Many commercial property owners assume their existing fire maintenance program is enough.
Under the new mandatory AS 1851-2012 requirements, that may no longer be the case.
From 13 February 2026, Class 1b and Class 2-9 buildings must follow prescribed inspection, testing and maintenance procedures for essential fire safety measures. That includes maintaining comprehensive asset registers, detailed service records and completing major scheduled inspections and overhauls throughout the life of the building.
The challenge is that many properties have historically operated under lighter or inconsistent maintenance regimes. Longer-interval services are easy to overlook, and major overhauls can become significant unplanned costs if they haven’t been budgeted for.
The risks of non-compliance are substantial:
- Significant fines and enforcement action
- Insurance claims being denied following a fire
- Legal liability and reputational damage
- Increased risk to building occupants
The best approach is to stay ahead of the requirements.
Conduct a compliance gap assessment, maintain accurate asset registers, plan and budget for long-term servicing, and work with accredited fire service providers to ensure your building remains compliant.
Fire compliance is no longer just a maintenance issue- it’s a critical part of effective asset management.
If you’d like to review your property’s fire maintenance obligations under the new AS 1851 requirements, reach out to our Director of Asset Management.