Fire Safety Equipment Guide For Buildings And Business

Fire safety equipment in buildings and business must be capable of operating to performance standards, as set by the National Construction Code and Australian Standards, to be suitably effective in a fire. These codes and standards determine the type and numbers of fire safety equipment required for compliance.  They also provide the requirements for regular maintenance testing and recording to ensure that the fire safety equipment continue to provide appropriate safety standards for building occupants.

You Must Comply With The Queensland Development Code (QDC) MP 6.1

If you’re a building owner or occupier, you must know if your building has fire safety equipment installed and your obligations to maintain them.

If you do have a prescribed fire safety installation in your building, you must comply with the MP 6.1.

The Queensland Development Code (QDC) MP 6.1 – Commissioning and maintenance of fire safety installations outlines clear standards for maintaining fire safety equipment. The purpose of the Queensland Development Code (QDC) MP 6.1 is to ensure the safe occupation of buildings by setting appropriate performance standards for the maintenance of the required fire safety equipment and the keeping of appropriate records that show the correct installation and maintenance.

You Must Comply With The Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008

The Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 states that:

• A person carrying out maintenance of a prescribed fire safety installation must carry out the maintenance in compliance with this MP 6.1.
• The occupier of a building must make sure that maintenance of a prescribed fire safety installation for the building is carried out by an appropriately qualified person.
• A person is an appropriately qualified person for carrying out maintenance of a prescribed fire safety installation if they are licensed to do the work, for example by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).

The Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 sets out the penalties for non-compliance with the code.

Fire Safety Equipment Legislation

The following legislation is applicable to your fire safety equipment requirements

• Building Act 1975
• National Construction Code (including Building Code of Australia and Plumbing Code of Australia)
• Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008
• Building Regulation 2006
• Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990
• Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991
• Queensland Development Code (QDC)
• Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009

Fire Safety Equipment Types

Here is a list of fire safety equipment types used in buildings and business

• Air handling systems
• Emergency lifts
• Emergency lighting
• Emergency power supply
• Emergency warning and intercommunication systems5
• Exit signs
• Fire detection and alarm systems
• Fire doorsets
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire hose reels
• Fire hydrants (including boosters)
• Fire mains
• Fire shutters
• Other features6 (provide details)
• Smoke and heat venting systems
• Smoke doorsets
• Smoke exhaust systems
• Solid core doors
• Special automatic fire suppression systems
• Sprinklers
• Stairwell pressurisation systems