1 January
2027
Queensland law is changing. If you own your home, you have a legal deadline to meet — and the clock is ticking.
JMD Electrical inspects and installs compliant photoelectric smoke alarms across Holland Park, Greenslopes, Coorparoo, Camp Hill, and surrounds. Licensed electrician. Local team. Book today — before the deadline rush hits!
QEENSLAND SMOKE ALARM LEGISLATION
⚠ Industry experience from the 2022 rental deadline: installers were booked out weeks in advance. Don't leave it until December 2026.
THE LEGISLATION
What Queensland law actually requires
From 1 January 2027, all owner-occupied dwellings in Queensland — houses, townhouses, and units — must have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms meeting these requirements. This is the final stage of QLD's smoke alarm reform, which began after the 2011 Slacks Creek house fire that tragically claimed 11 lives.
Every bedroom. Every hallway connecting bedrooms to the rest of the home. On every storey — including levels with no bedrooms.
INSTALLED WHERE
Alarms must use photoelectric sensing technology (marked AS 3786:2014). Ionisation alarms are no longer compliant — even if they still work.
PHOTOELECTRIC
When one alarm detects smoke, every alarm in the home must sound simultaneously. This can be achieved by hardwiring or wireless RF interconnection.
INTERCONNECTED
240V hardwired (with battery backup) or a sealed non-removable 10-year lithium battery. Standard 9V replaceable batteries are no longer compliant.
POWER SOURCE
Even alarms that still operate must be replaced if they are more than 10 years old. Age is counted from the manufacture date printed on the unit.
LESS THAN 10-YRS OLD
Max. fine of $7,732. Non-compliance may also void your home insurance cover if a fire occurs. The cost of upgrading is a fraction of the financial risk.
NON-COMPLIANCE
70+
5-star Google reviews
Our happy customers are local homeowners, property managers, builders and small commercial businesses. Read their reviews before you call.
Holland Park
Based and surrounds
We know the housing stock in this area — Queenslanders, post-war brick, 90s builds. We know where the common compliance gaps are.
15+
Years in business
Small family operated team since 2010. Our friendly staff demonstrate our company values and are customer service focussed.
Master Electrician
Master Electricians Australia
Be assured that your installations meet QLD legislative and regulatory requirements. Keeping you and your property safe.
QUICK CHECK
Is your home already compliant?
Most Brisbane homes built before 2017, which have not been sold or extensively renovated since, are not yet compliant.
Check the six points below — if any are a no, call us for an inspection.
Check the face of each alarm for "AS 3786" marking. If it says ionisation or has no marking, it's non-compliant.
1. PHOTOELECTRIC ALARMS
There must be at least one alarm in every bedroom, regardless of whether anyone currently sleeps there.
2. IN EVERY BEDROOM
Every hallway that connects bedrooms to the rest of the home must have an alarm. If no hallway, install between bedrooms and other areas.
3. IN HALLWAYS CONNECTING BEDROOMS
Multi-storey homes need alarms on every level — including levels without bedrooms. One alarm per storey minimum.
4. ON EVERY STOREY
Check the manufacture date printed on each unit. Even functional alarms over 10 years old must be replaced.
5. LESS THAN 10-YRS OLD
Trigger one alarm — do all others in the home sound immediately? If not, they're not interconnected. Standalone alarms don't comply.
6. ALL INTERCONNECTED
WHAT JMD OFFERS
Three options to get your property compliant
Whether you think your property already complies but you need a compliance certificate, you want an obligation FREE quote or you want peace of mind that your property is 100% compliant before the 01 January 2027 deadline, we've got an option to suit your needs, and brands to suit all budgets. If you're not sure, give us a call today!
SERVICE 01
Compliance Assessment / Inspection
Are you selling your property and need to provide a certificate of compliance? Or do you just want to ensure compliance? Book a compliance inspection today.
Includes:
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Testing of existing smoke alarms
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Battery change, if required
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Cleaning of alarms
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Verifying compliance with QLD legislation
-
Quote with recommendations, if required.
-
A compliance certificate, if compliant.
* This service does not include the supply or installation of alarms.
SERVICE 02
Verbal Assessment /
Obligation FREE Quote
Want to know exactly what you need and how much it will cost? We offer a selection of reliable alarms to suit all properties and budgets.
Includes:
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Over the phone assessment of existing alarms & property specifications
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Detailed information on the brand of alarms, functionality and price range
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Written quote based on the information provided.
* Photos or a site visit may be required, depending on the complexity of the job,
SERVICE 03
Full Package - Assessment,
Supply & Installation
This is our most popular option. We inspect, quote the full scope of work, and complete the install in one or two visits. You walk away with a fully compliant home, a compliance certificate, and peace of mind before the 2027 deadline.
Includes:
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Site Inspection or Verbal Assessment of current compliance status.
-
Obligation FREE Written Quote
-
Supply & Installation of compliant smoke alarms to suit your needs & budget
-
Compliance certificate upon completion.
WHY JMD ELECTRICAL
We're committed to our 5-star customer satisfaction guarantee
At JMD Electrical, our customer's satisfaction is our top priority, every time and we endeavour to provide you with a service you would happily refer family and friends.
If you're not 100% satisfied that we've met our 5-start customer satisfaction guarantee, we want to know so we can rectify any issues and continually improve our service to our loyal and valued customers.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Customer
Satisfaction Guarantee
As a small family operated business providing electrical services to local customers for over 15+ years; over 50% of our business is from returning customers, who value our honest and timely communication, reliability, quality workmanship, fair pricing and the trust and respect we show to all of our customers.
⭐ HONEST & TIMELY COMMUNICATION
⭐ RELIABILITY
⭐ QUALITY WORKMANSHIP
⭐ FAIR PRICING
⭐ TRUSTFUL & RESPECTFUL OF YOU AND YOUR HOME
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"Jody installed fire alarms and replaced an outside light. The booking process was easy - left message on website and received a return call promptly, detailed the job to be done and then later that day received a call from Jody with more specifics about the job including a rough price. Jody arrived right at the beginning of the time window and did a great job. JMD provided the fire alarms and a quick read on the internet shows they are industry best practice so I was grateful for no shortcuts. He also came up with a clever work around for one part of the job that couldn't be done (due to the nature of the old houseO) and I'll get him back for that down the track. All in all a good experience and would highly recommend JMD Electrical. Thanks for taking on the job."
— deborah m
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
JMD Electrical have been doing all our electrical work at our residence, my office building and our body corporate complex for many years. Jody impresses us with his timely responses to all work engagements and his advice is always on point. very reliable, there when he commits to and goes well and above all other trades we have engaged. highly recommended, very professional and fantastic to work with.
— Michael S
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"I couldn’t be happier with the service from JMD Electrical. From start to finish, everything was handled professionally and efficiently. They were prompt, easy to communicate with, and clearly take pride in their work. The quality of the job was outstanding, with great attention to detail and a high standard throughout. It’s rare to find a team that delivers on every front, but JMD Electrical absolutely did — 5 stars for service, quality, reliability, and overall experience. Highly recommend."
— JAMES L
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"Jody installed 3 ceiling fans and fixed a previously unknown electrical fault. Highly recommended, was on time, friendly and professional. If only all trades people were like this! Highly recommended!!"
— JARLN
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"Great guys who came and did an excellent job. They turned up on time.
They were very communicative and did the job very efficiently.
Would definitely recommend and rehire."
— ANGELA Z
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"JMD Electrical was fast and efficient. Got back to me quickly and answered any questions I had in a way I could understand and walked me through what I had to do before they got here. A year after they installed my cooktop I had enquired about a part for it and they got back to me that same night to give me the information I needed and help source the part required. Highly recommend! 5 stars for professionalism, fast service, knowledge and clarity."
— kara e
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"Jody and the team were fantastic to deal with from start to finish. Communication was excellent, they arrived on time, and their attention to detail was second to none. You can tell they take real pride in their work. Highly recommend!"
— benjamine k
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"Jody has been my electrician for around 15 years and has always looked after me whenever I have needed something done quickly. He has gone above and beyond to help. He is efficient and well priced and always leaves the house as he found it. Amazing service and highly recommend."
— PETREA A
MEET THE JMD ELECTRICAL TEAM
At JMD we're not just a team, we're a family
Founded by Jody Dorahy in 2010, JMD Electrical began as a one-man operation built on exceptional service, fair pricing and quality workmanship. Loyal customers and word-of-mouth referrals soon transformed JMD into the thriving family business it is today.
Sergio joined JMD as a first-year apprentice in 2019 and quickly became Jody’s right-hand man. Now a qualified electrician, he supervises Jody’s eldest son, Joe, who commenced as a school-based apprentice earlier this year.
Noah has also joined the team, hitting the ground running and never backing away from a challenge. Jody’s brother, Pete, supports the team as a subcontractor, bringing strong mentorship and a genuine commitment to health and safety.
Behind the scenes, Jody’s wife, Martina, works alongside Marg, our bookkeeper, and Amy, our virtual assistant. Collectively, they keep the jobs running smoothly, the team working safely and everyone gets paid on time!
Together, they are the JMD family.
Jody Dorahy
Director
Sergio Corta
Electrician/ Supervisor
Noah Monteith
Electrician
Pete Dorahy
Electrical Contractor - Safety
Joe Dorahy
Electrical Apprentice
Martina Dorahy
Office Manager
Marg Williams
Bookkeeper
Amy Fryer
VA - Job Management Administrator
Jody Dorahy
Director
Sergio Corta
Electrician/ Supervisor
Noah Monteith
Electrician
Pete Dorahy
Electrical Contractor - Safety
Joe Dorahy
Electrical Apprentice
Martina Dorahy
Office Manager
Marg Williams
Bookkeeper
Amy Fryer
VA - Job Management Administrator
SERVICE AREAS
Servicing Holland Park and surrounds for over 15-years
We service residential and commercial properties within approximately 5km of Holland Park and roughly 10km over Brisbane's south-side. If your suburb isn't listed, call us — we frequently travel further for the right job.
Holland Park
Holland Park West
MacGregor
Greenslopes
Buranda
Stones Corner
Mount Gravatt
Mount Gravatt East
Upper Mount Gravatt
Mansfield
Wishart
Rochedale
Annerley
Fairfield
Yeronga
Camp Hill
Carindale
Coorparoo
Morningside
Norman Park
East Brisbane
Hawthorne
Bulimba
Balmoral
South Brisbane
West End
Highgate Hill
Wynnum
Manly
Gumdale
FAQs
Smoke alarm compliance - your questions answered simply
Still got questions? No worries. Check out our FAQs below or give us a call today!
Yes. From 1 January 2027, every owner-occupied dwelling in Queensland — houses, townhouses, and units — must have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. Rental properties already had this requirement since 1 January 2022. If you own and live in your home and haven't upgraded since 2017, the 2027 deadline applies to you.
There are several reasons existing alarms may not meet the 2027 standard: they may be ionisation type rather than photoelectric; they may not be interconnected (standalone alarms don't comply); they may be over 10 years old; or they may not be in every required location (every bedroom, every hallway connecting bedrooms, every storey). An inspection quickly identifies any gaps.
Battery-operated alarms can legally be self-installed. However, hardwired smoke alarms — and any replacement of existing hardwired alarms — must be installed by a licensed electrical contractor under Queensland's Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, and require a Certificate of Testing and Compliance. Existing hardwired 240v smoke alarms must be replaced like for like - meaning; you cannot replace a 240v smoke alarm with a battery-only smoke alarm.
Yes, penalties for non-compliance can include significant fines and risk of voiding your home insurance.
At a minimum: one in every bedroom, one in every hallway that connects bedrooms to the rest of the home, and one on every storey (including levels without bedrooms). A typical 3-bedroom, single-storey home with one hallway would need 4 alarms. A two-storey home with bedrooms on both levels will need more. We assess your specific layout during the inspection and give you an exact scope and price.
Both hardwired and wireless radio-frequency (RF) interconnection are acceptable under Queensland legislation, provided all alarms sound simultaneously when one is triggered. Wireless interconnection is often more practical for retrofit situations in existing homes where running additional wiring through finished ceilings would be disruptive and expensive.
Based on current information, there are no planned extensions to the 1 January 2027 deadline. The reform has already been phased in over a decade since 2017. The Queensland government and industry bodies consistently advise homeowners to plan on the basis that the deadline is firm. Waiting for an extension that may not come is a significant risk.
Visual Smoke Alarm Inspection & Quote FREE
For homeowners wanting to determine if their property is compliant with the new legislation, or if they require an upgrade, our visual inspection includes:
Visual inspection of all smoke alarms at the property
FREE quote with recommendations, if an upgrade is required
* This service is a visual inspection only and does not include testing, certification or installation of alarms.
All bookings made before 30 June 2025 are eligible to receive our full Electrical Safety Inspection & Safety Switch Test (worth over $250) for just $189, including FREE Quote with recommendations, if required. Refer below for more information
Smoke Alarm Compliance Inspection & Quote $129
For homeowners wanting a smoke alarm service and testing of alarms to ensure they comply (including for pre-sale properties), and what they require if they are deemed noncompliant, our compliance inspection includes:
-
Testing of all existing smoke alarms
-
Battery change, if required
-
Cleaning of alarms
-
Verifying compliance with Queensland legislation
-
A compliance certificate or quote with recommendations, if an upgrade is required
* This service is an inspection, testing, cleaning, battery change & certification (if compliant) only and does not include the installation of alarms.
Smoke Alarm Supply, Installation & Compliance $149-$219 per alarm installed
For homeowners requiring an upgrade, to ensure compliance, to interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms, our package includes:
Installation of our interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm/s
Verifying compliance with Queensland legislation
A compliance certificate
* This service includes the supply and installation of alarms to ensure compliance. Brooks are our premium preferred alarms. Prices may vary depending on the number and type of alarms required.
Annual Smoke Alarm Service $129 per year (up to 5 alarms)
For homeowners wanting peace of mind all year round, our annual service includes:
Testing of all existing smoke alarms
Battery change, if required
Cleaning of alarms
Verifying compliance with Queensland legislation
A compliance certificate or quote with recommendations, if an upgrade is required
* This service is an inspection, testing, cleaning, battery change & certification (if compliant) only and does not include the installation of alarms. Any additional alarms required (above 5 included) will incur an additional $135 per alarm installed.
Eligible Upgrade $189
Electrical Safety Inspection
BOOK BEFORE 30 JUNE 2025 and you can upgrade your inspection to include a full Safety Inspection & Safety Switch Test (worth over $250) for just $189.
$189 Electrical Safety Inspection includes:
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Visual inspection of power points, light switches, and fittings
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Testing of safety switches (RCDs) to confirm they trip correctly
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Check for exposed wiring or outdated cabling
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Inspection of the switchboard for compliance and potential hazards
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Earthing system verification
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Detailed quote outlining any areas of concern and recommended actions, if required
* This Electrical Safety Inspection for $189 is only available for customers who book a FREE Visual Smoke Alarm Inspection before 30 June 2025. Prices are GST exclusive.