The AS1851 Compliance Cheat Sheet
A new NSW fire safety duty takes effect on 13 February 2026. This free 2-page reference covers exactly what building owners and facility managers need to know — the regulation, the penalties, the deadlines, and who’s qualified to do the work.
The 13 February 2026 deadline
Section 81A of the EP&A (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 takes effect — a new statutory duty to maintain fire safety measures to AS1851 standard, plus a 7-year record-keeping requirement.
What non-compliance actually costs
Maximum court penalties run into tens of thousands of dollars per breach — for the building, and personally for whoever is responsible. The sheet breaks down the exact figures.
Your insurance is on the line too
A lapse in AS1851 servicing can give an insurer grounds to decline or reduce a claim after a fire — separate from any statutory penalty.
Who’s actually qualified to do the work
AS1851—2012 defines "competent person" precisely. The cheat sheet quotes the exact clauses so you know what to ask a contractor before you sign them up.
Every system AS1851 covers
Sprinklers, hydrants, extinguishers, fire doors, emergency planning, and more — the full list of what falls under the maintenance duty.
The service cycle and tolerance windows
Monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly, yearly — and what happens if a service falls outside its tolerance window.
This resource covers NSW law only. Victoria and Queensland impose similar essential fire safety duties through different legislative mechanisms — contact us for the equivalent summary if your building is in one of those states. General guide only, not legal advice; we always recommend independent legal advice for your specific circumstances.
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