Incidents

Current charges and codes

Current Charges for False Alarm Calls (as of 15 July 2011- no GST applies)

Fees and charges for false alarm attendances are made in accordance with the Metropolitan Fire Brigades (General) Regulations 1994 (the Regulations).

Reg. 62 states in part: “The fees and charges… shall be payable for each appliance in attendance for each quarter of an hour (or part thereof) during which the appliance is absent from its station.”

The rate is published in the Third Schedule of the Regulations. As of 15 July 2011 the rate chargeable is $477.50 per 15 minute or part there-of as stated in the Regulations (no GST applies).

Below is a table for easy reckoning.

Time -Hours

Charge - Dollars

00:15

477.50

00:30

955.00

00:45

1432.50

1:00

1910.00

1:15

2387.50

1:30

2865.00

1:45

3342.50

2:00

3820.00

2:15

4297.50

2:30

4775.00

2:45

5252.50

3:00

5730.00

False Alarm Codes (as of 31st August 2003)

False alarms are categorised according to 28 distinct false alarm codes.

Information attributed to each 'false alarm code' is used by the MFB to collect statistical information and to place false alarms into a particular category for assessment purposes.

Manually Initiated – Good Intent Calls

611 - Wrong location 612 Vicinity alarm (incident in other location) Included are separate locations for an actual fire
621 - Smoke scare, odour of smoke
622 - Steam vapour, fog or dust thought to be smoke
624 - Controlled burning. Included are fires where burning is authorised and under control.
625 - Barbecue
626 - Burglar alarm ringing
609 - Good intent call not classified above.

Malicious

711 - Malicious false alarm
721 - Bomb scare – no bomb. Including parcel resembling bomb (non-chargeable) Alarm System Malfunctions 702 - Alarm operated due to extreme weather condition – storm
734 - Sprinkler malfunction: -includes water pressure fluctuation and equipment fault.
735 - Smoke detector malfunction: -includes continuous or intermittent fault in detector
736 - Heat detector malfunction: -includes continuous or intermittent fault in detector
737 - Fire indicator panel in normal condition on arrival
738 - Alarm system suspected malfunction – fault in fire alarm panel, wiring, ASE or inadequate maintenance
739 - Malfunction -not classified above

Local Alarm System Malfunctions

741 - Sprinkler malfunction – local
742 - Smoke detector malfunction – local
743 - Heat detector malfunction – local

False Alarms Generated from Private Security Monitoring Companies

745 - False Alarms generated from a private security company -Residential Premises
746 - False Alarms generated from a private security company -Commercial Premises

Alarms not involving a Malfunction

751 - Smoke detector operated -(no fire)
A simulated condition activates an alarm – a correctly operating detector senses a condition for which an alarm is not required, or a fire condition is simulated because of inappropriate detector type or positioning.
752  - Heat detector operated -(no fire)
A simulated condition activates an alarm -a correctly operating detector senses a condition for which an alarm is not required, or a fire condition is simulated because of inappropriate detector type or positioning.
762 - Accidental operation of alarm.
Includes where human activity has simulated a condition that activates a fire alarm -includes damage to sprinkler head.
763 - Failure to notify of test
764 - Incorrect test by service company personnel
769 - Unintentional alarm -not classified above

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Facts and Features
Safety Tip

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authority Council (AFAC) recommends monthly testing of smoke alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

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Only working Smoke Alarms save lives.

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