AS1851
Australian Standard AS1851:2005, Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment was overhauled an published in September 2005. According to one consultant - This standard aims to link the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance aspects of fire equipment to improve system reliability.
This Standard sets out requirements for the inspection, test, preventive maintenance and survey (ITM&S) of fire protection systems and equipment.
The objective of this Standard is to maximize the reliability of fire protection systems and equipment such that the systems and equipment meet the requirements of the relevant design, installation and commissioning Standards and are likely to continue to do so until the next scheduled activity.
This Standard is intended to provide a systematic and uniform basis for building owners and managers, regulators, contractors, insurers and others to implement and administer inspection, test, preventive maintenance and survey programs applicable to fire protection systems and equipment.
AS1851:2012 - Monthly Sprinkler Testing
Earlier this evening, I intercepted this email between one of our customers (James) and one of my colleagues (Dennis) on the Subject of AS1851:2012 - Monthly Sprinkler Testing. The email was in response to the publication of Australian Standard AS1851:2012 that was published on December 3, 2012.
Australian Standard AS1851:2012 - Published
Australian Standard AS1851:2012 is a completely new edition of the Standard, published on December 3, 2012.
This new edition has been under review for over three years and has received input from a wide range of contributors including Australian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC), Department of Defence, Department of Human Services (Vic), Fire Protection Association Australia, Engineers Australia, Property Council and representatives from Standards Australia Technical Committees.
The Standard also has a new title, changing from "Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment" to "Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment".
Contaminated (dirty) Smoke Detectors
By its very design a smoke detector is intended to detect the presence of contamination from airborne particles, typically smoke.
Unfortunately there are a great deal of other particles that when built up over time can adversely affect the performance of a smoke detector.
This adverse affect can be reflected in two ways;
VESDA Smoke Detector Maintenance
A VESDA is a brand of aspirating smoke detector designed and manufactured by Xtralis. From a maintenance perspective, an aspirating smoke detector (also known as an ASD) needs to be maintained differently than the common point type smoke detector.
While this article specifically considers the VESDA, there are other brands of aspirating smoke detector available that these general principes apply.
Fire Detector Maintenance - Even kids can identify a problem!
Earlier today, my 11 year old daughter sent me an email with an attached photograph.
The photograph was of a smoke detector she observed in a private medical clinic that she described as "Yucky!"
