Fire Protection - restricted classes
Get to know the regulation
Amendments introduced in the Plumbing Regulations 2018 confirmed that the routine servicing of fire protection equipment is considered plumbing work and must therefore be carried out by an appropriately qualified plumbing practitioner.
Following consultation with industry, the VBA has approved the introduction of four new restricted classes for the routine servicing of certain fire protection systems as a transition pathway for people carrying out this work who are currently unregistered or unlicensed.
To continue carrying out this type of work, people who are currently unregistered or unlicensed will need to obtain a restricted registration or licence in the relevant class by 31 July 2021. After this date, unregistered or unlicensed practitioners carrying out this work will be liable for VBA enforcement action. Due to COVID-19, this date was extended from 31 December 2020 to 31 July 2021.
Restricted classes for the routine servicing of fire protection equipment
There are two approaches for the restricted classes in routine servicing of fire protection equipment – ongoing and transitional restricted classes.
Ongoing restricted classes
The following restricted classes will be available on an ongoing basis for people who gain registration or a licence:
- Fire Protection restricted to the routine servicing of fire hose reels
- Fire Protection restricted to the routine servicing of unpumped hydrants and valves
Transitional restricted classes
The following restricted classes will be available on a temporary basis up until 31 July 2021.
- Fire Protection restricted to the routine servicing of pumped hydrants and valves
- Fire Protection restricted to the routine servicing of fire sprinkler systems
All other restricted fire protection classes not mentioned above are not impacted by this change and practitioners operating under those licenses/registrations can continue to carry out that work as usual.
People who gain registration or a licence in either of the transitional restricted classes will be eligible to work until 31 July 2021. After this time, to continue working in this area they will need to be enrolled in the Certificate III in Fire Protection. In order to keep working, the cut-off date to complete the Certificate III in Fire Protection is 31 December 2025.
You do not need to apply for one of the new routine servicing restricted classes if you already hold accreditation one of the following classes:
- Fire Protection
- Fire Protection – Restricted to Hydrants and Hose Reels
- Fire Protection – Restricted to Residential and Domestic Fire Sprinklers.
If you are accredited in one of the restricted classes, you can continue to undertake routine servicing on the equipment types specified for that class. If you wish to carry out routine servicing of equipment outside your restricted class, you will need to make an application for accreditation in one of the other restricted classes of fire protection.
Scope of work and requirements for registration or licensing
Scope of work
- Six monthly and annual routine servicing of fire hose reels in accordance with AS 1851; and
- Repair of the fire hose reel components downstream of the hose reel spigot union/isolation valve
Excluding:
- Replacement or relocation of an entire fire hose reel
- The service of any interfaced equipment
- Any other fire protection work including construction, installation, replacement, repair, maintenance, testing and commissioning work
Knowledge requirements for registration
- CPPCMN2002A Participate in workplace safety arrangements
- CPPFES2006A Prepare for installation and servicing operations
- CPPFES2010A Inspect and test fire hose reels
- CPPFES2004A Identify types of installed fire safety equipment and systems; or a training course accepted by the VBA that delivers knowledge in accurate identification of fire equipment and their function
Experience requirements for registration (MFB/CFA)
- Relevant experience as verified by the CFA Fire Equipment Maintenance (FEM) or MFB Fire Equipment Services (FES) accreditation scheme, and accepted by VBA
Experience requirements for registration
(Existing Unregistered/Unlicensed Fire Protection Technicians)
Satisfactory experience demonstrating:
- Six-monthly servicing – completion of service jobs at 20 different sites OR 100 service jobs; and
- Annual servicing – completion of service jobs at 20 different sites OR 100 service jobs.
Additional requirements for licensing
In addition to the requirements for registration, successful completion of:
- BSBSMB401 Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business
- CPCPCM4011A Carry out work based risk control processes
- CPCPCM4012A Estimate and cost work
And:
- Current Certificate of Currency as evidence the applicant is covered by insurance
- Six months of relevant experience as a registered person (or equivalent)
Scope of work
- Six monthly and annual routine servicing of unpumped hydrants and valves in accordance with AS 1851.
Excluding:
- Routine servicing of occupancies of excessive fire hazard as described by NCC V1 Table E1.5 Requirements for Sprinklers
- Any other fire protection work including construction, installation, replacement, repair, maintenance, testing and commissioning work
Knowledge requirements for registration
- CPPCMN2002A Participate in workplace safety arrangements
- CPPFES2004A Identify types of installed fire safety equipment
- CPPFES2006A Prepare for installation and servicing operations
- CPPFES2037A Inspect and test fire hydrant systems
- CPCPFS3043A Conduct functional water flow testing; or a training course accepted by the VBA that delivers knowledge in conducting the water supply proving test on fire hydrant systems
Experience requirements for registration
(MFB)
- Relevant experience as verified by the MFB Fire Equipment Services (FES) accreditation scheme, and accepted by VBA
(Existing Unregistered/Unlicensed Fire Protection Technicians)
Satisfactory experience demonstrating:
- Six-monthly servicing – completion of at least 20 service jobs at 10 different sites; and
- Annual servicing – completion of 20 service jobs at 10 different sites
And successful completion of a Licensing and Registration-recognised exam confirming competency to perform water supply proving test required for annual service.
Additional requirements for licensing
In addition to the requirements for registration, successful completion of:
- BSBSMB401 Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business
- CPCPCM4011A Carry out work based risk control processes
- CPCPCM4012A Estimate and cost work
And:
- Current Certificate of Currency as evidence the applicant is covered by insurance
- Six months of relevant experience as a registered person (or equivalent)
Scope of work
Monthly, six monthly and annual routine servicing of pumped hydrants and valves in accordance with AS 1851.
Excluding:
- Annual servicing of Class 2 or 3 buildings above 3 stories and Class 9 buildings
- Routine servicing of any hydrant forming part of a combined system
- Routine servicing of any hydrant system with pressure-reducing or pressure-limiting valves
- Routine servicing of occupancies of excessive fire hazard as described by NCC V1 Table E1.5 Requirements for Sprinklers
- Any other fire protection work including construction, installation, replacement, repair, maintenance, testing and commissioning work
Knowledge requirements for registration
- CPPCMN2002A Participate in workplace safety arrangements
- CPPFES2004A Identify types of installed fire safety equipment and systems
- CPPFES2006A Prepare for installation and servicing operations
- CPPFES2037A Inspect and test fire hydrant systems
- CPCPFS3041A Inspect and test fire pumpsets; and
- CPCPFS3043A Conduct functional water flow testing; or a training course accepted by the VBA that delivers knowledge in conducting the water supply proving test on fire hydrant systems
Experience requirements for registration
Satisfactory experience prior to 18/11/2018 demonstrating:
- Six-monthly servicing – completion of 150 service jobs at 10 different sites; and
- Annual servicing – completion of 25 service jobs at 10 different sites
And successful completion of a Licensing and Registration-recognised exam of competency to carry out scope of work
Additional requirements for licensing
In addition to the requirements for registration, successful completion of:
- BSBSMB401 Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business
- CPCPCM4011A Carry out work based risk control processes
- CPCPCM4012A Estimate and cost work
And:
- Current Certificate of Currency as evidence the applicant is covered by insurance
- Six months of relevant experience as a registered person (or equivalent)
Scope of work
- Monthly and six-monthly routine servicing of fire sprinkler systems in accordance with AS 1851
- Monthly and six-monthly routine servicing of fire hydrants forming part of a combined system, in accordance with AS 1851
- Monthly and six-monthly routine servicing of fire hydrant systems with pressure-reducing or pressure-limiting valves, in accordance with AS 1851
Excluding:
- Routine servicing of Class 2 or 3 buildings above 3 stories and Class 9 buildings
- Annual routine service, and all services frequencies thereafter
- Any routine servicing work that requires the holding of an Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence under the requirements of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989
- Routine servicing of occupancies of excessive fire hazard as described by NCC V1 Table E1.5 Requirements for Sprinklers
- Any other fire protection work including construction, installation, replacement, repair, maintenance, testing and commissioning work
Knowledge requirements for registration
- CPPCMN2002A Participate in workplace safety arrangements
- CPPFES2004A Identify types of installed fire safety equipment
- CPPFES2006A Prepare for installation and servicing operations
- CPPFES2037A Inspect and test fire hydrant systems
- CPCPFS3041A Inspect and test fire pumpsets; and
- CPCPFS3040A Conduct basic functional testing of water-based fire-suppression systems
Experience requirements for registration
Satisfactory experience prior to 18/11/2018 demonstrating:
- Monthly service of fire sprinkler systems – completion of at least 100 service jobs at more than 15 different sites and across 4 different sprinkler system types; and
- Six-monthly service of fire sprinkler systems – completion of at least 30 service jobs at more than 8 different sites and across 4 different sprinkler system types; and
- Monthly service of fire hydrants forming part of a combined system – completion of at least 50 service jobs at more than 10 different sites; and
- Six-monthly service of fire hydrants forming part of a combined system – completion of at least 30 service jobs at more than 8 different sites.
And successful completion of a Licensing and Registration-recognised exam of competency to carry out scope of work
Additional requirements for licensing
In addition to the requirements for registration, successful completion of:
- BSBSMB401 Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business
- CPCPCM4011A Carry out work based risk control processes
- CPCPCM4012A Estimate and cost work
And:
- Current Certificate of Currency as evidence the applicant is covered by insurance
- Six months of relevant experience as a registered person (or equivalent)
How to apply
See: Apply for Fire Protection restricted classes
Fact sheet
Download: Fact sheet: Fire Protection restricted classes (PDF, 252.99 KB)