AS 1851 Compliance
The Australian Standard for routine service of fire protection systems and equipment. Your complete guide to understanding testing requirements, frequencies, and legal obligations in Western Australia.
What is AS 1851?
AS 1851 is the Australian Standard that sets out the requirements for the routine service of fire protection systems and equipment. The current version, AS 1851, provides a nationally consistent framework for inspecting, testing, and maintaining all types of fire protection equipment installed in buildings and facilities.
The standard covers every category of fire protection equipment — from detection and alarm systems through to sprinklers, hydrants, extinguishers, emergency lighting, passive fire systems, and smoke control. It defines precise inspection frequencies, testing methodologies, acceptance criteria, and reporting requirements for each equipment type.
AS 1851 is referenced by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and is the benchmark used by fire authorities, insurers, and building regulators across Australia. Compliance with AS 1851 is not optional — it is a legal requirement for building owners and is essential for maintaining the operational readiness of life-safety systems.
Who Needs to Comply?
Under the WA Building Act 2011 and the Building Code of Australia, the responsibility for maintaining fire protection systems in compliance with AS 1851 falls on the building owner or occupier. This applies to a wide range of stakeholders:
Building Owners
Primary legal responsibility for fire system maintenance and compliance. Owners must ensure all essential safety measures are maintained to the required standard.
Body Corporates & Strata
Strata-managed properties must maintain common fire protection infrastructure. The body corporate holds compliance responsibility for shared systems.
Property & Facility Managers
Often delegated the day-to-day management of fire safety compliance on behalf of building owners. Must engage qualified service providers.
Government Buildings
State and local government buildings carry the same compliance obligations. Government asset managers must maintain all fire protection to AS 1851.
Important: Failure to maintain fire protection systems in accordance with AS 1851 can result in enforcement action from the local building surveyor, potential insurance claim rejection, and personal liability in the event of a fire incident. WorkSafe WA can also issue improvement or prohibition notices, and non-compliance under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) can lead to significant fines and criminal charges. Annual essential safety measure reports are required under the Building Regulations 2012 (WA).
Testing Frequencies Under AS 1851
AS 1851 specifies testing intervals ranging from monthly inspections through to 25-yearly assessments. Each frequency level involves progressively more detailed inspection and testing procedures. Below is an overview of what each interval covers.
Monthly
Visual inspections, indicator panel checks, fire pump run tests, and basic functional verification of detection systems.
- •Fire detection & alarm panels
- •Sprinkler system gauges & valves
- •Fire pumpsets
Quarterly
Quarterly testing applies specifically to sliding fire doors, which require functional verification every three months to ensure reliable operation.
- •Sliding fire doors
6-Monthly
Thorough inspection and testing of most fire protection equipment. Includes hose reel flow tests, hydrant inspections, and extinguisher checks.
- •Fire hose reels
- •Fire hydrants
- •Portable fire extinguishers
- •Emergency & exit lighting
- •Passive fire doors
Annual
Comprehensive testing of all fire protection systems. Full functional testing, calibration checks, and detailed condition assessments.
- •All fire detection & alarm systems
- •Sprinkler systems (full flow test)
- •Hydrant systems
- •Special hazard systems
- •Evacuation drills
2-Yearly
Extended interval testing for specific equipment types that require less frequent but more detailed assessment.
- •Fire blankets
- •Selected passive fire systems
- •Specific valve assemblies
5-Yearly
Major service and overhaul inspections. Includes pressure testing, internal inspections of tanks and pipework, and component replacement.
- •Sprinkler system internal pipework
- •Fire pumpset major service
- •Hydrant & hose reel pressure testing
- •Water storage tanks
- •Special hazard systems
10-Yearly
Long-term integrity assessments including hydrostatic testing of extinguishers, major pipework inspections, and system overhauls.
- •Fire extinguisher hydrostatic testing
- •Sprinkler head sampling & testing
- •Water storage tank internals
- •Special hazard cylinder testing
25-Yearly
End-of-life assessments and full system replacements. Sprinkler heads are sampled and laboratory tested to verify ongoing performance.
- •Sprinkler head replacement program
- •Full sprinkler system review
- •Major pipework assessment
Equipment Categories
AS 1851 organises fire protection equipment into distinct sections, each with its own inspection and testing requirements. Here is what the standard covers for each major equipment category.
Fire Detection & Alarm Systems
AS 1851 Section 8
Smoke detectors, heat detectors, beam detectors, alarm panels, zone indicator panels, and emergency warning intercommunication systems (EWIS). AS 1851 requires monthly panel checks, quarterly detector sampling, and annual full-system functional testing.
Sprinkler Systems
AS 1851 Section 3
Wet pipe, dry pipe, pre-action, and deluge sprinkler systems including all valves, gauges, and pipework. Testing ranges from monthly gauge readings through to 25-yearly sprinkler head sampling and replacement programs.
Hydrants & Hose Reels
AS 1851 Sections 4 & 6
Fire hydrant systems including boosters, landing valves, and hose reels. Six-monthly inspections cover flow testing and physical condition, while five-yearly testing includes full pressure verification.
Fire Extinguishers
AS 1851 Section 10
All portable and wheeled fire extinguishers including water, foam, dry chemical, CO2, and wet chemical types. Six-monthly inspections and pressure checks, with hydrostatic testing at manufacturer-specified intervals.
Emergency & Exit Lighting
AS2194
Emergency luminaires, exit signs, and central battery systems. Six-monthly inspections verify illumination levels and battery discharge capacity. Annual testing includes full 90-minute duration discharge tests.
Fire & Smoke Doors
AS 1851 Section 11
Fire-rated doors, smoke doors, and associated hardware including closers, seals, and hold-open devices. Six-monthly inspections check operation, latching, self-closing function, and integrity of seals and gaps.
Smoke Control Systems
AS 1851 Section 5
Mechanical smoke exhaust, stairwell pressurisation, and zone smoke control systems. Testing verifies airflow rates, damper operation, fan activation sequences, and integration with the fire detection system.
Fire Pumpsets
AS 1851 Section 3
Electric and diesel fire pump sets including jockey pumps, suction and delivery pipework, and associated controls. Monthly run tests, annual full-flow performance testing, and five-yearly major service overhauls.
How EFS Ensures Your Compliance
Essential Fire Services takes a technology-driven approach to AS 1851 compliance. With over 20 years of experience servicing fire protection systems across Perth, we have built systems and processes that make compliance straightforward and transparent for building owners and managers.
Digital Reporting
All inspection and testing data is captured digitally in the field. Reports are generated automatically, ensuring accuracy and fast turnaround.
QR-Coded Assets
Every fire protection asset is tagged with a unique QR code, enabling instant identification, full service history lookup, and elimination of missed equipment.
Client Portal Access
Our Client Portal gives you 24/7 access to compliance status, inspection reports, defect tracking, and upcoming service schedules for all your sites.
Simplified Reports
Our reports are designed to be clear and actionable. Issues are highlighted with priority ratings so you can address critical defects first.
Full Testing Schedule
For a detailed breakdown of every equipment type and its testing frequency under AS 1851, visit our Testing Schedule page. It includes a comprehensive table showing monthly through to 25-yearly requirements for all fire protection system types.
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