While electrical work regulated under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 is not regulated by the QBCC, many electricians will hold a QBCC licence for other fire protection work. If you fit into this category, here is some information you may need to know.

Applying for a licence

As an occupational worker

If you are a licensed electrical mechanic seeking to hold a fire protection – electrical stream occupational – install and maintain – fire alarm systems licence, you may apply for the licence and rely on your electrical mechanic’s licence to meet the technical qualifications. Please note you do not require a QBCC licence to carry our electrical work on fire protection equipment.

Non-electricians can also apply for this occupational licence but will require a Certificate III in Fire Protection Control UEE31020 or a course the QBCC considers is at least equivalent.

As a contractor or nominee supervisor

Electrical mechanics may rely on their electrical mechanic licence to partly meet the technical requirements to hold a Fire protection- electrical stream– install and maintain– fire alarm systems class as either a contractor or nominee supervisor. In addition to their electrical mechanic licence, they will need to hold 15 mandatory units of competency.

Applicants who do not hold a current electrical mechanic licence must hold a Certificate III in Fire Protection Control UEE31020 (or equivalent) and 9 of the 15 units of competency.

Applicants for contractor and nominee supervisor licence types also need to meet experience, fit and proper, and managerial requirements. Applicants for contractor licences must also meet minimum financial requirements.

You can find more information about the current technical qualifications required and how to apply under fire protection – electrical – install and maintain – fire alarm systems licence class on the QBCC website. 

What are my upskilling requirements?

Occupational licence type

Licensees who already hold the fire protection – electrical stream occupational – install and maintain – fire alarm systems licence, may be subject to upskilling requirements if they transitioned from a former fire class on 1 May 2021. This includes those who applied for the former class and were approved for the new class after 1 May 2021.

The upskilling requirements vary depending on whether the licensee holds an electrical mechanic licence.

Licensed electrical mechanics who already hold a fire protection – electrical stream occupational – install and maintain – fire alarm systems licence will not be required to upskill.

Licensees who do not hold an Electrical mechanic licence issued under the Electrical Safety Office are required to show that they have completed the Certificate III in fire Protection Control (UEE31011) by 1 May 2025 to satisfy their Upskilling Requirements.

Contractor or nominee supervisor licence type

Licensed electrical mechanics in either the contractor or nominee supervisor licence type, must meet the upskilling requirement by 1 May 2025. This can be met through holding a current electrical mechanic’s licence and providing the following six units of competency:

• Prevent ozone depleting substance and synthetic greenhouse gas emissions (CPPFES2043A)
• Enter and verify programs for fire protection systems (UEEEC0026)
• Install fire detection and warning systems apparatus (UEEEC0041)
• Repairs basic electronic apparatus faults by replacement of components (UEEEC0060)
• Verify compliance and functionality of fire protection system installation (UEEEC0076)
• Install and maintain cabling for multiple access to telecommunication services (UEEDV0005)

For licensees who do not hold an electrical mechanic licence and have not completed the Certificate III in Fire Protection Control (UEE31011) before 1 May 2021, the additional competency unit of Inspect and test emergency and exit lighting systems (CPPFES2026A) will be required.

It is important to note that Licensees have until 1 May 2025 to provide documentation to the QBCC that they have completed the Upskilling requirements.

More information

If you have any questions about fire protection upskilling requirements or wish to lodge upskilling documentation, you can email them to fireupskilling@qbcc.qld.gov.au

If you want to take advantage of the Queensland Government’s Tradies in Paradise initiative and help flood-affected areas recover, make sure you know how to become licensed in Queensland.  
 
If you’re already licensed interstate, you may be eligible to apply for a licence under mutual recognition.  
 
There are some special rules to consider: 

• We may only issue a licence equivalent to the one you have. 
• You need an active interstate licence to qualify for mutual recognition. 
• If you have a condition or restriction on your interstate licence, the same will be imposed on your Queensland licence.  

 
For more information 

Visit our mutual recognition page so you can start working in paradise sooner. 

To find out more about Tradies in Paradise, including how eligible workers can register or apply, visit qld.gov.au/tradiesinparadise 
 

The amendments were made to the scope of work to match the qualifications and endorsements held by a licensee. For example, the amendment will ensure that a person who performs work on fire sprinkler systems must hold a licence that has appropriate qualifications or endorsements for this work. 

From 31 March 2022, the scope of work for the above class will be restricted unless the licensee holds a relevant Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (PD Act) licence or other prescribed qualification.  

The current scope of work for the fire protection–water-based system–install and maintain–commercial and industry includes: 

• install and maintain commercial and industrial fire sprinkler systems install and maintain fire hydrant systems, with or without pumps 
• install and maintain fire hose reels, with or without pumps  
• install fire collars if the installation is incidental to the above work.  

For licensees who cannot demonstrate they hold the relevant PD Act licence or prescribed qualifications by 31 March 2022, the scope of work for this class will be limited to: 

• install and maintain fire hydrant systems, with or without pumps 
• install and maintain fire hose reels, with or without pumps 
• install fire collars if the installation is incidental to the above work. 

From 31 March 2022, licensees must ensure they only carry out work within their scope that applies to them. 

Do I need to act to retain my scope of work? 

It’s important to consider that a PD Act licence is required to personally perform or supervise regulated plumbing work, including the installation and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems. 

To help licensees and consumers to identify which scope of work applies, the QBCC will note licence scope restrictions on the licensee register.  

No further action will be required by licensees who already hold the PD Act licence unless otherwise contacted by the QBCC directly. 

Licensees who transitioned to this class from the former Part 26 Sprinkler and suppression systems (reticulated water-based)—install and maintain—restricted to commercial or industrial type licence, are not affected by these changes, and will also retain a full scope of work. 

What do I need to do to retain my scope of work?  

To retain the full scope of work from 31 March 2022, licence class holders must demonstrate that they hold at least one of the following: 

Relevant Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 licences 

• current restricted water plumber—fire protection (commercial and industrial) licence 
• current plumbers licence with a fire protection – commercial and industrial endorsement 
• current provisional plumbers licence with a fire protection – commercial and industrial endorsement.  

Prescribed qualifications  

• Certificate III in Fire Protection (CPC32813) 
• a technical qualification currently prescribed for the part 26 fire protection—water-based fire system stream—install and maintain—restricted to commercial and industrial types licence. This can be a Certificate III in Fire Protection (CPC32820), including the below units of competency: 
  • Conduct basic functional testing of water-based fire-suppression systems CPCPFS3040 
  • Conduct functional water flow testing CPCPFS3043 
  • Read and interpret plans and specifications CPCCBC4012 
  • Carry out work-based risk control processes CPCPCM4011 
  • Estimate and cost work CPCPCM4012 
  • Prepare simple drawings CPCPCM3024 
  • Establish legal and risk management requirements of new business ventures BSBESB402 
  • Plan finances for new business ventures BSBESB403 
  • Research and develop business plans BSBESB401 
  • Commission fire system pumpsets CPCPFS4023 
  • Commission fire sprinkler systems CPCPFS4027. 

For company licensees, the scope of work for company licence will be the same as the scope that applies to their nominee.  

Licensees who continue the full scope of work on the basis they hold the prescribed technical qualifications, should provide a copy of the prescribed qualification to the QBCC as soon as possible (unless the qualification was provided after 1 May 2021, in which case this does not apply). 
 
Visit the fire protection resources page of the QBCC website for the relevant application forms. If you have any questions about this change, call us on 139 333.