Fire Services
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It is critical that the fire services and systems in your commercial, industrial or residential building are operating at optimal levels and can control a fire until emergency services arrive on the scene.
The specialists at Vic Plumbing & Drainage can design, install, test and maintain your fire services, ensuring that they can be relied upon when an emergency occurs. Our team can design and install fire services such as hydrants and hose reels. Correctly fitted and well-maintained fire services will give you peace of mind, know that the building, people and assets inside of it are protected.
PROFESSIONAL PLUMBING FIRE SERVICES
Fire Services Melbourne: How We Can Help
If you’re looking after a factory, commercial site or apartment block, you want to know your fire equipment will work the moment it’s needed. That’s where we come in. We look after hydrant and hose reel systems from the first drawings right through to installation, testing and ongoing care.
Fire plumbing connects closely with the rest of your building’s water supply, so we plan it alongside the tappings, water meters and booster assemblies that feed it. If your project also needs hot and cold water, sewer or stormwater design, our hydraulic plumbing team can map it all out together, which keeps everything working nicely as one system.
When it comes to fire services, Melbourne sites come in all shapes and sizes. We work right across the city from our offices in Keilor and Mount Waverley. Our team has supported everything from factories to aged care facilities, so we’re comfortable on busy sites where people are still coming and going.
Fire Hydrant Repairs, Testing and Servicing
Fire hydrants can sit untouched for years, which is exactly why regular care matters so much. A hydrant that looks fine from the outside can still have a sticky valve or a slow leak hiding inside. We offer testing, servicing and fire hydrant repairs to keep your system ready for the day fire crews need it.
Testing
We check that your hydrants and hose reels deliver the water pressure and flow your building was designed for. Testing also shows up small problems early, while they’re still quick and affordable to sort out.
Servicing
Routine servicing covers the parts that wear over time, such as valves, seals, couplings and booster connections. Most maintenance in Victoria follows AS 1851, the Australian Standard for the routine service of fire protection systems and equipment. It sets out how often each part should be inspected and tested, and we work to the schedule that applies to your building.
Repairs
When something isn’t right, we’ll explain what we’ve found in plain English and talk you through your options. Common fire hydrant repairs include leaking or seized valves, worn gaskets, damaged booster assemblies, corroded pipework and pressure that has dropped below what your system needs. Once the work is done, we’ll retest everything so you can be confident it’s back in good working order.
NEED A FIRE HYDRANT OR HOSE REEL INSTALLATION?
What Building Owners Need to Know
In Victoria, fire hydrants and hose reels are classed as essential safety measures under the Building Regulations 2018. The Building and Plumbing Commission explains that building owners must keep these measures maintained so they operate properly.
Owners also need to prepare an annual essential safety measures report and keep maintenance and repair records on hand. A municipal building surveyor or the fire brigade can ask to see those records with 24 hours’ notice.
A few things make this much easier to manage:
Know your schedule. Your occupancy permit or maintenance determination lists the safety measures in your building and the standard they need to meet.
Keep your paperwork together. Hold service records, test results and repair notes in one place, ready for your annual report.
Check your lease. Maintenance usually sits with the owner, although some leases pass part of it to the tenant.
Book repairs promptly. Fixing issues soon after a test keeps your records clean and your building protected.
We’re always happy to help you understand what your hydrants need and keep your maintenance on track throughout the year.
Fire Services FAQs
What is fire plumbing?
Fire plumbing is the pipework, valves and fittings that carry water to firefighting equipment such as hydrants, hose reels and booster assemblies. It’s designed to deliver enough pressure and flow for fire crews to work with, so it needs to be planned, installed and maintained with care.
How often do fire hydrants need testing?
AS 1851 sets out a schedule of regular inspections, with more detailed tests at longer intervals. The exact requirements for your building depend on its occupancy permit or maintenance determination. If you’re not sure where to start, we’re happy to take a look with you.
Who is responsible for fire hydrant maintenance in a commercial building?
In Victoria, the building owner is responsible for keeping essential safety measures like fire hydrants maintained. Some leases pass part of this to the tenant, so it’s worth checking your agreement.
Do you offer fire hydrant repairs after a failed test?
Yes. If your hydrant system hasn’t passed its latest test, we can find the cause, carry out the fire hydrant repairs needed and retest the system once the work is complete.
Do you install fire sprinklers?
We don’t offer sprinkler services at this stage. Our fire services focus on in-ground fire systems, hydrants, hose reels, booster assemblies, water meter setups and tappings.
Where do you provide fire services in Melbourne?
We look after sites right across Melbourne from our Keilor and Mount Waverley offices. To talk through your fire plumbing needs, give our friendly team a call on 03 9012 5111 or drop us a line at estimating@vicplumbing.com.au.