Beyond the Fire Panel — Technical Shifts in Pumpsets (AS 2941) and Lighting (AS 2293)

The “Invisible” Systems That Fail the Most

Most people look at the red Fire Indicator Panel (FIP) and think, “Yep, we’re safe.” But the FIP is just the brain. If the “muscles” (Pumpsets) and “eyes” (Emergency Lighting) fail, the brain is useless.

AS 2941: The Move to Automatic Logic

Modern fire pumpsets (AS 2941-2013) are no longer just “engines.” They require automatic starting logic.

• The Issue: Older pumps relied on a “jack pump” drop to start. If the jack pump failed, the main pump wouldn’t kick in.

• The 2012 Requirement: Your technician must simulate a pressure drop without water flow to test the automatic start switches. If they are just pressing the “Start” button on the panel, they aren’t testing the system—they are just testing the button.

• Battery Reliability: AS 2941 requires dual, independent starting batteries. If your technician isn’t testing the load (Cold Cranking Amps)—not just the voltage—you are at risk of a “click-click-silence” scenario in a real fire.

AS 2293: The 90-Minute vs. 60-Minute Trap

Emergency lighting is the #1 failure item in NSW strata buildings. Here is the most common lie told in the industry: “We tested them for 60 minutes, that’s enough.” NO, IT IS NOT.

• The Standard: AS 2293.2 explicitly requires a 90-minute discharge test every 6 months for central battery systems and single-point units.

• Why it matters: Batteries degrade. A battery might hold charge for 60 minutes (the old standard) but fail at minute 75. If a fire traps residents on the 20th floor, that extra 30 minutes of light is the difference between life and death.

Why This Voids Your Insurance

Insurance investigators are now specifically looking for the “90-minute discharge report” after a fire. If you cannot produce a timestamped log showing that the lights were tested to the full duration, they can argue the building was “negligently maintained.”

References

• AS 2941-2013: Fixed fire protection installations — Pumpset systems.

• AS 2293.2: Emergency escape lighting and exit signs — Inspection and maintenance.

Next Step: Your “secondary” systems shouldn’t be secondary concerns. Use the  AFSS Compliance Navigator to check your pump and lighting risk scores now.