Vegetation Management – Hydrants
Ensure fire safety in your strata building by maintaining vegetation clearances & visibility around hydrant boosters and valves. Learn about essential standards, real-life examples, and tips for keeping hydrants accessible and vegetation managed. Prioritize safety with expert advice from Civil Fire.
5-Yearly Servicing of Hydrant & Sprinkler Systems
With the legislation of AS1851 in NSW coming into force in 2025, the 5-yearly service of the fire hydrant system and sprinkler system
AS1851 in NSW
The Australian Standard for the Routine service of fire protection equipment, AS1851-2012, is being legislated in NSW as of 13th February 2025. What does this mean for building owners? Find out more.
Fire Dampers
Fire dampers are an essential safety measure that helps to prevent the spread of fire and smoke in buildings. Dampers belong to the ‘passive fire protection’ family.
Ionisation Vs Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
There are two main types of smoke alarms available on the market: ionisation smoke alarms and photoelectric smoke alarms. While both types of smoke alarms can detect smoke and save lives, they operate differently, and there are advantages to using one type over the other in specific settings.
Hydrostatic Testing of Fire Hydrants
Hydrostatic testing is a process of testing the integrity and strength of a pressurized system, such as a fire hydrant system, to ensure that it can withstand the required pressure and flow.
Security screens on fire doors
 – Security screen doors may obstruct or restrict a path of travel to an exit, as it swings open.
 – Depending on how the screen door is affixed to the door or door frame, it may compromise the fire rating of the door.
 – Locking mechanisms may make it difficult for emergency services to access the property in the event of an emergency.
 – Occupants may be inclined to leave their fire door propped open – with security screen locked – in order to enable great ventilation or air flow.
Why install a security screen?
Security screens are usually installed for one of two reasons:
Airflow /Â Ventilation
Â
Enhanced Security
If security is the key concern, the resident may consider installing a peep-hole that is approved for use with the particular fire door that is installed.
Civil Fire’s general advice is: don’t fit a screen door unless you get written advice from an accredited consultant to say you can.
Remember, owners & residents should not make any modifications to their fire door without seeking written approval from the Owners Corporation. Unit entry doors (fire doors) are not owned by the owner of the unit.Â
I don’t think we’ve had contractors come through before who were so clean and tidy, helpful and responsive with ideas about how to better maintain the heritage and be compliant and generally respectful of the property.
He was so thoughtful, he stopped the really noisy part of the repair so I could answer calls. I went out at lunch, and he was on his hands and knees washing the floor in the entry because he’d brought in some debris from the street.
