This article discusses monthly fire panel inspection requirements in strata and explains why AS1851 supports monthly testing to meet fire safety obligations.
Question: Our strata building had fire panel inspections twice a year, however, recently the company is conducting and charging for monthly inspections. Are monthly fire panel inspections really necessary?
Answer: Australian Standard AS1851-2012 requires all fire panels to be tested monthly.
Australian Standard AS1851-2012 requires all fire panels to be tested monthly. While AS1851 is not directly legislated in NSW, the owners are always obligated under legislation to maintain their essential services (fire systems).
AS1851 is the only code for maintenance of fire systems, so the owners would be taking a substantial risk in not following the Australian Standard related to their legislated obligations.
Also, if that’s not adequate to explain, the direct legislating of AS1851-2012 was a key component of the Fire Safety Report assembled by the NSW Govt last year.
This post appears in Strata News #620.
Rob Broadhead 2020 Fire Protection E: rob.broadhead@2020fire.com.au P: 1300 340 210