- Critical Defect
Referenced initially in Australian Standard AS 1851:2012 a critical defect is a form of defect or fault that renders a system or item of equipment inoperative or is likely to render the system or item of equipment 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.
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