LICENSING INFORMATION STATEMENT #1
SMOKE ALARMS AND FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS
QBCC has developed this licensing information statement to clarify the licensing
requirements for the certification, installation and maintenance of smoke alarms and
fire detection systems. This information statement does not replace anything
contained in the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 or the
Queensland Building and Construction Commission Regulation 2003.
Pursuant to that legislation, the certification, installation and maintenance of smoke
alarms and fire detection systems constitutes ‘building work’. This means the person
undertaking this work is required to hold an appropriate QBCC licence as listed
below. If you are required to be licensed and are not, you may not be entitled to
payment and may be prosecuted by QBCC.
QBCC licence class – Fire Detection, Alarm and Warning Systems.
•
If you are installing or maintaining Extra Low Voltage (ELV) fire detection, alarm
and warning systems for a building you are required to be appropriately licensed.
•
If you are contracting with a builder or consumer for this work you will need a
QBCC contractor’s licence or an Electrical Safety Office (ESO) electrical
contractor’s licence.
•
If you are working for a licensed person or company, you will need to hold a
QBCC fire protection occupational licence or an ESO worker licence.
Note – all Low Voltage (LV) work must be carried out by an ESO licensed electrician.
Note – all ELV work where the ELV equipment is in a hazardous area in accordance
with section 14(1)(c)of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 or where the ELV equipment is
water equipment in accordance with section 68 of the Electrical Safety Regulation
2002 must also be carried out by an ESO licensed electrician.
•
Any certification of fire detection, alarm and warning systems must be carried out
by a QBCC licensee with the certify class of licence.
QBCC licence requirements for Fire Detection, Alarm and Warning Systems
(including Smoke Alarms)
Non-BCA required
BCA required
Hardwired
battery operated
battery operated
Basic cleaning (incl
No QBCC licence
No QBCC licence
No QBCC licence
pushing test button and
required
required
required
replacing battery)
A non-AS1851 function1
Inspection & Testing
Maintain – ELV 2
Maintain – ELV 2
Maintain – ELV 2
As per AS1851
Install & Maintain
No QBCC licence
Install & Maintain –
Install & Maintain
2
required
ELV
– ELV 2
Certification
Certify
Certify
Certify
1
2
AS 1851 – Australian Standard 1851-2005 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment
Not required if you hold an appropriate contractor or worker licence with the Electrical Safety Office
For existing residences that were constructed prior to implementation of smoke alarm legislation
(BCA 1 July 1997), basic ‘off-the-shelf battery powered’ type smoke alarms can be installed,
maintained and tested without the need for a licence.
Basic non-AS1851 maintenance such as cleaning (i.e. clearing off cobwebs, dust etc), testing
(press the test button) and battery replacement (the back up battery) does not require a QBCC or
ESO licence.
Definitions: -
(ELV) Extra low voltage means voltage of 50V or less AC RMS, or 120V or less
ripple-free DC
(LV) Low Voltage means voltage greater than extra low voltage, but not more than
1000V AC RMS or 1500V ripple free DC
(Electrical Safety Act 2002).
BCA – Building Code of Australia
1st Introduced
Amended
QBCC commenced
18/11/01
1/03/07
30/11/10
1/12/13