When Cheap Costs Lives: The Hidden Danger of Low-Quality Smoke Alarms

Across Australia, smoke alarms are meant to save lives. But in recent years, the market has seen an alarming trend — a flood of cheap, no-name devices sold online and through budget providers, promoted as “compliant” but lacking the reliability and testing that true safety demands.

At PCA Smoke Alarms, we see the consequences of this every day. Non-compliant installs. Faulty interconnections. Poorly placed devices that never should’ve passed inspection.

It’s a quiet epidemic — and one we’ve been cleaning up for years.

The race to the bottom

Since Queensland’s new smoke alarm legislation was introduced in 2016, and with the next major compliance milestone approaching in 2027, the industry has experienced a rush of opportunistic entrants.

Unlicensed installers, DIY operators, and low-cost providers are flooding the market with alarms that look compliant on paper but fail in practice. Many of these devices are manufactured overseas with little to no quality control, failing to meet the rigorous standards required for Australian conditions — from tropical humidity to electrical surges and dust exposure.

As PCA Co-Founder Matt Gooding explains:

“We’ve seen it all — alarms that fail within months, that don’t interconnect correctly, or that never sound at all. The problem is, property managers and landlords don’t realise it until it’s too late.”

The pursuit of “cheap compliance” might look good on a spreadsheet, but it’s a dangerous game when the cost of failure is measured in human life.

History repeating itself

When Queensland’s rental property legislation changed in 2016, the same pattern emerged — a wave of “cowboys” installing cheap devices to cash in on market demand. The result? Thousands of properties left with faulty, non-compliant systems that had to be replaced.

And now, with the 2027 deadline on the horizon, we’re seeing history repeat itself. Providers are once again cutting corners, confusing the market, and undermining the trust that property managers place in our industry.

Quality partners. Proven performance.

At PCA, we’ve built our reputation on trust and testing — not shortcuts. We partner only with brands that have proven reliability, rigorous testing, and local support — including Red Professional, Clipsal, and Brooks.

Each of these brands has demonstrated consistent performance across Australia’s diverse climates and housing types. From high humidity in Far North Queensland to dry inland heat, their alarms are designed to endure, perform, and protect.

“These are not just alarms — they’re life-saving devices,” says Matt Gooding. “We choose partners who share our standards. If we wouldn’t install it in our own homes, we won’t install it in yours.”

Compliance isn’t a checkbox — it’s a commitment

The reality is simple: a cheap alarm from an unknown brand isn’t “just as good.” It’s often the difference between a warning and a tragedy.

Smoke alarm compliance is not a tick-box exercise, yet that’s how too many see it. No responsible property manager, landlord, or homeowner should ever risk lives — especially those of their loved ones — by choosing the cheapest option.

Ask anyone who’s survived a house fire, and they’ll tell you the same thing:

“Smoke alarms saved my life.”

That’s why PCA will continue to call out unsafe practices, educate our partners, and set the standard for quality across the property compliance industry.

Because saving lives isn’t about doing it cheaply — it’s about doing it right.