Having the right fire safety equipment and an accompanying fire safety plan in place is essential for ensuring the safety of your building or premises. Whether by stopping a small flame from spreading or even just by providing you with enough time and access to evacuate before help arrives, having reliable types of fire equipment on-site is a vital component of any risk mitigation strategy.
Different types of fire safety equipment serve different purposes, from fire extinguishers and blankets to alarms and sprinkler systems. Knowing what the different types of fire safety equipment you need and the maintenance and servicing requirements for this equipment can help ensure your building or premises maintains compliance with Australian Fire Safety Standards.
At Alexon, our fire protection safety specialists use their extensive industry knowledge to help keep people and property safe. From system installation to equipment maintenance, our expert team ensures you not only have the right types of fire safety equipment but that all of this equipment is maintained in accordance with the relevant safety standards.
Here are the most common types of fire safety equipment required for commercial and residential buildings across Victoria.
Designed to activate upon the detection of smoke, heat or both, fire alarm detection provides building occupants with the critical time needed to respond appropriately to a fire-related emergency. Without properly functioning alarms, fires can spread undetected, increasing the risk of injuries, fatalities and extensive property damage.
For maximum effectiveness, fire alarms must be strategically placed throughout a building and installed in accordance with relevant fire safety standards. Hallways, stairwells, elevators and common areas should always have alarm coverage to ensure that no matter where a fire starts, people are alerted as quickly as possible.
High-risk areas such as kitchens, mechanical rooms and boiler rooms require specialised alarms designed to detect early signs of combustion in environments where fire hazards are more likely. However, having fire alarms installed in the workplace is only the first step.
Over time, alarms can accumulate dust, dirt or debris that may interfere with their sensors, reducing their effectiveness. Power failures, battery degradation, or faulty wiring can also compromise an alarm’s ability to function when needed most.
To remain compliant with Australian fire safety regulations, ensure your fire alarms are tested regularly. Routine fire alarm maintenance is also essential – this includes checking battery levels, testing sound output, and ensuring alarms are interconnected properly so that a signal from one unit activates the entire system.
Additionally, routine fire drills can help confirm that alarms are functioning as intended while also preparing building occupants for an actual emergency.
By detecting smoke early, smoke alarm systems provide valuable seconds that can make all the difference in an emergency, helping to protect both people and property.
Smoke alarms detect smoke particles in the air through either ionisation sensors or photoelectric sensors. Ionisation smoke alarms effectively detect rapid fire outbreaks with visible flames whereas photoelectric alarms excel at recognising gradual smoke buildup from smoldering fires. Contemporary smoke alarm systems integrate both ionisation and photoelectric technologies to deliver full-range protection.
Unlike fire alarms, which are often part of a larger, interconnected system in commercial buildings, smoke alarms are typically standalone units designed for homes, apartments and smaller businesses. They are essential in key areas such as bedrooms, hallways, stairwells and living spaces, with additional alarms recommended near kitchens and laundry rooms where electrical fires are more likely to occur.
Australian fire safety regulations require smoke alarms to be tested regularly and replaced every 10 years to ensure they remain effective. Monthly at-home checks can be done by pressing the test button to verify the alarm sounds correctly, while an annual inspection by a licensed professional ensures the sensors remain unobstructed and fully functional.
Having the right fire extinguisher readily available can make all the difference in protecting lives, and property and minimising potential damage to your building. Whether you are responding to a small kitchen fire or a larger electrical or chemical blaze, an installed fire extinguishers are designed to tackle different types of fires.
Regular extinguisher maintenance is crucial for ensuring they are in full working order when needed. This includes checking for signs of wear, ensuring the pressure gauge is in the green zone and inspecting for any physical damage. Any that have been used, regardless of how small the fire was should be recharged or replaced immediately.
You can choose the right type of fire extinguisher for your needs by identifying the most likely types of fires that could occur in your environment. For instance, if your space includes a kitchen, you’ll want to have a wet chemical fire extinguisher to handle cooking oil fires. For office environments with electrical equipment, CO2 or dry powder extinguishers are best suited for handling electrical fires among the different types of fire safety equipment.
Ideal for Class A fires, such as those involving wood, paper, and textiles, water fire extinguishers are commonly installed in warehouses and storage facilities as well as some office or classroom environments. Class A fires burn with a solid flame and are also most common in homes, offices and other environments where paper materials are found.
Foam fire extinguishers are suitable for Class A and B fires, including flammable liquids like petrol or oils.
Class B fires can be especially dangerous in environments such as garages, kitchens or industrial settings where these materials are commonly used or stored. These fires leave behind no ash and typically spread quickly due to the nature of the liquid or gas.
CO2 fire extinguishers are best for electrical fires where there are risks of electrical shock if there are attempts to suppress flames using water. As CO2 gas does not conduct electricity and leaves no residue, CO2 fire extinguishers are expressly designed to be ideal for use against all Class E electrical fires.
Dry chemical powder extinguishers are effective on Class A, B, and C fires, including flammable gases, liquids and electrical fires. As Class C fires occur when electrical systems, devices or wiring malfunction and ignite, dry chemical powder aids in reducing risks of electrical shock in much the same way as CO2 fire extinguishers. These two extinguisher types aren’t interchangeable, however, as CO2 fire extinguishers aren’t effective against Class A, B, or C fires.
Specifically designed for Class F fires, wet chemical fire extinguishers are typically found in commercial kitchens. This is because Class F fires are fires that are ignited specifically by the burning of cooking oils and fats and can thus, not be suppressed using water.
As for the different types of fire safety equipment, fire blankets are made from non-flammable, heat-resistant materials capable of resisting temperatures of up to 900°C and extinguishing flames through smothering and oxygen blockage.
One of the big safety advantages of having a fire blanket is it protects against kitchen fires triggered by cooking oils and fats (Class F fires) and provides a safe solution for physically suppressing electrical fires where water or foam extinguishers can create dangers. Fire blankets can also be wrapped around a person whose clothing has caught fire, helping to suppress flames and prevent severe burns.
You can make sure your fire blankets stay compliant with fire safety standards by ensuring they’re correctly installed and maintained in accordance with Australian fire safety standards. The best spot to place your fire blankets is mounted on walls near high-risk zones such as kitchens or workshops, to maintain their effectiveness.
AS1851 also outlines requirements and timelines for regular fire blanket testing to verify the blanket's condition and storage for emergency readiness. Even if unused, fire blankets should be replaced according to the manufacturer's guidelines to maintain reliability.
Fire safety doors are a different type of fire safety equipment installed primarily in multi-storey residential and commercial buildings. They help to contain fires and smoke, preventing them from spreading to other parts of the building and supporting building evacuation plans.
To ensure full compliance with AS1905.1, the gap between a fire door and its frame should be no more than 3mm at the top, while the clearance at the bottom should not exceed 10mm. Additionally, every fire door must have its fire rating clearly displayed to indicate its level of protection.
But proper installation is just the first step. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure your fire doors remain in peak working condition. Components such as locks, hinges, knobs, reinforcing plates, tracks and runners all play a role in the operation of your fire doors and should thus, be routinely inspected.
Checking for wear, damage or obstructions helps to prevent malfunctions that could compromise safety in an emergency. AS1851 requires sliding fire doors to also be inspected every three months, hinged fire and smoke doors every six months and fire-rated access panels to be inspected annually.
Fire hose reels are typically installed in commercial buildings, warehouses, industrial sites and other high-risk areas where quick access to water is critical for fire control.
The installation height for fire hose reels should fall within the range of 1.4 metres to 2.4 metres above ground level with 1.5 metres considered ideal for easy access. The spindle which holds the fire hose and the reel's cabinet must also be constructed from metal according to AS2441 to ensure both durability and reliability. If a fire hose reel is installed outside, it must be placed inside a secure metal cabinet. This ensures the hose is protected from potential damage or tampering.
To remain operational and compliant with Australian Fire Safety Standards, regular servicing and maintenance are essential. This includes checking for hose wear and tear to ensure the reel operates smoothly and verify the water pressure is adequate.
Fire hose reels are designed to deliver a water stream to a distance of at least 4 metres unlike fire extinguishers which work effectively up to 2 metres. This means that water pressure testing is also crucial for ensuring optimal performance for your fire hose reel.
According to AS1851, standard fire hose reel needs to release water at a minimum rate of 0.33 litres per second to effectively extinguish fires. The hose should also be able to fully extend to a length of 36 metres and be installed within 4 metres of an exit.
Fire sprinklers play a crucial role in protecting your property and its occupants in the event of a fire. Depending on the design and layout of your building, our team at Alexon can help determine the right type of fire sprinkler system to suit your needs.
Fire sprinklers are typically installed in high-risk areas such as kitchens, warehouses, industrial spaces and multi-story buildings. These types of fire equipment are vital for minimising fire damage and controlling the spread of flames until emergency services arrive.
Keep in mind, however, that there are many types of fire sprinkler and suppression systems, all of which are tailored to specific environments. For instance, wet pipe systems, the most common type, contain water in the pipes at all times for instant activation. Foam deluge systems provide rapid, full-area coverage for high-hazard locations.
Contrastingly, dry pipe systems have a pre-action valve located between the water tank and system pipes. Despite the secondary step required for activation, dry pipe fire sprinkler systems are ideal for combatting leak risks that may occur across wet pipe systems, or reducing risks of water freezing inside pipes in areas with a colder climate.
Fire sprinkler systems must be regularly inspected and maintained according to Australian Standards. Routine checks help identify any potential issues, such as blockages or pressure loss so that the system remains in optimal working condition when needed.
During a fire, smoke and power failure can significantly reduce visibility inside a building. Emergency exit lighting systems are essential for guiding occupants to the nearest exit safely.
A couple of different types of emergency lights are available. Exit signs are typically illuminated with LED or photoluminescent technology. Standard emergency lighting ensures basic visibility in corridors and stairwells while powerful floodlights illuminate large spaces to keep them visible.
These lights should be installed along designated escape routes like hallways and stairwells. Additionally, emergency lights should be placed near fire safety equipment, such as extinguishers and hose reels.
According to emergency lighting standards, these fire and building safety essentials need regular inspections and battery tests along with full-duration testing to ensure they function during emergencies.
Ensuring that your property is fully protected from fire hazards requires more than just purchasing fire safety equipment. It’s crucial to have fire safety specialists install and maintain these different types of fire safety equipment and systems to ensure they work effectively when needed most.
At Alexon, our team of experts is dedicated to providing reliable installation and ongoing maintenance for all your fire safety needs. On top of being able to assist you with your system testing and maintenance, our fire specialists can also provide ESM safety reports for your building or business, ensuring you can keep track of your compliance with all fire safety standards and building codes year-round.
Don’t leave the safety of your property to chance. Learn more about the different types of fire safety equipment and contact us today to book your next scheduled fire equipment maintenance or servicing appointment and to ensure all of your fire safety equipment is up to standard and fully operational.
Complete the form to request a call
from a friendly Alexon team member.
