Special Hazard Suppression Systems

1st Introduced

01/10/09

Scope Amendment

Technical Amendment

06/11/09
31/03/10

Technical Amendment

06/11/09
31/03/10

Special Hazard Suppression Systems - Occupational

Important Note:
You should visit the following web pages for information on how to apply for this licence class and the different licence grades available:

Fire Occupational Licensing

Licence Class
(1) Certify – restricted to gaseous, water mist and reticulated foam proportioning systems.
(2) Certify - restricted to chemical and foam special hazard systems.
(3) Install and maintain.
(4) Maintain - restricted to gaseous, water mist and reticulated foam proportioning systems.

Scope of work
1) For the licence class mentioned in section (1) above — certify, inspect and test gaseous, water mist and reticulated foam proportioning systems.
2) For the licence class mentioned in section (2) above — certify, inspect and test chemical and foam stored pressure systems.
3) For the licence class mentioned in section (3) above — Install and maintain gaseous, water mist and reticulated foam proportioning systems and chemical and foam stored pressure systems.
4) For the licence class mentioned in section (4) above —maintain gaseous, water mist and reticulated foam proportioning systems.

Technical qualifications
   a. For the licence class mentioned in section (1) above —
      (i) the successful completion of all competency units contained in Certificate IV in Fire Systems Compliance (Special Hazards) 30536QLD except for units:
         • Certify Wet and Dry Chemical Suppression Systems (Installation) 4IAI and
         • Certify Wet and Dry Chemical Suppression Systems (Maintenance) 4MAJ;or
      (ii) successful completion of a course the authority considers is at least equivalent to the course mentioned in paragraph a(i); or
      (iii) accreditation from the Fire Protection Industry Board, that the applicant has successfully completed all of the following —
         • Category IAG - certification of installation of foam fire systems;
         • Category IAJ - certification of installation of gaseous systems;
         • Category MAH - certification of maintenance of foam fire systems; and
         • Category MAK – certification of maintenance of gaseous systems.
   b. For the licence class mentioned in section (2) above —
      (i) the successful completion of all competency units contained in Certificate IV in Fire Systems Compliance (Special Hazards)   30536QLD except for units:
         • Certify Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems (Installation) 4IAJ and
         • Certify Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems (Maintenance) 4MAK; or
      (ii) successful completion of a course the authority considers is at least equivalent to the course mentioned in paragraph b(i);
      or
      (iii) accreditation from the Fire Protection Industry Board, that the applicant has successfully completed all of the following —
         • Category IAG - certification of installation of foam fire systems;
         • Category IAI - certification of installation of chemical fire systems;
         • Category MAH - certification of maintenance of foam fire systems; and
         • Category MAJ – certification of maintenance of chemical fire systems.
   c. For the licence class mentioned in section (3) above —
      (i) the successful completion of Certificate III in Fire Protection CPC32808; or
      (ii) successful completion of a course the authority considers is at least equivalent to this course.
   d. For the licence class mentioned in section (4) above —
      (i) the successful completion of Certificate III in Asset Maintenance (Fire Protection Equipment) PRM30406, including successful completion of the following competency units—
         • Inspect and Maintain Portable Foam Generating Equipment PRMPFES24B;
         • Inspect and Test Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems PRMPFES25C;
         • Inspect, Test and Maintain Pre-engineered Aqueous Fire Suppression Systems PRMPFES27B;
         • Inspect, Test and Maintain Pre-engineered Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems PRMPFES31B; or
   (ii) successful completion of a course the authority considers is at least equivalent to the course mentioned in paragraph d(i).

DEFINITIONS

Certify means
      (a) to give advice or a report, including a certificate, stating that a fire protection system complies with Australian and international standards, Building Code of Australia requirements and manufacturer’s specifications after conducting a survey of the system; and
      (b) to give a QBSA licensee certificate under the Building Regulation 2006 for the work.

Inspect and test means
      (a) to inspect by visual examination the components of fire protection systems or equipment to establish correct settings, physical condition or fitness for purpose under 1-5-5, AS 1851-2005; and
      (b)to test, after inspecting, by the confirmation of correct function or performance of a component or system under 1-5-13, AS1851-2005.

Install means
(a) place a fire protection system in position ready for use; or
(b) restore a fire protection system to its original operating specifications; or
(c) alter a fire protection system; or
(d) provide an installer’s statement in relation to the work
     Example: Where the fire system is altered from its original design specifications by way of replacing with components of different specifications, it is installation.

Installer’s statement means
A statement about the installation of a fire protection system.

Maintain means
(a) inspect and test a fire protection system and any other fire safety measures to ensure continued operation at their original performance levels and in accordance with any relevant Australian Standards; or
(b) repair or replace defective components to keep a fire protection system in a working order according to original specifications
(c) carry out preventative maintenance; or
(d) prepare a maintenance record of the work mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).

Maintenance record means
     a record of any maintenance carried out.

Preventative maintenance means
     lubrication, cleaning, adjustment and replacement of parts for the purpose of minimising faults or malfunctions of a fire protection system.
     Example: where a fire system is not altered from its original design specifications it is maintenance and repair (‘like for like’ replacement of components).

Survey means
     the visual inspection of a fire protection system to identify if the system has been altered, damaged or compromised.
     Example: where a fire system is not altered from its original design specifications it is maintenance and repair (‘like for like’ replacement of components

Refer to Queensland Building Services Authority Regulation 2003
Schedule 2A - Part 4

Click here to open a PDF version of the scope of work

Important Note:
Interstate Applicants - may be eligible to obtain a BSA licence through Mutual Recognition. The website page Interstate (Mutual Recognition) provides further information.
Overseas Applicants - may have to have an overseas qualification assessed for equivalency prior to applying. The website page Overseas Applicants provides further information.

Technical Qualifications and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
A formal technical qualification could consist of any of the following:

A completed apprenticeship

Successful completion of the appropriate course for this licence class

Successful completion of an equivalent course for the class of licence (e.g. similar modules)

A recognition certificate

A qualification of statement of attainment of the required competency issued by an approved authority for the class of licence

These types of qualifications are issued by Registered Training Organisations to persons who have successfuly completed their training.

If you do not hold a formal technical qualification you may be able to obtain this by undergoing RPL. RPL is provided by Registered Training Organisations (listed below). BSA's web page Recognition of Prior Learning provides more information about this process.

Registered Training Organisations:

Certify – restricted to gaseous, water mist and reticulated foam proportioning systems

FPIBQ (Fire Protection
Industry Board of Qld Inc)
(Accreditations)
Address: PO Box 5003,
Algester QLD 4115
Phone: 07 3272 0263
Fax: 07 3272 0312
Contact: Christine Nufer
Email:fpib_qld@yahoo.com.au

JIST (Joint Industry Services Training)
Address: PO BOX 102,
Salisbury QLD 4107
Phone: 07 3255 5698 (Registration 07 3277 4963)
Fax: 07 3255 5686
Contact: Trevor Torrens
Email: office@jist.com.au
Web: www.jist.com.au

Certify - restricted to chemical and foam special hazard systems

FPIBQ (Fire Protection
Industry Board of Qld Inc)
(Accreditations)
Address: PO Box 5003,
Algester QLD 4115
Phone: 07 3272 0263
Fax: 07 3272 0312
Contact: Christine Nufer
Email:fpib_qld@yahoo.com.au

Install and Maintain

Fire Skills Training
Address: Unit 3/10 Depot Street,
Banyo QLD 4014
PO Box 371, Albion QLD 4010
Phone: 07 3333 2378
Fax: 07 3333 2379
Contact: Rob Miles - 0422 378 378
Email: rob@fireskillstraining.com

Maintain - restricted to gaseous, water mist and reticulated foam proportioning systems

Firesafe Australia
Address: 69 Commercial Drive,
Shailer Park QLD 4128
Phone: 1300 680 810
Fax: 07 3801 0299
Contact: David Ross
Email: david@fvs.com.au
Web: www.firesafeaustralia.com.au

FPAA(Fire Protection Assosciation Australia)
Address: PO Box 1049, Box Hill VIC 3128
Phone: 1300 731 922 or 03 9890 1544
Fax: 03 9890 1577
Contact: Learning and Development
Email: training@fpaa.com.au
Web: www.fpaa.com.au

Please note that the Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) listed are provided as a guide only and can be subject to change at any time. The BSA does however strive to ensure that the information contained is as accurate and up-to-date as possible and welcomes feedback from the RTOs where information should be amended or updated. Prospective licence applicants should be aware that it is common that RTOs will notify the BSA that they are delivering a qualification which aligns with a licence class and wish to be included in this booklet, however, RTOs do not always notify the BSA when they have discontinued delivery of a qualification and therefore should be removed from the website.

Prospective licence applicants should also note that RTOs often choose to offer more than one type of delivery and training and assessment. For example, they could decide to deliver all modes (on-campus/face-to-face/lecture style of delivery, electronic/online/web delivery, Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL) or Upskilling/Gap training). Delivery could be via one mode only, or a combination of all and RTOs will often change their delivery modes depending on demand. The BSA therefore recommends that interested persons make their own enquiries to see if an RTO is delivering the qualification they seek, the cost, duration and the mode of delivery, in order to make the decision of which option suits them best.

Additional Information

Apprentices

Companies

Applying for an Additional Licence

Fit and Proper