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I read that at May 2016 new legislation now require that smoke detector units have to be fully replaced within every 10 years after its expiry date?
I know that changing batteries and checking they are in working order, is the individual lot owners responsibility and I am assuming it’s also the lot owners responsibility to have them replaced. As I am a landlord I pay for an outside company to have mine checked and replaced when required.
If this is correct that it’s now legislation is this the responsibility of the owners corporation to ensure everyone is compliant?
Also I If they aren’t compliant, apart from being a safety issue which is bad enough, but could this effect our insurance policy as well?
I realise this is probably obvious and it does makes sense to have them replaced, but to be truthful I hadn’t given it any thought-that the whole unit should be replaced as they have an expiry date. I thought they only needed replacing if they broke. I didn’t realize there is an expiry date.
I read this from a NSW real estate acticle and came across it by accident in the internet, so don’t have anymore knowledge on it so far. So I am wondering if anyone has a more accurate understanding on this.
Thanks.
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@Susanp said:
If this is correct that it’s now legislation is this the responsibility of the owners corporation to ensure everyone is compliant?Also I If they aren’t compliant, apart from being a safety issue which is bad enough, but could this effect our insurance policy as well?
It is the OC’s responsibility to make sure that strata lots are accessible for checking by fire safety inspectors.
If the smoke detectors are hard-wired to a central control box, they are the OC’s responsibility. If they are separate, stand-alone detectors inside the unit, they are the lot owners’ responsibility.
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@Susanp said:
I read that at May 2016 new legislation now require that smoke detector units have to be fully replaced within every 10 years after its expiry date?I’m not aware of any legislation in NSW that requires a replacement after 10 years.
@Marvin said:I’m not aware of any legislation in NSW that requires a replacement after 10 years.
New regulations in Queensland come into effect on January 1st. You will find a fact sheet from the Queensland Fire Service here.
Regulations are less stringent in NSW but did you know that landlords have to fit new batteries to smoke alarms every time they change their tenancy? You’ll find a fact sheet about smoke alarms regulations in NSW here.
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Some new-style detectors have a non-replaceable battery which has a 10 year life, and a new detector has to be installed.
Apparently it’s the Landlord’s responsibility to change the battery in smoke alarms in-between every tenancy in NSW.
How does this work with the 10 year lithium battery alarms where the batteries can’t be changed? Are we expected to replace them every time a tenant leaves?
If you are operating the fire alarms in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (IE a 10 year maintenance schedule due to the improved battery type) and document that, I doubt there is a problem.