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Fire Alarm Zone Plans

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Fire Alarm Zone Plan –
Mandatory for Buildings with Detection Systems

Buildings fitted with a Fire Detection and Alarm System must have an up-to-date Fire Alarm Zone Chart displayed clearly adjacent to the Fire Indicator Panel (FIP) and any repeater panels on the premises.

This is a mandatory requirement under Australian Standards, specifically outlined in AS 1670.1 and Building Fire Safety Regulations.

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Purpose of a Fire Alarm Zone Chart

The Fire Alarm Zone Chart serves a critical safety function. It is designed to:

  • Help building occupants and fire wardens quickly identify the location of a fire alarm trigger

  • Assist emergency responders and the Fire Brigade in understanding the building layout before entering

  • Improve response time and coordination during an emergency

  • Minimise confusion by presenting a clear visual layout of all designated fire zones

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How Fire Zones Work

When a fire detection system is installed, the building is divided into separate Fire Zones. These zones correspond to:

  • Smoke or heat detectors

  • Manual Call Points (MCPs) – red break-glass alarm boxes

  • Other automatic detection devices

When any of these devices are triggered, the associated zone is activated and shown on the Fire Indicator Panel (FIP).

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What the Fire Alarm Zone Chart Includes

A compliant Fire Alarm Zone Chart must include:

  • A scaled or schematic floor plan of the building or affected area

  • Clearly marked fire zones (Zone 1, Zone 2, etc.)

  • The location of the Fire Indicator Panel marked with a "You Are Here" arrow

  • Orientation of the diagram to match the viewer's perspective (usually facing outward from the FIP)

  • Optional but useful:

    • Fire stairs, exits, hydrants, hose reels, and extinguishers

    • Room labels and key risk areas (e.g., switch rooms, plant rooms)

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Compliance Checklist

✔️ Mounted next to the Fire Indicator Panel
✔️ Laminated or in a protective frame
✔️ Aligned with current zone configuration
✔️ Updated after any renovation or detector reconfiguration
✔️ Readable from 1–2 metres distance
✔️ Format and symbols per AS 1670.1 & AS 3745:2010

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Would you like a Fire Alarm Zone Chart design sample, or would you like us to create one for your building based on your floor plan and zone list?
Let me know — we can prepare a fully compliant and professional version within 24–72 hours.

Fire Alarm Zone Plan – Australian Standard Overview

A Fire Alarm Zone Plan is a mandatory diagram installed next to the Fire Indicator Panel (FIP) in accordance with AS 1670.1 and local fire brigade requirements.

It shows:

✅ A simplified building layout.

✅ Clear division into fire alarm zones, matching the FIP.

✅ Correct orientation with a 'YOU ARE HERE' marker.

✅ Helps emergency responders quickly identify and locate the zone in alarm.

✅ Supports safe evacuation and detector testing as per AS 1851 routine service checks.

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Zone plans must be:

Accurate and up to date.

Easy to read (simple line drawings, labels, no clutter).

Permanently fixed next to the FIP, Sub-FIP, or Mimic Panel.

High Rise Fire Alarm Zone Plans

In many high-rise buildings across Australia, multiple floors have identical or mirrored layouts. To maintain clarity and legibility in fire alarm zone plans, a "typical floor layout" method is commonly used.

What This Includes:

  • One ‘Typical Floor Plan’: A single detailed plan representing the common floor layout (e.g. Levels 5–15).

  • Elevation View or Floor Index: An adjacent elevation diagram or vertical zone key showing:

    • Each level.

    • The associated fire alarm zones per floor.

    • Clear mapping to the Fire Indicator Panel (FIP) zone configuration.

Benefits:

  • Maximises the size of the plan to clearly show circulation paths (e.g. corridors, stairs, exits).

  • Reduces clutter from repeating nearly identical plans.

  • Fully compliant with AS 1670.1 and fire brigade preferences.

  • Helps responders quickly interpret multi-level zone assignments in emergencies.

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