If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of Aussies who love hitting the open road in your caravan or motorhome, there’s a crucial new rule on the horizon you simply can’t afford to ignore—especially if you’re planning a trip to sunny Queensland.

Whether you’re a seasoned grey nomad, a weekend wanderer, or even living full-time in your van, these changes could mean the difference between life and death.

Caravan and motorhome owners are being urged to make a potentially life-saving update ahead of new regulations set to take effect in Queensland.

Starting in 2027, all caravans and motorhomes in the state will be required to have a working photoelectric smoke alarm installed on the ceiling, bringing Queensland in line with smoke alarm laws already in place in other parts of Australia.

The rule currently applies only to newly registered vehicles but will soon cover all.

With over 900,000 caravans and motorhomes registered across the country, mobile homes are playing an increasingly vital role—not just for holidays but also for full-time living, particularly amid Australia’s ongoing housing shortage.

Queensland will require all caravans and motorhomes to be fitted with a working photoelectric smoke alarm from 2027, following similar rules in other states like NSW and Victoria. Image source: Stephen Widua / Unsplash. Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.

In recent months, a string of serious caravan fires has renewed focus on fire safety.

Jason Plant, CEO of the Caravan Trade and Industry Association of Queensland, told Yahoo News the expanded regulation is ‘a welcome and responsible move’.

He said the longer timeline for the rule’s full implementation is about ‘allowing owners, manufacturers, and retailers sufficient time to adapt, retrofit, and educate consumers’.

‘It also ensures supply chains can meet demand, particularly for alarms designed to withstand the unique conditions of on-the-road conditions, such as vibration and temperature fluctuations,’ he added.

Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, along with the state’s Housing Department, has recently stepped up efforts to raise awareness about the upcoming change, encouraging people to act sooner rather than later. ‘Don’t wait for the law – or a fire – to catch up,’ one reminder on social media read.

Rules vary by state, but trend points to tougher safety standards​

New South Wales already requires smoke alarms in caravans and campervans anywhere people sleep.

‘NSW legislation stipulates that you must have at least one working smoke alarm inside the van where the bed is, and one in the annex if people are sleeping there,’ Fire and Rescue NSW states.

‘Caravans and campervans have limited escape options in the event of a fire. You have just a few seconds to get out of a burning caravan, as they are constructed of lightweight and highly combustible fittings. A working smoke alarm can mean the difference between life and death.’

Source: 7NEWS Australia / Youtube.​

Victoria, where the majority of domestic caravans are manufactured, introduced a similar requirement in July last year, prompting many new builds to now come equipped with smoke alarms as standard.

While states like Western Australia and Tasmania haven’t yet followed suit, Jason said the direction is clear: ‘The national trend toward stronger safety standards is clear.’

‘It’s likely that smoke alarms will become a default feature in caravans across Australia. Over time, consumer expectations and manufacturer practices will help close the gap, even in states without formal mandates,’ he added.

Retrofitting older caravans is easy, experts say​

For those with older models, Jason said retrofitting a photoelectric smoke alarm is typically simple. ‘They don’t usually require hardwiring and are available at specialist caravan retailers and even some hardware stores,’ he noted. Alternatively, many caravan service centres ‘offer retrofitting as part of broader safety upgrade services’.

‘The industry has also seen strong uptake of caravan-specific alarms featuring hush buttons and 10-year non-removable batteries, products that meet both regulatory requirements and the practical needs of mobile living,’ he said.

While a smoke alarm may not always save the caravan, it could very well save lives. In one March incident, a $175,000 caravan in South Australia was destroyed after lithium-ion batteries inside caught fire.

According to the Country Fire Service, the occupants noticed smoke ‘coming out of the batteries’ and managed to escape safely, though the caravan could not be saved.

That same month, a young couple lost their caravan after hearing their smoke alarm go off while they were driving. Last year, a family told Yahoo News they felt lucky to survive when their van went up in flames in Victoria, with a diesel heater suspected as the cause.

Read more: New rules may impact home options in this state. Is this the solution to the housing crisis?

Key Takeaways

• Queensland will require all caravans and motorhomes to be fitted with a working photoelectric smoke alarm from 2027, following similar rules in other states like NSW and Victoria.
• The push for mandatory smoke alarms comes after a rise in caravan fires and increased numbers of Aussies using caravans and motorhomes for travel and permanent housing during the national housing shortage.
• Retrofitting photoelectric smoke alarms in older caravans is generally simple, with alarms available at caravan retailers and hardware stores, and can also be professionally installed as part of broader safety upgrades.
• Although Western Australia and Tasmania haven't mandated smoke alarms in caravans, there's a clear national trend towards stronger safety standards, and it's expected that smoke alarms will soon become standard in all Aussie caravans.

Are you ready for the new rules? Have you had a close call on the road, or do you have tips for keeping safe in your caravan? We’d love to hear your stories, advice, or questions in the comments below!

 

[Wandiwa]

One thing that surprises me is that caravans only have 1 exit point and often the cooking device is right next to the doorway. In heavy industry, if your workspace has only 1 exit a confined space permit is reqd, and a lot of safety precautions become mandatory.