Defect type
High · 2–4/5
Battery-Only Smoke Alarms in Pre-2014 Dwellings
I found the dwelling relying on 9V or 10-year lithium battery-only smoke alarms rather than 240V hardwired units with battery backup. These were legal at original construction but pre-date the post-May 2014 hardwiring baseline for new Class 1 builds. At inspection I commonly see flat batteries, chirping low-battery signals, or alarms removed entirely.
Causes
- Dwelling was constructed or last renovated before the 2014 hardwiring requirement
- Alarms have not been upgraded at point of sale or lease despite state legislation
- Owner-occupier unaware of progressive upgrade obligations in WA and NSW
Symptoms to look for
- No ceiling penetration or cabling visible above the smoke alarm base
- Alarm emits intermittent low-battery chirp or fails the test button
- Manufacture date stamp on the rear of the unit exceeds ten years
Remedies
- Replace all alarms with 240V hardwired photoelectric units with 10-year backup battery
- Interconnect the replacement alarms and confirm placement against current NCC 3.7.5.3
- Confirm a licensed electrician issues a certificate of compliance for the new wiring
Critical
Get an inspector through this property.
Findings in this category skew high severity. If you are under contract, we can usually book inside the cooling-off window. Every inspection includes 12 months of free advice.
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