Fire Sprinkler Installation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for installing automatic fire sprinkler pipework, hangers and heads in commercial, residential and warehouse buildings, including overhead drilling, pipe handling from EWPs, grooving and threading, and hydrostatic testing.
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Fire sprinkler installation is mostly overhead work: fixing hangers into slabs and steel, lifting and joining steel pipe, and fitting heads at ceiling level. Working from scissor lifts, booms and scaffold creates a risk of falling more than 2 metres, and the work is usually in areas with powered mobile plant moving, both of which make it high risk construction work. A SWMS is required.
The hazards specific to sprinkler fitting are falls and crush injuries on EWPs (crushing between the platform and the slab or a beam is a known cause of death), manual handling of 6 metre lengths of steel pipe overhead, silica dust from drilling hundreds of anchor holes into concrete, drilling into post-tensioned slabs, and pipes falling from hangers before they are fully fixed. Roll grooving and threading machines can catch hands and gloves. Hydrostatic testing puts the system under pressure, and a failed joint or cap can blow off. On refurbishment jobs, existing systems may need to be drained or isolated, which leaves the building unprotected until restored, and old ceilings may contain asbestos.
Sprinkler systems are designed and installed to AS 2118 and the National Construction Code. Licensing for fire protection work differs between states and territories; some require a fire protection licence or accreditation and others require a plumbing licence for parts of the work, so check your state or territory regulator. Boom-type EWPs with a boom of 11 metres or more need a high risk work licence.
Your SWMS must cover EWP selection and rescue, overhead pipe handling, drilling dust and slab scanning, machine guarding, hydrostatic testing, and system impairment on existing buildings.
Customise this template with the building and areas to be fitted, ceiling heights, EWP types and operators' licences, pipe sizes and joining methods, slab scanning arrangements, the test pressure and duration from the system design, impairment arrangements for existing systems, and the installers' licence details.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
- •Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant
Risk Assessment
1.Set-out and EWP set-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed between EWP platform and slab, beam or services | Catastrophic | Choose an EWP with secondary guarding or anti-crush protection where available. Elevate slowly near overhead structures and keep the body inside the basket. A trained ground person stays nearby who can lower the platform with the emergency controls. Complete the pre-start check and confirm the rescue plan before each shift. | Moderate | EWP Operator / Supervisor |
| EWP tip-over on penetrations, slopes or soft ground | High | Inspect the travel route for penetrations, edges, ramps and soft ground. Cover or barricade penetrations. Do not drive elevated on uneven floors. Boom-type EWPs with a boom of 11 metres or more are operated only by a high risk work licence holder. | Low | EWP Operator |
2.Drilling and fixing hangers into concrete and steel
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silica dust inhalation from overhead drilling | High | Use drills with on-tool dust extraction connected to an H-class vacuum, or hollow vacuum drill bits. Wear a fit-tested P2 respirator. Do not clean dust off with compressed air. | Moderate | Sprinkler Fitter |
| Drilling into post-tensioning tendons or embedded services | Catastrophic | Confirm whether the slab is post-tensioned from the structural drawings or builder. Where it is, scan hanger locations with a cover meter or GPR and mark safe zones before drilling. Stop and notify the builder and engineer if a tendon or duct is hit. | Low | Sprinkler Fitter / Builder |
| Falling debris and anchors hitting workers below | Moderate | Barricade the area under the EWP. Use tool lanyards and keep fixings in a container on the platform. | Low | Sprinkler Fitter |
3.Lifting and installing pipe
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back and shoulder injury lifting steel pipe overhead | High | Use pipe lifting devices, material lifts or EWPs with pipe racks to raise mains and range pipes. Two people for long or heavy lengths. Pre-assemble sections at floor level where practicable. Rotate overhead tasks. | Moderate | Sprinkler Fitter |
| Pipe falling before it is fixed into hangers | High | Install and adjust hangers before lifting pipe. Secure each length in at least two hangers before releasing it. Keep people out of the area under pipe being installed. | Low | Sprinkler Fitter |
4.Grooving, threading and cutting pipe
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hands or gloves caught in roll groover or pipe threader | High | Use machines with guards and foot switches. Do not wear gloves near rotating parts and keep sleeves rolled or fitted. Support long pipe on stands. Only trained workers use the machines. | Low | Sprinkler Fitter |
| Skin irritation from cutting oils and burns from swarf | Low | Wipe excess cutting oil, wear nitrile gloves when handling oily pipe (not while machines are running), and clear swarf with a brush. | Low | Sprinkler Fitter |
5.Hydrostatic testing and commissioning
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint, cap or fitting failing under test pressure | High | Test at the pressure and duration in the system design, filling slowly and bleeding air before pressurising. Use a calibrated gauge. Keep people out of the test area and do not tighten joints while under pressure. Release pressure before any repair. | Low | Sprinkler Fitter |
| Water damage and electrical hazards from leaks during filling | Moderate | Walk the system during filling and have a drain valve manned. Keep water clear of switchboards and live equipment. | Low | Sprinkler Fitter |
6.Work on existing systems and clean-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building left unprotected while the existing system is isolated | High | Arrange the impairment with the building owner and fire protection contractor. Notify the alarm monitoring provider as required, limit the isolation to the zone being worked on, and restore the system each day where practicable. | Low | Supervisor / Building Manager |
| Disturbing asbestos in old ceilings or lagging | High | Check the asbestos register before cutting into ceilings or removing old pipe. Do not disturb suspect material until it is tested or removed. | Low | Supervisor |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.