What Baseline Data Is Mandatory Under AS1851-2012?
Baseline data is often the most misunderstood foundation of AS1851-2012. For building owners and facility managers, getting it wrong can mean wasted effort and significant costs. Want to stop wasting time and resources and start collecting the right baseline data? Learn more about AS1851-2012’s, mandatory baseline data requirements below.
TL:DR – Key Takeaways
- Know What’s Mandatory: Baseline data is only mandatory if it is needed to verify a routine service result and the original installation standards required it.
- When Baseline Data Is Missing: Routine service activities must still proceed even if baseline data is missing. If the data should have existed under the original requirements, then the unavailability is recorded as non-conformance.
- Key Misinterpretations: AS1851-2012 does not require the creation or generation of missing baseline data, nor does it retrospectively impose requirements if the original standard did not require it.
What Baseline Data Is Mandatory Under AS1851-2012?
The concept of baseline data has existed in earlier editions of AS1851, but over time the term has evolved across the industry. In some sectors, “baseline data” is now used broadly to describe all information generated during the construction of a building—such as commissioning results, installation drawings, performance specifications, schematics, and system documentation.
However, when determining what baseline data is required for routine service activities under the current AS1851-2012 (including Amendment 1), the scope is much more defined and intentionally limited. This is for a very important reason: AS1851 is written to be applied to any system, regardless of its age or the installation standard applicable at the time it was built.
Historical Context
When many older fire protection systems—such as sprinkler systems, fire detection systems, or hydrant systems—were originally installed, the installation standards of the day mandated very little baseline information. In contrast, modern installation standards require extensive documentation, including commissioning data, drawings, schedules, performance criteria and wiring diagrams. This evolution means that the availability of baseline data varies significantly depending on the era of installation.
When Does AS1851-2012 Require Baseline Data?
Within AS 1851, there are certain routine tasks that require comparison against baseline values—typically relating to pressure, flow, performance criteria, water supply capacity or similar system characteristics. Where the task requires comparison to baseline data, that data must be available to verify that the system continues to operate within the parameters determined at installation.
However—and this point is critical—if the installation standard that originally applied to the system did not require that baseline data to exist, then AS 1851 does not retrospectively require it either.
This principle is clearly articulated in Clause 1.8 of AS 1851-2012 Amendment 1, which states:
Baseline data may be required to verify the result of a routine service activity required by an applicable service schedule.
Baseline data required by this Standard is limited to that—
(a) necessary to verify a routine service activity result; and
(b) prescribed by the regulations, codes or standards that applied to the approved design.
Irrespective of the availability of baseline data, the routine activity shall be carried out and the result recorded and reported. When required baseline data is available, the routine service result shall be verified against it. Where required baseline data is unavailable, its unavailability shall be recorded and reported as a non-conformance.
NOTE: The supply and generation of baseline data is beyond the scope of this Standard.
Key Principles Often Misinterpreted
Several important elements of Clause 1.8 are regularly overlooked:
- The word “AND” is critical. Both conditions (a) and (b) must be true for baseline data to be “required” under AS 1851.
- Testing must still proceed. A contractor must never cease or delay a routine service activity because baseline data is missing.
- Unavailability is a non-conformance, not a defect. It is only a non-conformance if both conditions are satisfied—meaning the baseline data should exist under the original installation requirements.
- AS 1851 does not require contractors to create or generate baseline data. If the original installation standard did not require it, AS 1851 does not retroactively impose the requirement.
Get It Right From The Start
If you want to discuss your baseline data requirements, reach out or call 1300 133 950 and we can share our insights and experience.