Fire Safety Protection and Compliance in Commercial Establishments for Occupants’ Peace of Mind

All establishments, whether residential or commercial, must abide with all safety protocol to ensure the protection of its occupants. However, these safety protocols have certain specifications to better accommodate the needs of the establishment. This article will focus on the fire safety protection and compliance in commercial establishments for occupants’ peace of mind.

Australian Standards 1851

Australian Standards 1851, shortly known as AS 1851 is a set of rules and regulations that ensure building owners are compliant in meeting the safety standards imposed on fire protection systems. These rules and regulations help to ensure all state and Occupational Health and Safety rules are met so the building owner can be sure they are in compliance with all applicable laws.

Coverage of AS 1851

AS 1851 sets the standards for all inspectors, contractors, regulators and business owners in testing, surveying and performing maintenance on fire protection systems. With these guidelines, business owners can be sure their fire safety equipment meets the state standards for installation and design of the system. With a yearly test and survey, the equipment can be properly checked to ensure it performs as it should.

Maintenance Requirements

These regulations pertain to not only the amount and type of fire safety equipment available but also to maintenance and replacement of equipment in order to assure reliability and effectiveness. All business owners are required to comply with these standards under penalty of law. Business owners must assure an adequate number of fire extinguishers and safety equipment is available as well as reliable escape routes should certain exits be blocked. Though some states enforce a slightly different standard it is widely believed that AS1851 and its new additions will soon be accepted as a national standard soon.

Fire Protection Equipment

There is a wide range of fire protection equipment used in a single building to maintain fire safety standards. Hose reels, hydrants, extinguishers, fire doors, smoke and gas vents, smoke alarms, monitoring systems, and sprinklers are just part of the list of equipment used in a typical commercial building. Each and every one of these items must be inspected in order to assure compliance with AS1851. It’s important to read the fine print on AS1851-2012 to make sure compliance is absolute or there could be some hefty fines to deal with. Hopefully, there is never a need for fire blankets and extinguishers to be used but if there is a need it’s important to know that everyone has the equipment they need to make a hasty yet safe escape.

Frequency Standards

The main goal of the AS 1851 maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment is to review the basics and standards of frequency. This specifically states when and how standards should be met. It covers all the details, including water storage, electric and diesel pumps, and alarm systems. Specifically, electric and diesel pumps are reviewed every 30 days. The fire hydrant system is complex and review standards dictate a review once every six months.

The alarm system needs to be reviewed once every 30 days as well. The text breaks this down further by stating that emergency warning alarms are to be reviewed every month. Smoke and heat alarms only require an inspection every six months.

In order to better comply with the fire safety protection and compliance, consult Key Compliance. We will ensure that your commercial property is completely compliant with all NSW fire safety regulations.