Fire Protection – restricted to the routine servicing of unpumped hydrants and valves work

There are two restricted classes of fire protection work:

• Fire protection restricted to the routine servicing of fire hose reels
• Fire protection restricted to the routine servicing of unpumped hydrants and valves.

These restricted classes allow you to carry out components of the main class of fire protection that relate to the routine maintenance of wet Fire Protection equipment.

Wet fire protection equipment, such as hydrants, hose reels, sprinklers and pump sets, are a part of the Essential Safety Measures (ESMs) in Class 2 to 9 buildings that keep occupants safe in the event of a fire.

ESMs must be working and be compliant with the standard of performance to which they were designed (the approved design), as outlined in AS 1851.

The routine servicing of these systems and equipment help ESMs meet these requirements.

Routing servicing includes prescriptive procedures and activities for the testing, preventive maintenance and survey of the installed fire systems and equipment.

You may hold registration in one or both classes.

Compliance requirements

Registered and licensed practitioners in these classes must interpret and apply the compliance requirements for these classes as outlined in:

• Victorian Building Act 1993
• Victorian Plumbing Regulations 2018
• WorkSafe Victoria requirements for plumbing work and building construction sites
• National Construction Code (NCC) 2022, Vol 3
• Relevant Australian Standards (see permitted assessment reference materials).

Additional compliance requirements for licensed practitioners

Licensed practitioners hold a greater level of responsibility and must interpret and apply the following additional compliance requirements:

• Issue compliance certificates
• Knowledge of Performance Solutions
• WorkSafe Victoria requirements for supervising staff
• Hold relevant insurance.

Allowed

This restricted class allows you to carry out:

• Six monthly and annual routine servicing of fire hose reels in accordance with AS 1851.
• Repair of the fire hose reel components downstream of the hose reel spigot union/isolation valve.

Registration requirements

Education

You must have successfully completed the following:

• All of the following units:
  • Participate in workplace safety arrangements (CPPCMN2002A or CPPCMN2002).
  • Prepare for installation servicing operations (CPPFES2006A or CPPFES2006).
  • Inspect test fire hydrant systems (CPPFES2037A or CPPFES2037).
• And one of the following:
  • Identify types of installed fire safety equipment systems (CPPFES2004A).
  • Identify report on types of installed fire safety equipment systems (CPPFES2004).
  • A training course accepted by the BPC that delivers knowledge in accurate identification of fire equipment and their function.
• And one of the following:
  • Conduct functional water flow testing (CPCPFS3043A or CPCPFS3043).
  • A training course accepted by the BPC that delivers knowledge in conducting the water supply proving test on fire hydrant systems.

Experience

You must hold one of the following:

• Relevant experience verified by the FRV Fire Equipment Services (FES) accreditation scheme accepted by the BPC.
• Practical experience completing:
  • Six-monthly servicing of at least 20 service jobs at 10 different sites
  • Annual routine servicing of at least 20 service jobs at 10 different sites.

Licence requirements

You must meet the following conditions:

• Hold (or be eligible) to hold registration in this class.
• Hold an additional 2 years of practical experience.
• Already be licensed in another plumbing class or hold the prescribed units for licence in this class.

Useful links

• Apply for a plumbing registration or licence
• Prescribed units
• Plumbing exams
• Permitted assessment materials