AS 1851 deferral – what it means for the industry and building owners 

Recently, Building Commission NSW announced the deferral of mandatory fire safety requirements to comply with AS 1851-2012 in NSW. These changes are now due to come into effect on February 13, 2026 – 12 months after the original commencement date.

This standard governs the frequency of fire safety servicing and maintenance, ensuring systems remain operational and effective.

This decision was made in response to feedback from the fire protection industry and strata communities, identifying not all stakeholders are ready to migrate to AS 1851 fully.

First introduced in 1989, AS 1851 is the industry standard, providing a framework for the frequency of inspections, maintenance and reporting on all fire protection systems, including fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire hoses and reels, fire water storage tanks, fire detection systems, special hazard systems, emergency planning, and fire blankets.

While compliance deadlines have been extended, it remains crucial for building owners to uphold fire safety obligations and maintain fire protection systems to ensure occupant safety and compliance with existing regulations.

Wormald’s General Manager of Business Services, John Lynch, says Wormald will continue to maintain fire safety measures to meet AS1851 regulations for its customers.

“Wormald has long adhered to rigorous fire safety standards, with all our clients already covered under the requirements of AS 1851. This includes servicing and maintenance protocols aligned with national standards,” said Lynch.

“We encourage building owners to proactively adopt AS 1851 practices now to safeguard their properties, tenants, and compliance requirements. Wormald can assist NSW building owners to confidently plan for the mandated inspection, testing, record keeping and reporting responsibilities, keeping ahead of these industry changes.”

For the latest on AS 1851 requirements, go to www.wormald.com.au/nswmandate