Fire safety servicing in Melbourne
Routine inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection equipment in commercial premises: portable extinguishers, fire blankets, exit and emergency lighting, hose reels, and alarm and detection systems.
Routine service is governed by AS 1851, which defines what is checked and how often for each type of equipment. Emergency and exit lighting has its own regime under AS/NZS 2293, including the six-monthly discharge test that proves the fittings actually run for their rated duration on battery.
The scope of the work
- Fire safety equipment testing
- Emergency lighting inspection
- Exit sign maintenance
- Fire extinguisher servicing
- Compliance reporting
- Fire alarm testing
- Evacuation system checks
- Safety equipment maintenance
- Fire safety audits
- Emergency planning
Compliance, in plain terms
- AS 1851
- Routine service of fire protection systems
- Defines the inspection and test regime, and the records to keep.
- AS/NZS 2293
- Emergency escape lighting and exit signs
- Includes the six-monthly discharge test of emergency fittings.
- AS 2444
- Portable fire extinguishers
- Selection, placement and signage of extinguishers and blankets.
Asked and answered
How often do extinguishers need servicing?
AS 1851 sets a six-monthly routine service for portable extinguishers, with additional periodic requirements over the equipment's life — including pressure testing at longer intervals that varies by extinguisher type. Each service is recorded on the tag and in your maintenance record.
What is the emergency lighting discharge test?
Emergency and exit fittings must run on their internal battery for their rated duration, usually 90 minutes, during a mains failure. The discharge test cuts mains power and confirms they last the distance. It is done six-monthly under AS/NZS 2293, and it is the test that finds tired batteries — a fitting whose indicator LED is lit can still fail it.
Who is responsible for fire equipment in a leased premises?
That depends on the lease, and it is worth checking rather than assuming. Commonly the landlord maintains base-building systems while the tenant is responsible for equipment within their tenancy, but the split varies. The occupier generally retains obligations around keeping exits clear and equipment accessible regardless.
Do you keep the maintenance records?
Yes. AS 1851 requires records of routine service, and those records are what demonstrate compliance to an insurer, an auditor or a fire authority. Every visit is logged with what was checked, what was found and what was rectified.
Do smoke alarms in a workplace fall under this?
Workplace detection and alarm systems come under the AS 1851 routine service regime, which is a different regime from residential smoke alarms. If you are unsure which applies to your premises, that is worth a conversation before booking — the requirements and intervals differ substantially.
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