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.
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!"
Defect rectification and reporting
Australian Standard AS1851:2005 A2 provides for the first time a framework for defect reporting for fire protection systems and equipment that has not been previously defined.
The criteria for defect rectification and reporting appears in Section 1 - Scope & General, with specific criteria detailed in Clause 1.15.4 - Defect rectification and reporting.
When the Standard was originally written, the definition of both a 'Critical Defect' and 'Non-critical Defect' was omitted from the definitions found in the Standard. Subsequently in Amendment 1 and Amendment 2, the definitions or examples were established.
Essential Safety Measures Survey vs. Audit
Why is the discussion of an audit an issue?
AS1851-2005 uses the term 'Audit' in the foreword of the Standard, and is not used anywhere else within the document. This has caused confusion by building owners, agents, property and facility managers alike...
This article and presentation, will present with definitions and differences, similarities and relationship between a survey and an audit as described in each of the Australian Standards AS1851-2005 and AS4655-2005.
Demystifying Fire & Essential Safety Measures Compliance in Victoria
Over the last few days, I have been preparing a presentation on Essential Safety Measures Maintenance in Victoria. This presentation was created in response to a general misunderstanding regarding compliance and the obligations of building owners.
The presentation is available to view online. We also encourage you to pass this link on, so we can further educate the community on Essential Safety Measures Maintenance and Compliance in Victoria.
