WORK & BUSINESS LICENSES
CBS Updates
19 November 2020

The registration requirements have now been amended for people who ‘test and inspect’ fire suppression systems.

Two additional registration categories have been created to better meet industry requirements and minor changes have been made to the qualifications and scope of the existing registration category.

These registration types are for people who only perform “test and inspect” work. There are different registration requirements for people performing installation or repair work.

General ‘test and inspect’ registration

Condition of registration: Restricted plumbing work limited to routine testing and inspecting of fire hose reels, repair of hose reel components downstream of the gate valve and the 6 monthly or more frequent testing and inspecting of other fire suppression systems specified by AS1851.

Scope of work: Inspecting or testing a fire protection service consisting of water pipes and firefighting equipment (such as sprinklers, hoses and hydrants) that are connected to the mains water supply. It includes all testing of fire hose reels but does not include annual or greater testing, eg 3 yearly testing of fire sprinkler systems or hydrants. It does not include installation or repair work other than the repair or replacement of fire hose reel components that are downstream of the gate valve.

Required qualification: The following units of competency are to be completed from the CPP20511 Certificate II in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing:

  • CPPCMN2002 or CPPCMN2002A  – Participate in workplace safety arrangements
  • CPPFES2006A – Prepare for installation and servicing operations
  • CPPFES2004A – Identify types of installed fire safety equipment and systems
  • CPCPFS3040A or CPCPFS3020A – Conduct basic functional testing of water-based fire-suppression systems
  • CPCPFS3041A or CPCPFS3021A – Inspect and test fire pump sets
  • CPPFES2010A – Inspect and test fire hose reels
  • CPPFES2037A – Inspect and test fire hydrant systems

Although these are the minimum qualifications required, applicants should consider completing additional units to gain the full Certificate II in order to improve their employment prospects.

Grace period: People performing this work must not do so without registration after 1 November 2019 for those not enrolled in training, and after 6 April 2021 for those enrolled in training.

Hydrant and hose reel ‘test and inspect’ registration

Condition of registration: Restricted plumbing work limited to routine testing/inspecting of fire hose reels, repair of hose reel components downstream of the gate valve and testing/inspection of hydrant valves and booster assemblies up to six monthly testing.

Scope of work: Inspecting or testing of fire hose reels, hydrant valves and booster assemblies connected to the mains water supply, as specified by AS1851. This includes:

  • Six monthly and annual testing of fire hose reels
  • the repair or replacement of fire hose reel components that are downstream of the gate valve
  • inspection of hydrant valves and booster assemblies up to six-monthly testing

It does not include installation or repair work, other than repair/replacement of hose reel components downstream of the gate valve.  It does not include inspection or testing of pump sets.

Required qualification: The following units of competency are to be completed from the CPP20511 Certificate II in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing:

  • CPPCMN2002 or CPPCMN2002A   – Participate in workplace safety arrangements
  • CPPFES2006A – Prepare for installation and servicing operations
  • CPPFES2004A – Identify types of installed fire safety equipment and systems
  • CPPFES2010A – Inspect and test fire hose reels
  • CPPFES2037A – Inspect and test fire hydrant systems

Grace period: People performing this work must not do so without registration after 1 November 2019 for those not enrolled in training, and after 6 April 2021 for those enrolled in training.

Trainee ‘test and inspect’ registration

Condition of registration: Restricted plumbing work limited to routine testing and inspecting of fire protection equipment under the direct supervision of a person registered to perform this work without supervision.

Scope of work: Inspecting or testing a fire protection service consisting of water pipes and firefighting equipment (such as sprinklers, hoses and hydrants) that are connected to the mains water supply. The work must be performed under the direct supervision (within sight and/or hearing) of a person holding a plumbing worker’s registration authorising them to perform the work without supervision. It does not include installation or repair work.

Required qualification: Enrolment in a course that would qualify a person for a restricted plumbing workers registration authorising the testing and inspecting of fire protection equipment.

Training organisations

The following Registered Training Organisations are those known to CBS to be offering this training in South Australia.  Cost and study requirements may vary between training providers.  Some may only provide training in SA once minimum student numbers are reached.

Existing ‘test and inspect’ workers without formal qualifications may be able to obtain Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for all or most of the units.  Those with other formal qualifications are encouraged to contact Consumer and Business Services to check whether these would be acceptable.

Those inspections that are required to be carried out annually or after a longer period of time under AS1851, other than for fire hose reels, must be done by a person who holds a plumbing workers registration that authorises this work, such as a registration restricted to fire protection work.