Queensland’s fire safety compliance framework is often misunderstood because it involves three separate regulatory systems that overlap:

Queensland’s fire safety compliance framework is often misunderstood because it involves three separate regulatory systems that overlap:

  1. Building legislation – determines what fire safety measures a building must have.
  2. Fire safety legislation – governs how those measures are maintained and managed throughout the building’s life.
  3. QBCC licensing legislation – regulates who is legally authorised to inspect, test, maintain and certify fire protection systems.

Understanding how these three systems interact is essential.

1. Building legislation

The Building Act 1975 establishes the legal framework for building work in Queensland. It adopts the National Construction Code (NCC), which specifies the fire safety measures required for different classes of buildings.

Examples include:

  • fire detection and alarm systems;
  • sprinklers;
  • hydrants;
  • hose reels;
  • fire doors;
  • emergency lighting;
  • exit signs;
  • smoke hazard management systems;
  • fire-resisting construction.

Once a building is occupied, responsibility shifts from the builder to the owner or occupier to ensure these systems continue to perform as originally approved.

2. Fire safety legislation

The principal operational legislation is the:

  • Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990
  • Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 (BFSR)

The Building Fire Safety Regulation requires occupiers to:

  • maintain prescribed fire safety installations;
  • maintain evacuation routes;
  • prepare and maintain evacuation plans where required;
  • display evacuation diagrams;
  • conduct evacuation instructions and exercises where applicable;
  • keep maintenance records;
  • complete the annual occupier’s statement where required.

Importantly, the Regulation places responsibility on the building owner or occupier, not the maintenance contractor.

3. QBCC Fire Protection Licensing

This is where there is often confusion.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) regulates who may legally undertake fire protection work.

Since 1 May 2021, Queensland introduced a new fire protection licensing framework.

There are separate licence classes for:

  • Install
  • Maintain
  • Inspect & Test
  • Certify

These licence classes apply separately to each fire protection stream, including:

  • Fire Detection & Alarm
  • Emergency Warning & Intercommunication Systems
  • Sprinklers
  • Hydrants
  • Hose Reels
  • Passive Fire
  • Portable Fire Equipment
  • Special Hazard Systems
  • Smoke Hazard Management

A person must hold the appropriate licence for each activity they perform