When a fire breaks out, the passive fire systems in your building are the last line of defence. For critical services like fire hydrant pipework in non-sprinkler protected buildings, the Australian Standards are uncompromising: pipe supports must achieve a Fire Resistance Level (FRL) of not less than 60/-/-. They must also maintain a pipe-support temperature of not less than 500°C when tested in accordance with AS:1530.4, ensuring they do not collapse when exposed to fire.
It seems like a simple compliance issue. Yet, a deep dive into the engineering reports of major manufacturers reveals a disturbing reality. Many products on the market are knowingly exploiting testing loopholes, producing non-compliant supports that are simply not fit for purpose.
If you are installing or signing off on these systems, your liability is on the line.
The Design Load Loophole: How the Market is Failing You
The critical factor in fire-rated pipe supports is the Design Load. According to AS:2419.1.8.7.2(b), a support must be capable of holding two times the mass of the water-filled pipe, plus an additional 115kg at each support point.
For standard installations at 4-metre spacings, the minimum design loads are substantial:
- 100mm pipe: Requires a design load of 282.2kg. PDF
- 150mm pipe: Requires a design load of 421.4kg. PDF
However, major manufacturers are bypassing these minimum building standards. Competitor wrap products and metal covers are being tested at shockingly inadequate weights—sometimes as low as 64kg, 100kg, or 120kg. This is between 200% and 600% underweight. In fact, some of these tested weights are even lower than the mandatory design load for a tiny 25mm galvanised pipe.
Furthermore, these tests often fail to replicate real-world conditions. Test specimens are regularly suspended without being properly fixed to the concrete slab via anchors, blatantly ignoring the AS:1530.4 requirement to test the structure in its “least favourable condition”.
The Evidence: The Industry is Being Forced to Change
The disregard for safety has reached a breaking point, and the regulatory bodies are catching on.
- Engineering Admissions: In documented correspondence, the Director of RED Fire Engineers confirmed that the engineering report used for a major competitor’s wrap solution is no longer valid under the current Building Code of Australia (BCA) and National Construction Code (NCC). Despite this, the product remains advertised and sold as a compliant solution. PDF+ 1
- Standards Australia Intervention: The AS:2419.1 FP-009 Committee for Standards Australia has acknowledged these anomalies. They have confirmed an upcoming editorial amendment to AS:2419.1:2021. This amendment will mandate that tests must use the correct in-situ load ratings, effectively destroying the loophole that allows applicants to nominate their own inadequate test loads. PDF+ 2
AS:2419.1 Design Load Testing Gap
Required Minimum Load vs. Competitor Lab Tests (150mm Pipe)
421kg
The FRS Difference: 100% Code Compliant and Bulletproof
Why risk lives, property, and your professional reputation on passive fire systems that are designed to fail under real-world stresses?
Fire Rated Solutions (FRS) provides the only 100% code-compliant solution on the market for protecting service pipes. We don’t hide behind loopholes; we engineer our products to exceed the strictest requirements.
Here is why FRS is the undisputed industry leader:
- Engineered for the True Load: While competitors test at 100kg, the FRS 150mm bracket is successfully tested to 424kg, explicitly exceeding the 421kg requirement set by AS:2419.1.8.7.2. PDF
- Superior Fire Resistance: Our brackets exceed the mandatory FRL 60/-/- by achieving a tested FRL of 90/-/- for added safety. PDF
- Independently Certified: FRS is the only solution on the market with independent third-party certification by the CSIRO ActivFire scheme (# afp-3664). PDF
- Foolproof Installation: FRS kits are the only solution designed to prevent the use of substandard, contaminated materials on-site. All major parts are easily identified with “FRS” branding, and we utilize left-hand threads on our rods and nuts to strictly prevent untested hardware from being swapped in during installation. PDF+ 1
- Cost-Effective & Practical: FRS is the cheapest bracket system per metre, the most aesthetically pleasing, requires zero maintenance, and can be retrofitted without uninstalling existing pipes. PDF
When you choose FRS, you are choosing a patented design that is fully tested to various types of building elements in a complete kit.
Do not wait for a catastrophic failure to find out your pipe supports are non-compliant. View the fully tested, 100% compliant FRS range today and secure your installations the right way.