Legislation – South Australia

Smoke alarms must comply with the Australian Standard AS3786. The current standard is the AS3786:2014 standard.

Homes purchase prior to 1 February 1998 that were built prior to 1 January 1995 may have battery powered smoke alarms.

Homes purchased from 1 February 1998 that were built prior to 1 January 1995 require, within 6 months of purchase, smoke alarms installed that are either hard-wired or powered by a 10-year non-replaceable battery.

Homes built on or after 1 January 1995 require all smoke alarms to be hard-wired mains powered regardless of the purchase date.

New homes and any extensions that are approved on or after 1 May 2014 require all smoke alarms to be interconnected.

Smoke alarms are required between all areas with bedrooms or sleeping areas and the rest of the home. If there is a hallway connecting the bedrooms to the rest of the house, the smoke alarm must be in the hallway.

Properties with multiple storeys must have a smoke alarm on each storey. If there is no bedroom on a storey, that smoke alarm must be along the exit root from the other storey to the exit of the property.

Ceiling mounted smoke alarms are preferable and must be at least 30cm from a wall. Wall mounted smoke alarms are allowed if between 30cm and 50cm from the ceiling. There are also requirements for sloped ceilings for a smoke alarm to be between 50cm and 150cm from the apex of the ceiling.

It is the property owner’s responsibility to install, repair or replace non-functioning smoke alarms.