TIER 2 · REFRAMED
Passive Fire Audit
Canonical URL: fireqa.com/standards/passive-fire-audit
1. TERM
A passive fire audit is a formal, independent assessment of firestopping installations and passive fire protection systems in a building, verifying that each installation meets its applicable tested system reference and fire resistance level requirement, and producing a documented audit report for certification or compliance purposes.
2. PURPOSE
A passive fire audit provides independent verification that passive fire installations have been completed correctly and in accordance with approved tested systems. It is distinct from the installer's own installation record in that it is carried out by a third party — typically a passive fire auditor, certifier, or fire engineer — who has no stake in the original installation.
The audit is the critical quality gate between installation and certification. Without a satisfactory audit, passive fire certification cannot be issued, and the building cannot demonstrate compliance with fire compartmentation requirements.
3. SCOPE
Passive fire audits apply to all buildings where firestopping installations are required under the National Construction Code (Australia) or New Zealand Building Code. They are typically carried out at practical completion, at key construction milestones, or on a sample basis during large projects.
Audits may also be conducted on existing buildings as part of building purchase due diligence, insurance requirements, or remediation programmes where the compliance status of existing firestopping is unknown.
4. AUDIT WORKFLOW IN FIREQA
In FireQA, a firestopping audit uses the passive fire register as its baseline. The auditor accesses the register for the work package, locates each installation using the floor plan pins and Smart Pin QR labels, and records a pass, fail, or TBC against each item. Failures are classified by defect severity and documented with photographs and recommended remediation notes.
A client-facing Inspection Summary Report and an internal Failed Register are generated on demand. Failed items can be converted directly into Install-after-Fail records for the remediation installer, carrying across all defect photos, notes, and location data.
5. COMPONENTS
Baseline passive fire register — the installer's register used as the audit scope
Per-item audit record — item location, type, FRL, tested system reference, pass/fail/TBC status
Defect classification — non-conformance, defect, or critical defect
Recommended remediation notes per failed item
Photographic evidence of failed and passed installations
Smart Pin QR label scanning — rapid retrieval of installation record for each penetration
Marked-up floor plans with coloured audit status pins
Client-facing and internal audit reports
Failed item conversion to Install-after-Fail records
6. OUTPUTS
Inspection Summary Register (client-facing) — all pass/fail/TBC items with photos and defect classification
Inspection Failed Register (internal) — failed items with remediation notes and pricing support
Marked-up floor plans with audit status pins
Individual audit records per installation
FAIL register for client — issued within 24 hours of audit
Basis for Passive Fire Certification — satisfactory audit is the prerequisite for certification sign-off
7. RELATIONSHIPS
From
Relationship
To
Passive Fire Audit
part of
Passive Fire Compliance
Passive Fire Audit
produced by
FireQA (Firestopping Audits module)
Passive Fire Audit
references
Passive Fire Register (audit baseline)
Passive Fire Audit
verifies
Firestopping Register (product and system compliance)
Passive Fire Audit
resolves into
Passive Fire Certification — satisfactory audit enables certification
Passive Fire Audit
resolves into
Install-after-Fail — failed items convert to remediation records
Passive Fire Audit
enabled by
Smart Pin Technology — QR labels accelerate item retrieval on site
9. VERSION CONTROL
Version
1.0
Published
June 2026
Last updated
June 2026
Next review
July 2026
Owner
Clarinspect · fireqa.com