From 13 February 2026, all class 1b and class 2 to 9 buildings in NSW must have their essential fire safety measures inspected, tested and maintained in line with AS 1851-2012. That covers apartment buildings, offices, shops, warehouses, schools, hospitals and more.
Building owners already had to keep these systems working. What's changed is that AS 1851 now sets the method: what gets checked, how often, and how it's recorded. It brings NSW in line with most other states.
Where mechanical services come in
Most people think of sprinklers, alarms and extinguishers when they hear AS 1851. But Section 13 of the standard covers the fire and smoke control features of mechanical services. That includes:
- Fire and smoke dampers
- Stair pressurisation systems
- Smoke exhaust and smoke spill fans
- Air handling systems that shut down or change mode when the fire alarm activates
These are the systems that keep smoke out of stairs and escape routes. If your building has them, they now need to be serviced to AS 1851, not just "checked".
What building owners need to do
Check your contract covers Section 13. Many existing HVAC maintenance contracts don't include fire mode testing. Ask your contractor whether your agreement covers the mechanical fire safety measures listed on your fire safety schedule.
Make sure records follow AS 1851. Servicing needs to be recorded in the format the standard sets out. Logbooks can be digital or paper, but a hard copy needs to stay on site after routine service. Councils can inspect these records.
Sort out missing baseline data. AS 1851 compares test results against the system's original design performance. Many older buildings don't have that information. Where it's missing, maintenance should carry on, the gap should be recorded as a non-conformance, and a qualified professional should be engaged to establish it.
Keep your annual fire safety statement on track. The annual fire safety statement still applies. Good AS 1851 records make it much easier to get through.
Fire and mechanical, working together
Mechanical smoke control systems don't work on their own. They're triggered by the fire detection system and have to respond in the right order. Testing goes more smoothly when your fire and mechanical contractors coordinate, or when one group looks after both.
As part of the Adept Group, Adept Mechanical works alongside Adept Fire Protection Services, so your fire and mechanical servicing can sit with the same group, on schedules that line up.
