When is a fire extinguisher actually “manufactured”?
Have you ever received a quote to pressure test or replace portable fire extinguishers and thought, “How can this be right? Our building is only two years old.”
Credwell was recently approached by a Strata Manager facing this exact issue.
Our review identified a practice that appears to be becoming increasingly common within the fire protection industry. Some extinguishers are manufactured overseas, imported into Australia, then filled and/or pressurised locally before being fitted with a sticker identifying a manufacture date and installed in a building.
The challenge? The sticker date may not necessarily satisfy the marking requirements of the applicable Australian Standards and can result in non-compliance with legislated requirements.
When assessing compliance, it is critical to look beyond labels and industry assumptions and instead follow the hierarchy of the legislation, National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standards. The requirements are often more detailed than they first appear.
The lesson for building owners and managers is simple: compliance decisions should be based on the actual requirements of the applicable standards, not industry convention.
As essential fire safety compliance continues to evolve, understanding the relationship between the legislation NCC, referenced standards, and fire safety measures is essential to achieving accurate and defensible outcomes.
For further information, contact Credwell on (02) 9281 8555 or email info@credwell.com.au
Michael Barnes
michael.barnes@credwell.com.au
Director Fire & Risk