In This IssueFPA Australia’s 20 Year AnniversaryFPA Australia Wins Supreme Court Case Is your Business Workplace Relations Compliant? First NSW FPAS Fire Systems Design Accredited Practitioner Failing The Test NFPA President Jim Pauley Confirmed for Fire Australia 2017 Good Practice Guide to Migration of Monitored Fire Alarms Published Non-compliant Logbooks Create Significant Legal Exposure New Executive Officer for Ozone

New & Upgraded Members New FPAS Recognised

Businesses

Autumn 2017

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FPA Australia’s 20 Year Anniversary

It’s now 20 years since the Australian Fire Protection Association (AFPA), which was established in 1960,

and the Fire Protection Industry Association

Australia (FPIAA) which was established in 1926, agreed to amalgamate to form one representative body to be known as Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia).

That decision, taken back in January 1997, recognised the outstanding work and history of the AFPA and FPIAA and that by merging them, a foundation would be established that would benefit the broader Fire Protection Industry and ultimately the Australian community.

Major decisions like these are never easy and reflecting on the discussions through 1996 leading up until the merger, FPA Australia National President Chris Orr said; “There are always wonderful opportunities and of course there is always risk.”

“When you merge two entities together, you bring different services and value propositions to the table, varied personalities and cultures but what is important to remember is that the end result must be a better combined outcome in which everyone will benefit.”

“There is no doubt when you look at the Association today, its profile and positioning within the industry, this would never have been realised unless the merger occurred and I could not be prouder of what has been achieved. It is just outstanding.”

To view FPA Australia’s Strategic Directions for the period of 2015 – 2018 please click here.

Newsletter of Fire Protection Association Australia

Is Your Business Workplace Relations Compliant?

Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) created Workplace Relations Plus, the industry’s only dedicated, affordable and convenient workplace relations advice service to meet the needs of its members.

FPA Australia Workplace Relations Plus is headed by lawyer and workplace relations expert Richard Krajewski, who has many decades working in this specialist area including in the Fire Protection Industry.

“A small business operator is already working flat out taking bookings, dealing with clients, assigning jobs to staff,

ensuring their work is up to standard, running the accounts and they’re probably out on the job themselves,” said Richard.

“Through all of that they still have to be compliant with workplace law. FPA Australia members can get advice on any aspect of workplace relations. We’ve already helped many members and can help your business too.

“We have structured Workplace Relations Plus subscriptions to reflect business sizes which means that for as little as $12.70 a week for FPA Australia members with 1-4 employees, $25.40 a week for members with 5-14 employees and $59.25 a week for members with 15-29 employees, there is a dedicated, targeted advice service they can access to help with their workplace issues.”

Find out how Workplace Relations Plus can help you with your workplace relations issues by clicking here or send an email to wr@fpaa.com.au

First NSW FPAS Fire Systems Design Accredited PractitionerDaniel Kirk has become the first NSW Fire Protection Industry practitioner to be accredited in Fire Systems Design under the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS) administered by Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia).

Daniel, who has been in the industry for eleven years and is an Associate Fire Engineer with the NSW Team of WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff, successfully gained accreditation in the following three categories: Fire Sprinkler Systems, Fire Hydrant and Hose Reel Systems and Fire Detection and Alarm Systems.

“Accreditation is becoming a requirement, especially in NSW right now (as the NSW Government moves to introduce reforms to the Fire Protection Industry introducing industry accreditation for practitioners).

Daniel plans to use his new accreditation to advantage when he is undertaking work and tendering for future work.

“I think that if I’m tendering in a field where I am the only one who has accreditation, then it will put me in a good light.”

Increasingly, FPA Australia is seeing end users, in particular government, require proof of competence when it engages practitioners. The NSW Government’s Fire Safety Reforms will be progressing to a co-regulatory model where Fire Protection practitioners will need to be accredited under an approved scheme.

“The thinking is clear,” said FPA Australia CEO Scott Williams. “To perform this kind of critical life safety fire protection work, you need to be able to demonstrate that you are competent. Currently, the only broad accreditation scheme operating in Australia is FPAS.”

With over 80 per cent of companies involved in the Fire Protection Industry classified as small businesses employing less than 15 people, complying with complex workplace relations laws is often confusing, time consuming, inconvenient and frustrating.

FPA Australia Wins Supreme Court CaseFire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) has won an important and long-running Supreme Court case which could have far reaching implications for the Fire Protection Industry and the growing demand for professional accreditation schemes.

The case centred on whether FPA Australia had acted lawfully when it cancelled the accreditation of a practitioner.

In 2012 FPA Australia received a complaint about the practitioner’s conduct which alleged some irregularities in reports that had been produced.

FPA Australia requested information from the practitioner in order to investigate the complaint. The practitioner refused several requests over a number of months and FPA Australia suspended and then cancelled the accreditation. The practitioner issued proceedings against FPA Australia seeking reinstatement and other relief.

The Supreme Court found that the practitioner was bound by contract to provide the requested information and FPA Australia, as the administrator of the accreditation scheme, had acted appropriately.

In dismissing the proceedings and awarding costs to FPA Australia, the Court said: “In my view, the defendant [FPA Australia] was entitled to regard

that as such a fundamental breach of the contract as to amount to repudiation. In the field of risk assessment, particularly a risk with such potentially catastrophic consequences, transparency and cooperation are of the utmost importance. This was not a question of a potential breach of the practices imposed by the Code of Practice or the General Conditions; it went to the heart of the defendant’s role in providing certification to that end. The refusal to cooperate with the process threatened the defendant’s capacity to proceed to investigate a complaint which, if established, was a serious matter. As already noted, that is not to make any assumption as to the merits of the complaint. The point is it needed to be investigated and the plaintiffs were refusing to cooperate in that process in the manner required by their contract.”

FPA Australia’s CEO, Scott Williams said that the importance of professionally managing and administering accreditation schemes was critical and governments must have absolute confidence in any organisation who delivers such a scheme. If the scheme is not properly administered and the necessary governance does not exist, including a clear surveillance, auditing and disciplinary process, the existence of a scheme and therefore the necessary benefits it provides are undermined.

FPA Australia will continue to expand its accreditation schemes in the Fire Protection Industry and ensure that confidence in its accreditation schemes is upheld.

Daniel Kirk

Unfortunately, some building and asset managers roll the dice with inspection and testing of fire protection and life safety systems; hoping that these essential and vital life-saving systems will just work when needed the most.

“Fire protection routine service providers are often contracted on up to three year contracts and often owners don’t know, understand or detail that the required five-yearly hydrostatic test needs to be conducted every half decade,” said Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) Senior Technical Officer Brett Dundules.

“As the fire protection service provider’s contract is for three years and the hydrostatic test is required every five, it’s not uncommon for it to be overlooked or ignored,” said Brett.

“The building owner should inform the routine service provider that the hydrostatic test needs to be carried out, if it is due.”

Lengthy periods beyond five years between hydrostatic tests increases the risk of a system failure. This failure could result in the uncontrolled release of water which often leads to property damage. While that may not be the fault of the fire protection routine service contractor engaged to inspect and test the system, the owner, who may well have neglected the system in the first place, may feel differently.

So what should be done to mitigate that risk?

According to Alan Wilson of Alan Wilson Insurance Brokers, who has managed many claims because of this issue, the mistake many FPA Australia members make is to proceed with the hydrostatic pressure test without informing their clients what the potential risks and issues really are.

“Some systems will not have been properly tested for more than five years and it may look okay from the outside. Over time the inside of pipes deteriorate, sometimes very severely and quickly. Whilst the pipes are under a steady pressure, often failure occurs in the system until there is a fire and the system is used by the fire brigade. The brigades attach their pumper to the system and use high pressure to force water through the pipes to use their firefighting equipment and nozzles,” explained Alan.

“If the system and pipes are effected at all, then when the fire brigade is using them, the pipes will fail, resulting in the fire brigade firefighting activities being severely hindered. This is why hydrostatic testing is carried out.”

According to Alan, when doing the testing, pressure is gradually built up to the amount required as if the fire brigade were using it. If the pipe is weakened at all then during the test it is likely to fail and cause significant water damage.

“Owners, clients, building managers, facility managers, and their insurance companies automatically blame the routine service contractor for bursting the pipes. But, if the system was routinely serviced and tested properly then the likelihood of bursting would be minimised. However, this is at a cost to the client,” he said.

“If the routine service contractor has not told their client about the risks, explained it properly and also had their client sign a waiver, stating they understand the risks and therefore, do not hold the contractor responsible if the causal issue is corroded pipes or fittings, then the contractor will become liable at law.

“This is a real issue! Why should a contractor be responsible for their clients’ rotten pipes, especially if they got that way through neglect?”

Of course if a pipe bursts through the contractor’s error, like putting too much pressure in the system when testing, then it is their fault and their public liability/Professional Indemnity insurance will cover this.

Alan recommends that all contractors carrying out hydrostatic tests should use a Hydrant and Sprinkler testing information form, similar to the kind he provides his customers.

“It is basically a waiver form. It states the issues and the results and the client must sign it off. If the client refuses to sign the waiver we tell our insured customer not to do the testing.

“But the golden rules are: Communicate with your customer, Ask questions, Keep them informed and don’t assume they know that keeping records is their job too.”

Fire hydrant systems are required to be hydrostatically tested by AS 1851-2012 every five years. Hydrostatic testing involves putting pipes, valves and connections under the required amount of pressure with the aim of ensuring reliability of the system. If the system is capable of passing the test, it should be capable of being pressurised and used by the fire brigade in a real fire scenario when it occurs.

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Failing The Test

Asset managers should not neglect hydrant maintenance.

Good Practice Guide to Migration of Monitored Fire Alarms PublishedCommunications is changing with the role out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and the switch from the old copper wire service to a digital network. Those changes affect the Fire Protection Industry directly as monitored fire alarm systems need to be migrated to the digital service.

monitored alarm has a role to play in the migration of the old services, making this Guide a ‘must-read’ for practitioners,” said Matthew.

The Migration of Monitored Fire Alarms and Lift Phone Services Good Practice Guide can be downloaded from the Department website and from the FPA Australia website by clicking here

NFPA President Jim Pauley Confirmed for Fire Australia 2017National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) President and CEO Jim Pauley (pictured) has confirmed he will be one of the Fire Australia 2017 keynote speakers in Sydney in May.

The NFPA is the US-based leader in the international fight to eliminate death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.

Mr Pauley has occupied the high profile position of NFPA President for three years and will speak on international leadership in fire protection standards development and research. He will be joined by his colleague Chris Dubay, NFPA Vice President of Engineering and Chief Electrical Engineer who will be discussing fire safety dangers associated with lithium battery storage systems.

Other key speakers confirmed for Fire Australia 2017 include Neil Savery, Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), Stephen Kip, undoubtedly one of the

country’s leading fire safety engineers and Andrew Batty, Manager Dangerous Goods and Explosives Team, SafeWork NSW.

“When Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) commenced planning for the 2017 event, we wanted to expand on our previous successes and this has been realised with this year shaping up as the largest ever Fire Australia Conference,” said FPA Australia CEO Scott Williams.

“Not only are we returning to a three day program but we now have the largest and most extensive tradeshow ever and a fresh format with streams dedicated to Fire Protection, Fire Safety Engineering thanks to a partnership with the Society of Fire Safety Engineers Australia, Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods as well as Emergency Planning and Response.

Jim Pauley

“The speakers for this year’s Conference are first class. With such a high calibre speaking line up and the incredible location of Darling Harbour at the newly completed International Convention Centre Sydney, this will be the biggest Fire Australia we have ever staged. Fire Australia 2017 will be the benchmark event for the fire protection industry.

“Proudly supported by Tyco Fire Protection Products and Kidde as the joint Platinum sponsors, Fire Australia will be an outstanding event in every aspect.”

To stay up to date with speaker announcements and registration offers go to www.fireaustralia.com.au

Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) has been working with the Federal Department of Communications and Arts to produce a Good Practice Guide which has now been published.

“It has been a great experience to be able to coordinate and provide technical assistance from a range of key stakeholders to develop the Guide.

Now that it’s published the Guide will provide the steps that need to be taken and by whom, to migrate the old monitored alarm system to the digital network. This is vital as these old, fixed line services are being progressively disconnected and replaced by the NBN,” said FPA Australia General Manager Technical Services and Deputy CEO Matthew Wright who chaired the Department’s Fire Alarm and Lift Phone Migration Roundtable Working Group.

“There are a number of different connection options based on your facilities’ particular circumstance and the services you have access to. Regardless of the option chosen, there is still an expectation to retain the network reliability goals in AS 1670.3 to ensure alarm monitoring performance is maintained when current fixed line services are disconnected.”

The Guide is intended as a handbook for use by the Fire Protection and Lift Industries, building owners, building managers, and bodies corporate, application service providers (ASPs), telecommunications retail service providers (RSPs), equipment providers, and regulators and government agencies, to assist them in carrying out their roles and responsibilities in the migration process.

“Monitored fire alarms provide fire and emergency services with the vital warning and information they need to manage incidents. So anyone who has a role in installing, servicing and maintaining a

Non-compliant Logbooks Create Significant Legal Exposure

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The Fire Protection Industry would be well aware of the importance to be compliant in their professional work.

Whether it is a sprinkler head, fire door or a document that records the legislated Routine Servicing of Fire Protection Systems (AS 1851), compliance is absolutely necessary, not optional. The legal liability of not complying is endless and when it comes to AS 1851 or AS 2293.2 logbooks, the necessity to meet various legislation around Australia is complex and it is easy to overlook vital information.

Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) has created a bespoke suite of logbooks for maintenance recording and reporting activities in the Fire Protection Industry. Complying fully with the appropriate service requirements of AS 1851 and AS 2293.2, including keeping appropriate records, is one way of demonstrating that you have met your legal obligations should a fire emergency situation arise or enforcement action be pursued. Meticulous planning has been undertaken to ensure that FPA Australia logbooks accurately reflect the specific requirements of the standards and strive for best practice in reporting results to end users.

Like many technical documents, AS 1851 and AS 2293.2 are not always explicitly clear about exactly what data must be documented during routine service. However, FPA Australia’s logbooks are specific about exactly what data must be documented.

FPA Australia will shortly release its updated AS 1851-2012 logbooks to include the recently published Amendment 1 requirements. This is just one of the many examples where FPA Australia logbooks remain up to date and inclusive of not just amendments, but also industry best practice.

When you are considering buying a logbook, make sure your logbook is compliant as what might be a few dollars saved by purchasing or using other cheaper books might lead to using a logbook that is non-compliant and does not meet the necessary regulations in your State or Territory.

FPA Australia logbooks include:

• Compliant in all States & Territories – some States such as Queensland require a strict set of words to ensure compliance with QDC, MP6.1. Without the correct and approved wording the logbook is not compliant to the Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008.

• Licence – space to record your licence and/or Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS) number which is necessary in some States such as QLD

• Fully compliant with AS 1851-2012 Amendment 1 and AS 2293.3

• Three copies – one for you, one for the customer and one to be kept in the book

• Document ID – look for a document number and electronic identifier such as a barcode (some customers and users will not accept the logbooks unless it has a barcode)

• Design standard – FPA Australia logbooks meet recognised best practice to ensure they are clear and easy to use, uniform in presentation to show all technical requirements and be easily scanned or electronically interpreted for record management systems

• Best practice guidelines that prompt you to undertake various tasks

• Simple to use, all in one page and succinct statements that accurately paraphrase the required task

• Able to be customised with your own company information and logo

For information about logbook compliance and specifically those relating to the Queensland Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008 click here.

New Executive Officer for OzoneMark Potter has been appointed Executive Officer for the Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board.

Mark who started on 23 February, has an extensive managerial background as an Executive within the Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA). His roles and responsibilities have included Community Infrastructure (Bushfire and Structural), Community Safety and Fire Safety.

Of recent time, Mark has been the Chief Operating Officer with Federation Training, a public training organisation in the Gippsland area of Victoria where he led a team of approximately 150 staff.

The key attribute that Mark brings is his broad stakeholder engagement skills, level of professionalism, project management skills and his knowledge broadly of the Fire Protection Industry with key linkages to the industrial sectors. He has also managed large projects on behalf of the Emergency Management Commissioner in Victoria and was a member of the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) Built Environment Technical Group.

Former Executive Officer Carlos Santin tendered his resignation late in 2016 and is providing support to Mark during the transition.

Mark Potter

New MembersThe trend in growth of Fire Protection Association Australia’s membership continued into 2017 including with FPAS Accredited Members and FPAS Recognised Businesses.

Individual NSW

Gregory KarpEric Edward TeubenShihaab Hussain

QLDSimon NortheyStephen J. Whitehead

SAMr Kyle SmithMr Michael Gloyn

VICShane SavageHenderikus Van RavensteinGeoffrey Lane

INTERNATIONAL – USAHugh Burton

Corporate Bronze (1-4 staff)

NSWFahrenheit Fire Pty LtdFlex Fire ServicesNM Fire DesignAusfire Compliance Services Pty LtdFire Matrix Consultancy GroupPremium Fire ServicesApollo Fire Maintenance Services Pty LtdAspire Fire & Electrical ServicesPeninsula Fire & SecurityWA Bushfire ConsultingOptimus Fire Protection Pty LtdFirePro SolutionsControl Fire ProtectionSydney Extinguishers Pty Ltd

NTMacs Hire Services

QLDRed Rhino Fire Solutions Pty LtdGold Coast Fire ProtectionYes Fire Pty LtdTrufire

SABMA Systems Pty LtdRapid Fire Services Pty Ltd

VICSafepower Safety Systems KnoxSeaguard Chemicals and Firefighting Pty Ltd

DSCL Fire DetectionFire Protection Specialists AustraliaSmoke Signals Fire Pty Ltd

WATransit Fire & SafetyBJ MARSH

INTERNATIONAL – NZBeele Australasia Ltd Ryan Fire Products Ltd

Corporate Silver (5-14 staff)

NSWEgis Operations & Maintenance ServicesFire Fighting Solutions Pty LtdStrategic Fire Services Pty Ltd

VICFXP Industries P/LDomain National Pty Ltd

WAFire Shield Services Pty Ltd

Corporate Gold (15+ staff)

NSWUnified Fire ProtectionSolo Services Group

QLDHills LimitedFiremate Software Pty Ltd

VICClevertronics Pty LtdSiemens Ltd

WAFreo Fire Services

Organisation Bronze (1-14 staff)

NSWNationwide Services GroupElektron Pty Ltd

Organisation Silver (15+ staff)

VICBallarat Health Services (Engineering Dept.)

New FPAS Recognised Businesses

NSWBetta Fire ProtectionFire Extinguishers Australia

QLDBuddy’s Fire (Hearn Investments)Trinity Fire Services Pty Ltd

SAWork Life Safety Systems

VICFire Alarm Essentials

WAFire Protection and Safety Training

Recognised Business

Upgraded Members

Corporate Silver (5-14 staff)

ACTIgnis Solutions

NSWM-Fire Pty LtdRegion West Fire ControlAny Door & Gates

QLDScanline Fire Doors

VICPure Logic Fire Pty Ltd

Corporate Gold (15+ staff)

SAFire Equipment Maintenance Group

PO Box 1049 Box Hill VIC 3128 T: (03) 8892 3131 E: member@fpaa.com.au W: www.fpaa.com.au

FireTalk is brought to you by Alan Wilson Insurance Brokers® Alan Wilson Insurance Brokers provide FPA Australia Members with your own insurance facility designed specifically for your industry with affordable premiums and wider benefits. Approved by FPA Australia and ACCC. For more information please phone 1300 888 111 or email fpains@awib.com.au