6-Monthly Testing of Fire Detection & Alarm Systems

As a contributor to the development of this Standard (with a focus on this section) I think I am sufficiently qualified to shed light on the application of Section 6 in practical terms.

When we look at the tables in Section 6 of the Standard, we need to carefully read the table title and the content of the Table to understand how the table should be applied.

Note: There are additional tables in the Standard however this article in only concerned with Fire Detection & Alarm Systems.

In each case, the title of the table provides us with an indication about the content of the table, and what it relates to.
 

Often, we as fire contractors get ‘pinged’ by auditors over Table 6.4.1.3, that covers the 6-Monthly activities that relate to Special Hazard Systems.  When I say ‘pinged’ what I mean is that when our services are independently audited, we are issued with a breach of contract notice or defect.  Sometimes we find so-called specialist essential fire safety measures auditors or certifiers that require ‘paperwork’ such as a test record from a contractor to ‘certify’ that the six-monthly routine service activity has been completed.

The reality is that Table 6.4.1.3 relates specifically to Special Hazards Systems, and the items 2.1 to 2.9 of the table also relate specifically to components of special hazards systems including;

• Local Control Station
• Visual Warning Devices
• System Operation & Logic
• Actuators & Actuator Circuits

Each of these elements relates specifically to Special Hazard Systems only and cannot be found on a standard Fire Detection & Alarm System. So even if we did apply activities found in Table 6.4.1.3, we couldn’t because they don’t exist in a standard Fire Detection & Alarm System.

So for the sake of clarity and the avoidance of any doubt, there is only a requirement for conducting the 6-monthly maintenance activities of a fire detection and alarm system when it is used as a part of a special hazards system, and that system incorporates some or all of the components in the bullet list above. Simple!

If you remain confused, feel free to give our office a telephone call on 1300 30 88 22 or drop me a message and I will do my best to answer any residual questions you may have.

Russ