Fire alarm installations must be certified
Consent officers, building inspectors and others involved in building compliance should note that new fire alarm systems are required to be certified - a producer statement on its own is not enough.
New provisions in C/AS1 and NZS 4512 mean that the installation of fire alarm systems must be certified by an accredited inspection body*. These changes bring fire alarm systems in line with long-standing fire sprinkler requirements.
Building consent authorities should not issue a code compliance certificate for any project including a new Type 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 system until certification has been completed. Installers and project managers should book their certifier early and ensure they allow enough time in their construction programme for inspections and certification.
The new requirements come from an update of C/AS1 in late 2005 to cite the latest New Zealand Standard for fire alarm systems, namely NZS 4512: 2003 Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Buildings. If you receive a producer state-ment from a fire alarm contractor, we recommend that you confirm that certification has been completed. The contractor should be able to provide you with a copy of the certification.
Requirements for alterations to existing alarm systems and for alternative solutions can differ. Proposals need to be submitted to and approved by the building consent authority at building consent stage.
For further information, contact the Building Controls helpdesk on 0800 242 243.