What is a fire service?
Access to water is essential when combating fires, particularly in buildings that have a large roof area.
Fire services need to meet building requirements controlled by the Victorian Building Authority. Conditions will be included in the building or planning permit issued by a building surveyor.
Fire services consist of:
- A connection and valve located at Wannon Water’s water main.
- Below-ground pipes to the property.
- Service fittings within the property such as hydrants, sprinkler systems and hose reels. These surface fittings are usually painted bright red.
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We can register the following information when we receive a request to install a new fire service:
- Size of fire service, water meter and associated pipes and fittings.
- Water main material.
- Backflow prevention as determined by your plumber – refer below for further information. If you install an extra fire plug on an existing water main you will need to obtain all approvals.
Property owners are responsible for maintaining their fire service. The responsibility for enforcing building safety rests with councils.
If we become aware of a leak or a burst on a fire service, we’ll ask the property owner to make a repair. Legislation allows us to disconnect the fire service if necessary. We would also need to let council know that there may be a breach of building regulations.
What happens if the required repairs are not done? Or if the leaking fire service is causing damage or public danger? Then we’ll undertake the repairs and recover the cost from the property owner.
A fire service fee is charged for the private fire service tapping off a water main. Fire services are usually a larger size capacity to draw higher volumes of water if required.
We provide capacity within our water system to supply water to the fire service. The cost to maintain this capacity is reflected in the fire service charge.
We’re able to charge for water used from a fire service. If you provide evidence that water has been used for firefighting, then the water use is free. To limit the use of fire services for purposes other than firefighting, we require:
- Installation of a water meter on a new fire service; or
- Installation of a detector check meter. This identifies the volumes of water used through a fire service.
Fire service connections pose a risk to our community’s drinking water system due to the potential of water to backflow.
To reduce the risk of contamination, approved backflow prevention devices need to be installed on all fire services. These devices need to be in accordance with AS/NZS 3500 plumbing regulations.
Is your fire service no longer required under building regulations? Then we’ll need written verification from a building surveyor or evidence that you’ll engage a registered plumber. The plumber can then apply to us to have the fire service disconnected.
Disconnection fees apply with all excavation and reinstatement works provided by your plumber.
Property owners must ensure they comply with building requirements when disconnecting a fire service.
Who’s responsible?
