Hydrant & Booster Annual Test (AS 1851) SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement for hydrant & booster annual test covering all key hazards, controls and regulatory requirements.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Fire hydrant and booster annual testing covers the periodic testing, servicing and certification of fire hydrant systems and their booster assemblies — confirming the hydrant system delivers the required flow and pressure for firefighting and that the booster and pumps function. Fire hydrant systems are life-safety systems that must perform when needed, so they are tested at the required interval, and a system that does not deliver the required flow and pressure is a serious life-safety deficiency. This document is written on the basis that hydrant and booster testing is carried out by competent fire-system personnel, with the system flow and pressure tested, the booster and pumps verified, and the system serviced and certified.
Fire hydrant systems are tested and maintained to AS 1851, the routine service of fire protection systems and equipment standard, with the systems installed to AS 2419.1, and the connection to the drinking water supply protected by high-hazard backflow prevention. The testing confirms the hydrant system delivers the required flow and pressure and the booster and pumps function. The defining consideration is that the system is a life-safety system that must perform in a fire. This document coordinates the flow-and-pressure-testing, booster-verification, water-supply and certification controls so the hydrant system is confirmed to perform.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Life-safety deficiency where the system cannot supply firefighting water
Loss of the boosted supply where the booster and pumps fail
High-pressure water release and injury during testing
Backflow contamination where the high-hazard protection has degraded
Electric shock where booster pump electrical work is carried out without isolation
Water discharge and flooding from the flow test
A deficient life-safety system incorrectly recorded as compliant
Musculoskeletal injury from test equipment
An unprotected building where the system is not returned to service
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Administrative: test the fire hydrant system to AS 1851 — confirming the system delivers the required flow and pressure and the booster and pumps function — and service it as required.
- 2Engineering: where the system does not perform, service or rectify it so it delivers the required flow and pressure, maintaining the life-safety function.
- 3Administrative: manage the high-pressure water during flow and pressure testing, controlling the discharge and protecting workers from the high-pressure release.
- 4Administrative: confirm the high-hazard backflow protection on the connection to the drinking water supply continues to perform, field tested by an accredited tester.
- 5Administrative: isolate and have any booster pump electrical work carried out by a licensed electrician, and manage the water discharge and flooding during flow testing.
- 6Administrative: record the test result accurately, certify the system, and ensure the system is returned to service after testing so the building is protected.
- 7Engineering: confirm the booster and pumps and the system performance before the system is returned to service.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber under the relevant state or territory plumbing licensing scheme, with the backflow, testing or other endorsement required and a compliance or test certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing competencies and any backflow, confined space or testing endorsements required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
- 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The standard for the routine service and testing of fire hydrant systems and boosters.
The fire hydrant installations standard the system was installed to and is maintained against.
The water services standard for the high-hazard backflow protection on the fire service connection.
Electrical safety and isolation for any electrical work, carried out by a licensed electrician.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
Who this is for
- →Competent fire-system personnel testing hydrant and booster systems.
- →Fire-protection contractors servicing fire hydrant systems.
- →Plumbing and fire businesses carrying out hydrant and booster testing.
- →Building owners and PCBUs responsible for fire hydrant systems.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the flow-and-pressure-testing and certification regime.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the fire hydrant and booster annual testing hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Hydrant and booster testing prompts referencing AS 1851 and AS 2419.1, a flow-and-pressure-test section, a booster and pump verification section, and a high-hazard-backflow and return-to-service section.
- ✓Licensing, accreditation and test-certificate prompts for the relevant plumbing, backflow and testing scheme, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A competent fire-system technician is engaged to carry out the annual testing of the fire hydrant system and booster at a commercial building. The system is tested to AS 1851, confirming it delivers the required flow and pressure and the booster and pumps function, and serviced as required. Where the system does not perform, it is serviced or rectified so it delivers the required flow and pressure, maintaining the life-safety function. The high-pressure water during flow and pressure testing is managed, controlling the discharge and protecting workers. The high-hazard backflow protection on the connection to the drinking water supply is confirmed to perform, field tested by an accredited tester. Any booster pump electrical work is isolated and carried out by a licensed electrician, and the water discharge and flooding during flow testing managed. The test result is recorded accurately, the system certified, and the system returned to service so the building is protected. The booster, pumps and system performance are confirmed before return to service. The records are retained.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, the AS 4032 and AS 1357 valve standards, AS/NZS 2845.3 for backflow field testing, and AS 1851 for fire-system service, are called up by the state and territory plumbing and building safety legislation, together with the requirements of the relevant network utility.
- Plumbing work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing licensing scheme, with backflow and testing accreditation required for that work, and compliance or test certification required for notifiable work; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work and confined space provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
Why are fire hydrant systems tested annually?
Fire hydrant systems are life-safety systems that must perform when needed in a fire, so they are tested at the required interval to confirm they deliver the required flow and pressure and the booster and pumps function. A system that does not deliver the required flow and pressure is a serious life-safety deficiency, so the testing to AS 1851 verifies the system will perform.
What is tested on a hydrant and booster system?
The testing confirms the hydrant system delivers the required flow and pressure for firefighting and the booster and pumps function, and the high-hazard backflow protection on the connection to the drinking water supply continues to perform. The system is serviced as required and confirmed to perform before it is returned to service.
What hazards apply during flow and pressure testing?
Flow and pressure testing involves high-pressure water and water discharge, so the high-pressure water is managed, the discharge controlled, and workers protected from the high-pressure release and flooding. Any booster pump electrical work is isolated and carried out by a licensed electrician, because it is electrical work.
Why must the system be returned to service after testing?
The fire hydrant system protects the building, so it is returned to service after testing — a system left out of service would leave the building unprotected in a fire. Confirming the system is returned to service after the testing is a critical step, because the system is a life-safety system that must be available when needed.
Is the test result recorded and certified?
Yes. The test result is recorded accurately and the system certified to AS 1851, with the next test scheduled at the required interval. The record and certification demonstrate the life-safety system was verified to perform, which is part of the ongoing fire-safety maintenance of the building.