Smoke alarms in Melbourne homes

The rules for every Victorian home

Smoke alarms are compulsory in every residential property in Victoria: houses, units, flats and townhouses. Homes built after 1 August 1997 must have hardwired smoke alarms with a battery back-up. Homes built before then can use battery-powered alarms. Either way, the alarms must meet Australian Standard AS 3786.

Who installs them

A hardwired smoke alarm is connected to the home's wiring, so installing or replacing one is a job for a licensed electrician. Anyone can change a battery.

Installing a hardwired alarm is electrical work, so ask the electrician for the Certificate of Electrical Safety and keep it with the invoice.

Where to put them

Fire Rescue Victoria recommends smoke alarms in all bedrooms, hallways and living areas. Fire services also recommend interconnecting them where possible, so that when one sounds, they all do, and favour alarms with 10-year lithium batteries.

On a ceiling, an alarm should sit at least 30 cm from the nearest wall; on a wall, at least 30 cm below the ceiling. When Fire Rescue Victoria made the case for bedroom alarms in 2022, CFA and FRV data showed about 72% of fatal house fires starting in living rooms and sleeping areas, and about 67% happening at night, between 9 pm and 6 am.

Testing and replacing them

CFA's advice: test each alarm every month by pressing the button and waiting for the beep. If it doesn't beep, replace the battery or the alarm. A 9-volt battery needs changing every year; a 10-year long-life battery doesn't. Vacuum or dust the outside of each alarm at least once a year.

Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Like other appliances, they work less well with age, and most warranties end at 10 years.

Renting?

Rental providers must make sure every smoke alarm is correctly installed and working, has batteries, and is tested at least once every 12 months. By the start of a rental agreement, they must give the renter written information on how each alarm works and how to test it.

Renters must tell the rental provider if an alarm is faulty, mustn't remove or disable one, and should leave the batteries in when they move out. A smoke alarm that isn't working is an urgent repair: the rental provider must fix it immediately, and if the renter has told them and they haven't responded promptly, the renter can arrange the repair, up to $2,500, and be paid back within 7 days of asking in writing.

What to tell the electrician

• How many alarms there are now, and whether they're hardwired or battery
• The date on each alarm, if you can read it
• Which rooms you want covered, including bedrooms
• Whether you want them interconnected
• Access to the roof space, and ceiling heights

Example brief

“Replace three hardwired smoke alarms dated 2014 in a house built in 2002, and add one in each of the three bedrooms, all interconnected. Single storey with roof access. House in Craigieburn. Please quote supply and installation, which alarm you'd fit, and the Certificate of Electrical Safety.”

Before booking an electrician

• Hardwired alarms installed by a licensed electrician
• Bedrooms, hallways and living areas covered
• Interconnected where possible
• Tested monthly; replaced every 10 years
• A Certificate of Electrical Safety for wiring work

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