Design, Installation & Certification (Issue of Plumbing Compliance Certificate)
Sprinkler systems play a critical role in improving life safety during a fire. Each system type is subject to specific design, installation and certification requirements.
Domestic sprinkler systems are applicable to stand-alone homes, while residential sprinkler systems are designed for multi-dwelling accommodation buildings. Domestic & residential systems are designed for life safety purposes, commercial system not only deals with life safety but also contribute to asset protection. These systems are subject to different licensing and registration requirements.
Plumbing work associated with domestic and residential fire sprinkler systems must only be carried out by practitioners who are appropriately registered or licensed in Domestic and Residential Sprinklers.
The following general requirements apply:
A registered plumbing practitioner may carry out work within the class or type shown on their registration. Registered work must be carried out under the supervision of a licensed practitioner who is authorised for that class or type.
A licensed plumbing practitioner may carry out work within the class or type shown on their licence and must issue a compliance certificate where one is required.
Under regulation 17 of the Plumbing Regulations 2018, fire protection work includes the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, routine servicing, maintenance, testing or commissioning of any part of a water service used for firefighting. This applies from the point of connection to the water supply up to and including any fire protection equipment forming part of that service.
It also includes any design work that is incidental to, or associated with, that work.
Domestic & Residential design configuration types
Residential and domestic fire sprinkler systems are typically designed using one of two configuration types:
Independent Domestic and Residential Sprinkler System: A fire sprinkler system with pipework that is separate from the domestic or residential water service that is supplied from a branch downstream of the isolation point and backflow prevention device.
Combined Domestic and Residential Sprinkler System: A fire sprinkler system that shares a common pipework network with the domestic water supply, serving both domestic water fixtures and fire sprinklers.
Licence and Registration considerations for Domestic & Residential sprinkler installation work
The licence and registration class or classes required for domestic and residential sprinkler systems are determined by the system's design configuration, and the type of sprinkler system not the building classification.
Combined domestic water and fire sprinkler systems
For a combined domestic water and fire sprinkler system, the relevant classes depend on the component of the work being carried out. Shared pipework may fall within both the fire protection and water supply definitions in regulations 17 and 30 of the Plumbing Regulations 2018, practitioners must ensure that their registration or licence authorises every class or type of work they undertake.
For the scope of fire protection work, refer to regulation 17 of the Plumbing Regulations 2018.
For the scope of water supply work, refer to regulation 30 of the Plumbing Regulations 2018.
Registration and Licencing requirements
The following table details the licence and registration classes required to be held for design, installation, certification, listed by system type. For the purpose of this document ‘certify’ relates to who can issue the plumbing compliance certificate, however it does not define who can perform third party independent certifications.
Independent Domestic & Residential sprinkler system
Note 1
Class 1a and 1b buildings do not require sprinkler protection within the deemed to satisfy (DtS) provisions of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Class 2–9 buildings are subject to sprinkler requirements as prescribed by DtS provisions of the BCA, based on the applicable class, height, and area provisions. Regardless, all fire sprinkler work must be carried out by a plumbing practitioner appropriately registered or licensed for the relevant class or type and be in accordance with the Plumbing Code of Australia.
Note 2
Victorian plumbing legislation does not establish a separate plumbing licence or registration class for sprinkler design.
Note 3
Where the adopted standard does not meet the DtS provisions of the Building Code or the Plumbing Code of Australia, a Performance Solution must be developed in accordance with the applicable requirements of the NCC.
Fire Sprinkler System
Building classification scope of the standard
Who can install
Who can certify regulated plumbing work (Issue Plumbing Compliance Certificate)
AS2118.4
Class 1, 2, 3 and 9C
Registered or Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
Or
Registered or Licenced Fire protection Main class
Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
Or
Licenced Fire protection Main class
AS2118.5 (Independent system)
1
Registered or Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
Or
Registered or Licenced Fire protection Main class
Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
Or
Licenced Fire protection Main class
Combined Domestic Water & Fire Sprinkler System
Fire Sprinkler System
Building classification scope of the standard
Who can install
Who can Certify (Issue Plumbing Compliance Certificate)
FPAA101D (Downstream of backflow)
2 & 3
Registered or Licenced Fire protection Main class
Or
Registered or Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
AND
Registered or Licenced Water Supply Main Class
Licenced Fire protection Main class
Or
Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
AND
Licenced Water Supply Main Class
AS2118.5 Combined system (Downstream of backflow)
1
Registered or Licenced Fire protection Main class
Or
Registered or Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
AND
Registered or Licenced Water Supply Main Class
Licenced Fire protection Main class
Or
Licenced Fire protection – restricted to residential and domestic fire sprinklers
