battery backup; older homes may still run on battery alone. Interconnected alarms — where one sounding sets off all the others — are required in new builds and major renovations, and strongly recommended everywhere else. The key requirements are: - **Photoelectric alarms** — not required by law, but faster on the smouldering fires that start at night, so we fit them as standard - **Hardwired alarms** are required in new builds and major renovations, and in any home built after 1 August 1997 - **Interconnected alarms** — when one sounds, they all sound - **Correct placement** — at minimum, one alarm on each level and one in or near each bedroom ## Why Photoelectric? Photoelectric alarms detect slow, smouldering fires — the type most likely to occur at night when people are asleep. Ionisation alarms respond faster to fast-flaming fires but are less effective at detecting the smouldering fires that cause most residential fire deaths. ## What About Rental Properties? Landlords have specific obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act. Rental properties must have compliant smoke alarms installed before a new tenancy begins or when existing alarms are replaced. If you're a landlord and unsure whether your property is compliant, it's worth getting a licensed electrician to assess the installation. ## What Happens If You're Not Compliant? Non-compliance can affect your insurance claim in the event of a fire. It can also create legal liability for landlords. The practical risk is more significant — an alarm that doesn't work, or isn't in the right location, may not give your family enough warning to escape. ## Getting Sorted If your home has battery-only alarms, alarms that are more than 10 years old, or you're not sure what type you have, it's worth getting them checked. We install hardwired, interconnected photoelectric alarms to current Victorian standards — and issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety for every installation. Call us on **0468 097 469** or use the enquiry form to book a smoke alarm assessment.