Type of premises

If you live in, or own a house (Class 1a), an apartment/unit? (Class 2), a residential area of a larger building, eg caretakers quarters (Class 4) or a relocatable home

In homes, villas, units and flats (relocatable homes, Class 1a and 2 buildings, and Class 4 parts of buildings) - as a minimum standard - a battery powered smoke alarm which complies with AS 3786. However, owners have the option of installing hard-wired alarms.

Owners do not have to replace functional smoke alarms installed prior to 1 May 2006, even if they do not comply with AS3786. This is subject to the existing smoke alarms being correctly located and in good working order.

If you live in, or own a guesthouse/boarding house (Class 1b), live in or staying in a hotel/motel (Class 3), or in a healthcare building? (Class 9a)

Smoke alarms in these types of residences must comply with AS3786 and be hard-wired or powered by a non-removable battery with a minimum life expectancy of 10 years that is connected to the smoke alarm.

Types of buildings and types of smoke alarms

The type of smoke alarm to be installed depends on the type of building.

Residential dwellings

Type of building	Type of smoke alarms
Class 1a buildings (eg detached houses, terrace houses, town houses, villa units) Class 2 buildings (eg apartments, home units, flats) Class 4 parts of buildings (eg caretakers flats, single residences above shops) Relocatable homes (eg manufactured homes and moveable dwellings, but not tents, campervans, caravans or the like)	Australian Standard AS 3786 compliant: hard-wired to the mains electricity power supply (with battery backup), or powered by a battery. Building owner's choice

Type of building

Type of smoke alarms

Class 1a buildings
(eg detached houses, terrace houses, town houses, villa units)
Class 2 buildings (eg apartments, home units, flats)
Class 4 parts of buildings (eg caretakers flats, single residences above shops)
Relocatable homes (eg manufactured homes and moveable dwellings, but not tents, campervans, caravans or the like)

Australian Standard AS 3786 compliant:

hard-wired to the mains electricity power supply (with battery backup), or
powered by a battery.

Building owner's choice

Shared accommodation

Type of building	Type of smoke alarms
Class 1b buildings (eg small boarding houses, guest houses,hostels; backpackers accommodation; bed and breakfast accommodation) Class 3 buildings (eg large boarding houses, guest houses, hostels, backpacker accommodation; residential parts of hotels, motels, schools, health care buildings, detention centres; certain residential accommodation for the aged, children and people with disabilities) Class 9a health care buildings (eg hospitals and nursing homes)	Australian Standard AS 3786 compliant, but must be: hard-wired to the mains electricity power supply (with battery backup), or powered by a non-removable 10-year long-life battery permanently connected to the smoke alarm. Building owner's choice