EATA conditions
The holder of an extinguishing agent trading authorisation must comply with the following conditions:
- Keep up-to-date records showing the amounts of extinguishing agent acquired, disposed of and recovered from equipment by the holder during each quarter; and within 14 days after receiving a written request from the Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board (FPIB), send the FPIB copies of these records.
- Not engage in prohibited extinguishing agent charging.
- Have equipment that is appropriate for the required work, including one or more of each of the following:
- unless the holder has leak detection procedures in place – leak detectors
- vacuum pumps
- recovery units.
- Ensure regular maintenance so that all equipment belonging to the permit holder operates correctly to prevent
avoidable emissions of any scheduled extinguishing agent. - At least every quarter, check any extinguishing agent container at the holder’s premises for leaks.
- Do not fill a container unless it meets AS/NZS 2030.1.
- Develop and put into place a risk management plan that is: approved in writing by the FPIB; consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol; prepared in accordance with AS 4360:2004; and includes information on how the following will be dealt with:
- emissions from leaks in, or the failure of, storage vessels
- damage by intruders
- the transfer of extinguishing agents from a leaking storage vessel.
- Handle any extinguishing agent in accordance with each applicable standard.
- Deliver, to the operator of an approved extinguishing agent destruction facility, any extinguishing agent that is to be destroyed.
- Accept any surrendered extinguishing agent that has been used, or appears to be intended for use, in fire protection equipment.
The FPIB may specify that an authorisation is subject to other conditions, and must set out the conditions on:
- the document that provides evidence of the authorisation; or
- a written notice given by the FPIB to the holder.
EAHL conditions
Technicians in the fire protection industry who hold an EAHL – qualified persons licence, EAHL – experienced persons licence, extinguishing agent trainee licence and special EAHL are required to meet the following conditions:
- Licensees must carry out the work to which the licence relates in accordance with the standards described in Table 1 below.
- Any extinguishing agent recovered from fire protection equipment must be provided to:
- the holder of an extinguishing agent trading authorisation, or
- the operator of an approved extinguishing agent destruction facility.
- Any equipment used to transfer an extinguishing agent from one vessel to another must be:
- fit for this purpose
- tested, and approved as being fit for the transfer of extinguishing agents, at least once every two years by a person accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia, and/or otherwise appropriately maintained.
- Licensees must submit a report to the FPIB describing the circumstances relating to any lawful emission of an extinguishing agent.
- Licensees must not carry out any work to which their licence relates (other than decommissioning or disposal or work in the aviation or maritime industries) on fire protection equipment that does not comply with any standard mentioned in Table 1 that applies to the equipment.
The Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board may impose a condition on a licence and this must be set out in the licence document or a written notice given by the FPIB to the licensee.
The licensing system exists to prevent avoidable emissions of extinguishing agents and ensure that appropriate records are kept. The FPIB also encourages technicians and EATA holders to work in accordance with the Ozone Depleting Substances and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases (ODS & SGG) Good Practice Guide.
Table 1: Australian Standards as of August 2024 for holders of EAHL – qualified persons licence, EAHL – experienced persons licence, extinguishing agent trainee licence and special EAHL:
| Standard | Title of Standard |
|---|---|
| 1. AS 1851-2012 | Routine service of fire protection equipment – Portable and wheeled fire extinguishers |
| 2. AS 1851-2012 | Routine service of fire protection equipment – Special Hazard systems |
| 3. AS 2030.1-2009 | Gas cylinders General requirements |
| 4. AS 1210-2010 | Pressure vessels |
| 5. AS 4214-2018 | Gaseous fire extinguishers systems |
| 6. ISO 7201-2 : 1991 | Fire protection – Fire extinguishers media – Halogenated hydrocarbons – Part 1: Specifications for halon 1211 and halon 1301 |
| 7. ISO 7201-2 : 1991 | Fire extinguishing media – Halogenated hydrocarbons – Part 1 : Specifications for halon 1211 and halon 1301 |
| 8. ISO 14520.1 2023 | Gaseous fire extinguishing systems – Physical properties and system design |
