When Are Interconnected Smoke Alarms Required? Understanding the May 2014 Rule

June 19, 2026

One of the most common compliance questions for smoke alarms we get from landlords and property managers is:

“Do my smoke alarms need to be interconnected?”

The answer is:

It depends on when the property was built or substantially renovated.

There’s a lot of confusion around this topic. Some people believe every property in Victoria must now have interconnected smoke alarms.

That’s simply not true.

The requirement largely comes down to the age of the property and the building regulations that applied when it was constructed.

Here’s what you need to know.

Quick Answer

Australian residential properties built from 1 May 2014 onwards are generally required to have interconnected smoke alarms installed under the National Construction Code. Properties built before this date do not automatically require interconnected smoke alarms, provided the property has not been substantially renovated after this date.

So to summarise:

• Interconnected smoke alarms are generally required if the property was built after 1 May 2014.
• Properties built before this date do not automatically require interconnected smoke alarms.
• The exception is where the property has undergone major renovations or additions that trigger current building requirements.

What Does ‘Interconnected’ Mean?

Interconnected alarms communicate with each other.

If one alarm activates, they all activate.

It’s that simple.

Interconnectedness is generally achieved in two ways:

• Interconnected with a direct cable connecting all alarms
• Interconnected with radio frequency like Bluetooth

When alarms are installed and require to be interconnected, we usually interconnect with Bluetooth, which is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to achieve compliance.

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