Under section 104RI of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, the Act outlines the legal requirements for smoke alarms in a domestic dwelling. The provision also clarifies which smoke alarms must comply with specific regulations and which are optional. Please refer to the Act excerpt below:

104RI Division applies for all alarms.

(1) This division, other than a smoke alarm requirement provision, applies in relation to a smoke alarm installed in a domestic dwelling even though the smoke alarm is not required to be installed under a smoke alarm requirement provision.

(2) However, nothing in this division stops the owner of a domestic dwelling –

(a) Installing a smoke alarm in the dwelling, in addition to the smoke alarms required to be installed in the dwelling under a smoke alarm requirement provision, whether or not the additional smoke alarm complies with a smoke alarm requirement provision.

(b) Removing a smoke alarm that is not required to be installed under a smoke alarm requirement provision.

Example—

A homeowner may choose to install additional smoke alarms for extra safety, even if they are not required by law. These alarms would still be subject to the maintenance and operational requirements set out in this division.

(3)  This section applies despite a smoke alarm requirement provision.

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