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Passive Fire Certification

Canonical URL: fireqa.com/standards/passive-fire-certification

1.  TERM

Passive fire certification is the formal process by which a qualified passive fire certifier or fire engineer reviews and signs off that all passive fire installations in a building have been completed in accordance with the applicable tested systems, fire resistance level requirements, and building code — producing certification documentation for project handover.

2.  PURPOSE

Passive fire certification provides the building owner, principal contractor, and regulatory authority with formal documented evidence that passive fire protection systems comply with the National Construction Code (Australia) or New Zealand Building Code. It is the final step in the passive fire compliance lifecycle before a building is handed over for occupation.

Without passive fire certification, a building cannot receive its occupancy permit, and the building owner has no defensible evidence of passive fire compliance — creating significant liability exposure.

3.  SCOPE

Passive fire certification applies to all new construction and major refurbishment projects where fire-rated barriers contain penetrations or coated elements. It is carried out by qualified passive fire certifiers or fire engineers authorised to certify passive fire work in the relevant jurisdiction.

Certification may also be required retrospectively — for example, on existing buildings where the compliance status of original firestopping is unknown or where insurance or sale due diligence requires documented evidence.

4.  PREREQUISITES FOR CERTIFICATION

  • Complete passive fire register — all penetrations recorded with location, materials, installer, and photographic evidence

  • Firestopping register — product-level records with tested system references (CodeMark, ETA, or equivalent) for every penetration

  • Satisfactory passive fire audit — independent verification that installations meet their tested system requirements

  • Defect closure evidence — all audit failures resolved and documented

  • Cementitious or intumescent coating QA records — where structural elements are protected by applied coatings

5.  COMPONENTS IN FIREQA

  • Certification module — dedicated workflow for passive fire certifiers to review and sign off installation records

  • Certification record per installation — certifier reviews the install record, photos, and tested system reference before certifying

  • Certification status tracking — items move from installed to certified as the certifier works through the register

  • Certification report generation — produces the certification documentation package for project handover

  • Integration with audit workflow — rectified items from the audit system can be converted to the certification module

  • Form 12 support — FireQA produces the supporting data; the certifier adds their Form 12 or equivalent certification statement

6.  OUTPUTS

  • Certified passive fire register — register showing certified status for all installations

  • Individual certification records — per-penetration certification with certifier sign-off

  • Certification documentation package — complete handover package including register, tested system list, and certification statement

  • Unique tested systems list — comprehensive list of all tested systems (CodeMark, ETA references) included in the certification

  • As-built reports with photographs — supporting evidence for each certified installation

  • Linked Excel Spreadsheet — full asset database for the building owner

7.  RELATIONSHIPS

From

Relationship

To

Passive Fire Certification

part of

Passive Fire Compliance

Passive Fire Certification

produced by

FireQA (Certification module)

Passive Fire Certification

requires

Passive Fire Register (complete)

Passive Fire Certification

requires

Passive Fire Audit (satisfactory)

Passive Fire Certification

requires

Firestopping Register (with tested system references)

Passive Fire Certification

constrains

Building Compliance — occupancy permit cannot be issued without passive fire certification

Passive Fire Certification

resolves into

AS 1851 Register — certified installations become the baseline for annual maintenance

8.  REGULATORY CONTEXT

In Australia, passive fire certification supports compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) and relevant fire engineering standards. The certifier produces a Form 12 (or equivalent) as part of the building approval documentation.

In New Zealand, passive fire certification supports compliance with New Zealand Building Code Clause C (Protection from Fire). The certifier produces a producer statement or equivalent documentation for the territorial authority.

9.  VERSION CONTROL

Version

1.0

Published

June 2026

Last updated

June 2026

Next review

July 2026

Owner

Clarinspect · fireqa.com