A reflection from the team at PCA Smoke Alarms
When you work in property compliance, you quickly realise that legislation isn’t just about rules — it’s about reasons. Behind every regulation is a story, and behind every story is a lesson written in real lives and real loss.
At PCA Smoke Alarms, we believe understanding why Queensland’s smoke alarm laws exist is just as important as knowing what they require. These standards weren’t created to make life harder for property owners — they were created to make homes safer for everyone who lives in them.
As PCA Co-Founder Matt Gooding explains:
“When we talk about compliance, we’re really talking about people. These laws are about giving families time — time to wake up, time to get out, and time to survive.”
The event that changed everything
In 2011, a devastating house fire in Slacks Creek claimed the lives of 11 people — eight of them children. It remains the deadliest residential fire in Australia’s history.
Investigations found that the home’s smoke alarms weren’t working. Had they been operational, the outcome might have been different. The tragedy became the catalyst for a complete rethink of fire safety across Queensland.
By 2016, the Queensland Government introduced new legislation requiring:
- Photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms, hallways, and every level of the home.
- Interconnection so that when one alarm sounds, they all do.
- Hardwired or 10-year lithium battery power for reliability.
- Full compliance by 1 January 2027 for all owner-occupied homes.
Why interconnection saves lives
- One-third of fatal home fires occur where there are no working smoke alarms.
- Nearly half of all fire fatalities happen while people are asleep.
- The risk of death in a house fire is halved when working smoke alarms are installed.
Interconnected photoelectric alarms ensure a whole-home response. If a fire starts in one bedroom, every alarm in the home activates simultaneously — giving everyone precious seconds to escape.
“Seconds matter,” says Matt Gooding.
“When alarms talk to each other, they buy people time — and that’s what this legislation is really about.”
From regulation to reassurance
For PCA, compliance has never been about box-ticking. It’s about confidence — for agencies, landlords, and tenants alike.
Our systems and technology integrations make it simple to stay ahead of the 2027 requirements. Our technicians handle every installation with care, and our client support team ensures agencies are never left guessing.
“We don’t just fit alarms,” Matt Gooding adds. “We build trust — so property managers can focus on their day knowing their portfolio is protected.”
A law shaped by tragedy, driven by progress
Queensland’s smoke alarm reforms are among the most advanced in the world. They were born from heartbreak, refined by science, and upheld by a community that values safety above all else.
At PCA Smoke Alarms, we’re proud to stand behind these laws — not because they’re required, but because they work. They protect homes, they save lives, and they remind us what our work is truly about.
Because when it comes to safety, compliance isn’t a checkbox — it’s a commitment.
