While many Australian’s are beginning to work remotely, Wormald Australia has urged facility managers not to neglect essential maintenance of fire protection systems during this uncertain time.
Maintaining fire systems is a critical life safety activity that safeguards building occupants and protects property by reducing the likelihood of a major fire event occurring.
Wormald Australia CEO, Andrew Lee, said businesses and property managers must remember that fire equipment maintenance is an essential service that must continue regardless of the pandemic.
“Our decades of experience have shown that it is in times such as these, where activity within and around a facility changes from its normal operating pattern, the fire risk is heightened,” Lee said.
“It is more important than ever for all fire systems in all buildings to continue to be inspected and maintained, ensuring they will operate in accordance with their design intent and purpose.”
The regulatory environment for fire protection systems is currently under the spotlight with a range of standards to be introduced this year.
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will oversee the introduction of these changes under the National Construction Code.
A new testing verification method for equipment will be introduced on May 1, 2020 while other standards begin July 1, 2020.
The ABCB has released a preview of the changes which include new labelling for aluminium composite panels.
A full summary of the changes are available on the ABCB web site.