Asset Registers vs.
WHS Compliance

The Invisible Requirement

Many building owners and facility managers view an "Asset Register" as a tool for accounting—tracking the value of equipment over time. However, under NSW fire safety law and AS 1851-2012, and as evidence of WHS due diligence, an accurate asset register is a critical compliance document.

Technical Asset Identification

Under AS 1851-2012, a safety measure is more than its physical presence. Servicing is measured against its baseline data: how it was designed and commissioned to perform. For example, a fire hydrant is not simply an "asset"—it is a critical safety measure that must deliver a specific flow rate and pressure defined at the time of the building's commissioning.

Essential Data Points for Verification:

• Physical Presence: Cross-referencing current inventory against fit-out or renovation schedules.
• Baseline Performance: Identifying the original design specs to ensure current testing is valid.
• Spatial Accuracy: Confirming that asset locations on Evacuation Diagrams reflect the physical environment within the tolerances of AS 3745.

The Role of Routine Servicing

An asset register is a dynamic document. Each essential fire safety measure has its own AS 1851 servicing routine, and where emergency planning is one of the building's measures, Section 14 adds six-monthly checks of items such as evacuation equipment and diagrams. A rolling audit of the register means the annual fire safety statement (AFSS) is made against a verified inventory, not an outdated spreadsheet.