Edition 81, August 2010

Queensland fire occupational licensing mandatory from 1 January

Queensland Fire occupational licensingFrom 1 January 2011 it will be compulsory for all practitioners undertaking or supervising fire protection work in Queensland to hold the appropriate licence. Queensland introduced fire occupational licences from 1 January 2009.

The Queensland Building Services Authority (BSA) fire occupational licensing means all practitioners carrying out or supervising fire protection work require a licence. Everybody doing this work requires this licence (or a nominee supervisor or contractor licence), regardless of their employment status.

The ‘Building Fire Safety in Queensland Budget Accommodation Report' was released after the Childers backpacker hostel fire. The report made recommendations to tighten up the fire protection industry. As a result of the findings, the QBSA act was amended to include an occupational licensing scheme for the installation, maintenance or certification of a fire protection system for a building. Extensive consultation was carried out with the fire protection industry and other stakeholders before the Queensland parliament passed the legislative changes.

Fire protection work is defined under the QBSA Act as any of the following, for a building or part of a building:
• The installation, restoration, repair or maintenance of a fire protection system
• The preparation of any certificate, statement or record
(i) relating to the installation, restoration, repair or maintenance of a fire protection system; or
(ii) stating whether a fire protection system meets a standard, requirement or specification
• The design of a fire protection system
• The development, approval or certification of emergency evacuation procedures for a controlled evacuation during a fire emergency
• The formulation or provision of alternative solutions relating to fire safety
• The inspection or investigation of, and the provision of advice or a report about, compliance with the Building Act 1975 or the Building Code of Australia relating to fire safety.

The next edition of Licensing Line News will include a more detailed article on the scope of the work covered and access to training in the technical requirements to gain a licence.

 

For full details visit the BSA website www.bsa.qld.gov.au and download the brochure http://www.bsa.qld.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Builders_Contractors/Publications/Fire%20Occupational%20Licences%20Booklet.pdf, or phone 1300 272 272

 

This page was generated on 20 August, 2010

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