Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS)
FPAS is now mandatory in NSW
The Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS) was
formally
approved by the Secretary of the Department of
Customer Service under
section 59 of the Building and Development Certifiers Act
2018.
This means that if you:
- endorse plans and specifications for designs, and do not hold
C8 or C14 registration with the Department, you must be Fire
Systems Design (FSD) accredited; or
- endorse fire safety measures on annual or supplementary fire
safety statements, you must be Fire Safety Assessment (FSA)
accredited.
All other fire protection roles are unaffected by the
announcement.
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OVERVIEW OF THE SCHEME
The Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS), launched in
July 2013, is the only nationally harmonised accreditation system
designed to recognise the skills and competencies of individuals
working in the fire protection industry across all state and
territory jurisdictions in Australia.
The FPAS Scheme incorporates existing and essential components
of the Australian Government training agenda on competency-based
training and assessment.
While mostly voluntary, FPAS has been recognised for fire
systems design and fire safety assessment by the NSW Government,
under the
Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000,
the Building
and Development Certifiers Act 2018, and the
Building and Development Certifiers Regulation
2020.
You are not required to be accredited under FPAS to work in
the fire protection industry, except for designers or
assessors in NSW, nor do you have to be a member of FPA Australia
to be part of the scheme.
The Association has introduced FPAS for the benefit and
sustainability of the fire protection industry and has committed to
ensuring that all appropriately qualified practitioners are
eligible for accreditation.
Available Classes of FPAS Accreditation
FPAS currently covers the followng areas of work:
We are currently working on other classes of accreditation,
which will be introduced over time.
These will include:
- Installation and Commissioning;
- Maintenance; and
- Emergency Planning and Training (EPT).
The FPAS classes are financed through a fee-based system on the
application, attainment, and renewal of accreditation.
Accreditation is delivered to individuals, not companies,
although our 2020 Vision seeks to have companies become Recognised
Businesses by getting all of their technicians accredited for
Inspect and Test (routine service).
FPAS is a key part of ongoing efforts by the fire protection
industry to:
- increase professionalism;
- deliver quality services by engaging a technically competent
workforce; and
- improving fire safety outcomes for the community.
Individual Accreditation
Individuals accredited under the Scheme must demonstrate
competency to provide the services for which they are accredited
via an objective, formal assessment process.
Where launched, there are three (3) accreditation pathways for
individuals:
1. Qualified Accreditation
2. Transitional Accreditation
3. Trainee Accreditation
Accredited individuals who have gained Transitional or Trainee
Accreditation are required to transition to Qualified Accreditation
within a specified period.
This transition period allows the individual to complete the
required units of competency needed to successfully gain Qualified
Accreditation under the Scheme.
See the FACT Sheets or
NSW Reforms for
further information on obtaining Qualified, Transitional or Trainee
Accreditation.