- Critical Defect
Referenced initially in Australian Standard AS 1851:2005 and later in Australian Standard AS/NZS AS 2293.2 critical defect is a form of defect or fault that renders a system inoperative or is likely to render the system inoperative placing a one or more people at significant risk (death or injury) or an asset (or building) at significant risk (loss or damage) of from fire or related emergency.
Australian Standard AS 1851 introduced the terms non-conformance, non-critical defect and critical defect in the 2012 edition of the Standard. The definition was accompanied by a flowchart (Figure 1.5.6 - Routine Service Activity Failure) to illustrate the difference between each of these terms.
Australian Standards
Both Australian Standard AS 1851 and AS2293 incluide very similar references to the definition of a Critical Defect. The difefrences lie in the associated note that provides context, specifically related to the corresponding Australian Standard.
| AS 1851:2005 (A2) - DEPRICATED | AS 1851:2012 (A1) | AS/NZS 2293.2:2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5.3 Critical defect A defect that renders a system inoperative. | 1.5.6.1 Critical defect NOTE: Examples of critical defects include an impaired water supply which is unable to provide water to a sprinkler system or an inoperative fire indicator panel which is unable to warn the building occupants of fire. | 1.4.5.1 Critical defect NOTE: A critical defect is likely to affect an entire system and is reasonably likely to have a significant adverse impact upon the safety of occupants of part, or all, of a building. Examples include, in a central battery system the failure of the battery or failure to sense loss of supply, a non-operational exit sign where it is the only available sign in a space, an impaired emergency luminaire, which is unable to provide sufficient light to an important aspect of a lighting system, i.e. at stairs, a change in floor level or direction. |
Queensland
In Queensland, the term "critical defect" is defined in the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 to provide additional clarity as follows;
BUILDING FIRE SAFETY REGULATION 2008 - REG 49
Meaning of critical defect
A defect in a prescribed fire safety installation for a building is a "critical defect" if—
(a) the defect is likely to render the installation inoperable; and
(b) the defect is reasonably likely to have a significant adverse impact on the safety of occupants of part or all of the building if a fire or hazardous materials emergency happens.
Examples of critical defects—
- a defect making a fire detection and alarm system inoperable
- a defect in a pump making the fire hydrants for a building inoperable
Example of a defect that is not a critical defect—
a defect that makes inoperable only 1 of several standard fire extinguishers in a part of a building