Fire Service Agents

Responsibilities

DFES require that all contractors be aware of the requirement to comply with relevant Australian Standards and the DFES DBA Connection Code at all times.

DFES will and do inspect alarms to ensure compliancy to AS1851 is being adhered to.
Failure to comply with the requirements of AS1851 may see an alarm placed into Offline mode and if the agent fails to complete the AS1851 log book correctly, they will be reported to the FPAA/ NFIA.

DFES will not connect DBA sites where either insufficient compliance documents have been supplied or the submitted documents are incorrect/ non-factual. DFES will not connect DBA sites where there are compliance issues with either submitted documents or the installation (either dry and/or wet systems).

DFES reserve the absolute right to have submitted compliance documents reviewed by Standards Australia or a technical representative of the FPAA/ NFIA, where doubt over the veracity of the documents is in question.

DFES reserve the right to forward all submitted drawings and documents to the owner of the DBA/ building, or to the owners’ nominated fire (or building maintenance, etc) service contractor (where requested by the owner).

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DFES DBA CONNECTION CODE

The DFES DBA Connection Code provides the standards required to connect a protected premises fire alarm to the the DFES monitored Direct Brigade Alarm (DBA) network. These standards are to be used in conjunction with all relevant Australian Standards for the installation of fire alarm monitoring equipment. This document is reviewed periodically and changes made when required. Therefore, fire service agents should ensure that they understand the requirements of the latest version, prior to the request for connection to the DBA network or undertaking alterations to an existing alarm.

In addition, DFES require that fire service agents technicians must be employed by a company registered with the Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPAA) and/or the National Fire Industry Association (NFIA). Membership of a fire alarm industry peak industry body is mandatory. If the FPAA, or NFIA revoke, suspend, or cancel an agent’s membership, DFES will no longer permit that fire service agent (the agent’s company) from working on any alarm system connected as a DBA. Failure to comply may see the alarm placed OFFLINE.

The DFES DBA End User Agreement (EUA) requires that the client comply with this connection code as well as relevant Australian Standards, and the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Clause 5.1 of the EUA requires that the client shall not make, cause, suffer or permit to be made any alteration or addition to the Alarm without the prior written approval of DFES. DFES requires that the agent notify the DFES DBA Manager prior to any works being undertaken. DFES further require that the agent shall submit all required certification and compliance documents within 10 working days of any upgrade works being completed.

Failure to comply shall see the fire alarm agent reported to the FPAA (or NFIA), and further, the alarm may be placed OFFLINE till the matter is resolved to DFES’s satisfaction.

Any queries regarding this document or the requirements for compliance to connect to the DBA network should be made with the DFES Manager Direct Brigade Alarm. All other queries should be made with FAMS.

Contact details can be found at the Contacts area of this site.

A copy of the current DFES DBA Connection Code can be found in the Fire Service Agents’ Document Library.

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New Connections

Copies of the C1 and C6 forms can be found in the Fire Service Agents’ Document Library.

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Upgrades & Work on Existing DBAs

Clause 5.1 of the EUA requires that the client shall not make, cause, suffer or permit to be made any alteration or addition to the Alarm without the prior written approval of DFES. DFES requires that the agent notify the DFES DBA Manager prior to any works being undertaken.

No fire service agent is authorised to interfere with the ASE in any way without written authorisation from FAMS or DFES. Fire service agents conducting any work on the fire detection/ suppression system of a DBA site should fully understand DFES’ requirements for compliance and governance. Failure to comply shall see the fire alarm agent reported to the FPAA (or NFIA), and further, the alarm may be placed OFFLINE till the matter is resolved to DFES’s satisfaction.

C6 – Upgrades

Any of the following work must be preceded by the submission of a C6 form to FAMS:

• FIP Changeover (replacement of existing FIP in same location; no modification to monitoring configuration)
• FIP Relocation (moving existing/ installing new FIP in new location; no modification to monitoring configuration)
• FIP Add Function (addition or removal of FIP inputs on the ASE monitoring configuration)

The C6 form must be submitted prior to the commencement of any work on site. FIP relocations and modification of signals require supplementary compliance documentation and are subject to DFES approval prior to site attendance by a FAMS technician.

C8 – Planned Maintenance & Fit Outs

Any work which may compromise the DBA compliance of a site must be preceded by the submission of a C8 form.

A C8 form is required where a contractor (fire service agent or other) is making any changes to the fire system that result in a modification to the As Builts, Block/Zone Plan or compromise continuity of DBA compliance to all relevant standards. This includes:

• Addition, removal, relocation of devices or fire system components
• Addition to, or modification of existing FIP, detection or suppression system

A C8 form is not required for:

• Repairs to FIP components
• Repair/ replacement of fire system devices (of same type; in same location)

FAMS Technician Attendance

Where a FAMS technician is required to attend to complete C6 upgrade work, fire service agents should allow for a minimum three (3) working days for processing of paperwork, approvals (if required) and job scheduling. Where advance notification is not possible, justification from the fire agent will be required and a FAMS technician will be dispatched when available.

Regional Service Centres are defined as follows:

•     Albany
•     Broome
•     Bunbury
•     Busselton
•     Esperance
•     Geraldton
•     Kalgoorlie
•     Northam

Booking for remote areas is subject to the availability of flights AND accommodation at the destination (where required).
Copies of the C6 and C8 forms can be found in the Fire Service Agents’ Document Library.

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Disconnections

A DBA may be disconnected under several circumstances:
Voluntary:

• Building scheduled for demolition
• Building purpose reclassified – new purpose does not require DBA
• Cancellation of optional monitoring

Involuntary:

• Non compliance of fire system/ site
• Non payment of annual fees
• Failure (or refusal) to enter into End User Agreement

DFES will not monitor ongoing construction sites where access for attending fire crews is difficult or unsafe in any way. Queries regarding monitoring of sites under construction (or having major work undertaken) should be referred to the DBA Manager Direct Brigade Alarm. Contact details can be found in the Contacts section of this site.

All requests for voluntary disconnection (C4 form) must be submitted by the DBA customer (building owner or representative).

Copies of the C4 form can be found in the Fire Service Agents’ Document Library.

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iButtons

            

The ASE can be toggled between the 3 modes by operation of the iButton key (often referred to as a “fob”). There are 2 types of iButtons:

• Red – issued to a site and to remain on premises with the FIP at all times
• Black – issued to individuals (technicians, wardens, facilities managers, etc).

By placing the iButton key onto the key reader of the ASE display, the user can place the ASE into one of 3 operating modes. These operating modes are:

• Normal
• Test
• Isolate

If a black technician iButton is used, the stored ASE report will display the technician’s name to whom that key is registered. If the red Site Key is used, then the stored ASE report will only display “Site Key” in the report.

Black technician iButtons are issued by FAMS and can be requested by the submission of a C10 form.
Replacement red Site Key iButtons can be requested by contacting FAMS.

The C10 form can be found in the Fire Service Agents’ Document Library.

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Fees, Invoices & Payments

Fees

Fees Schedule is available from the Fire Service Agents’ Document Library.

Billing

Invoices for annual monitoring fees are issued in July as a single invoce for the coming financial year period.
Invoices for chargeable work (including new connections, upgrades/maintenance and faults) are issued at the end of each month in which the work was conducted.

Standard payment terms are 30 days.

Payments

Payments can be made by the following methods:

Cheques:
Made Payable to: DFES DIRECT BRIGADE ALARMS
Must include remittance slip from invoice to identify invoice number, billing number and invoice amount for reconciliation. Write invoice number and contact details on reverse of cheque.

Debt Recovery

Customers will receive several payment reminders in addition to a monthly account statement before outstanding debts are referred to DFES’ nominated debt collection agency.

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DBA Alerts

DFES and the DBA Manager Direct Brigade Alarm will periodically issue updates regarding DBA processes and procedures. Fire Service agents can subscribe to receive DBA Alerts to keep up to date on all DBA matters.

DBA alerts may be issued for:

• Update of DBA Standard (DBA Code)
• Release of revised/ new DBA forms
• Industry alerts and communication

Click here to subscribe to the DBA Alerts and to view current and/or recent alerts.

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