05/06/2026
What does "competent person" actually mean under AS1851?
It's one of the most misunderstood terms in the standard and it matters.
Under AS1851, fire safety measures must be inspected and tested by a "competent person". But competency isn't just about holding a licence. It means having the specific skills, knowledge and experience to carry out that service on the specific system.
In practice, this means:
Not all fire contractors are equal.
A technician with skills and knowledge on one system may not be competent for another.
Building owners are responsible for ensuring the people they engage actually meet the standard’s requirements.
If you're a building, facility or property manager relying on a single contractor to service everything in your building, it's worth investigating whether they are genuinely competent across every measure listed on your Fire Safety Schedule?
We are and we're happy to show you how!