An independent Australian fire-protection journal
Est. 2004
Australia
Fire SprinklersIndependent Australian editorial on fire sprinkler systems, installation and compliance.
Standards, installation, maintenance and the questions owners actually ask.
The rulebook
How the National Construction Code, AS 2118 and the FPAA specifications decide when sprinklers are required, who may design them, and which concessions apply.
Design, installation and occupancy each mean something different by certify. This guide maps consultants, fire engineers, licensed contractors and the NSW, Victorian and Queensland paperwork.
Sprinklers can buy longer travel distances, lower fire-resistance levels and, in some cases, hydrant relief. This piece explains what those concessions are worth and when they fail to offset the install.
After NCC 2019, mid-rise Class 2 and 3 buildings can use FPAA101D, FPAA101H, AS 2118.4 or AS 2118.1. Here is what each can do, what it costs, and which concessions travel with it.
The NCC does not sprinkle every building. This guide sets out Volume One triggers for Class 2, 3 and 5 to 9, the mid-rise apartment change after 2019, and why state variations still matter.
AS 2118.1 is Australia’s general sprinkler design standard. This guide covers hazard classes, design density, water-supply duration, AS 4118 components, and when Parts 4 or 5 apply instead.