Why the 5-Year Test Is Different from an Annual Check

Most fire protection systems are checked far more often than once every 5 years — hydrants get an annual flow test, sprinklers get an annual functional test. So why does AS1851 also require a separate 5-yearly test on top of that?

Because annual testing confirms a system is working today. The 5-year test goes deeper — it's designed to catch what only shows up over time: corrosion inside pipework, mechanical wear on valves and moving parts, and degradation caused by the site's own environment. A hydrant that passed its flow test every year can still have internal corrosion an annual check wouldn't reveal — which is exactly what the 5-yearly hydrostatic test is built to find.

Under AS1851, this applies across a building's water-based fire systems — hydrants and sprinklers each have their own 5-year requirement. For a full breakdown of exactly what's tested and what's included, see our Fire Safety FAQs.

Why This Needs a Multi-Disciplined Team

A 5-year inspection touches pipework, valves, pumps and structural fittings across several systems at once — not one trade's worth of work. RPS Fire is a licensed fire protection provider (QBCC Licence No. 1245534) with multi-disciplined tradesmen on the team, including licensed plumbers and QBCC-licensed sprinkler fitters, alongside fire protection technicians. That mix means hydrants and sprinkler systems can be assessed properly by the trades qualified for each component — in a single, coordinated visit rather than juggling separate contractors for separate systems.

What You Get at the End

A 5-year inspection produces documented certification, not just a verbal opinion — Form 72 for hydrant and sprinkler systems, along with a written report and recommendations on anything showing wear, corrosion or reduced performance.

Booking Your 5-Year Compliance Inspection

If your hydrant or sprinkler systems were last comprehensively tested five years ago — or you're not sure when they were — it's worth checking before it becomes an issue at your next audit. RPS Fire has worked across Central Queensland since 2012, handling installation, maintenance, certification and now 5-yearly deep testing under one licensed, multi-disciplined team.

Not sure when your systems are next due for 5-year testing? Contact RPS Fire on 07 4939 5597 or admin@rpsfire.com.au — servicing Barcaldine, Biloela, Blackall, Blackwater, Emerald, Gladstone, Longreach, Monto, Moura, Rockhampton and Yeppoon.