• Hydrant plans AS2419.1
• Sprinkler plans AS2118
• Tactical fire plans BCA Spec E1.8
• Zone plans AS1670.1
• Traffolyte, Rowmark and stainless

A laminated plan on the wall is a non-compliant plan

A block plan is read once, under pressure, by someone who has never set foot in your building.

Block plans have to be permanently fixed and they cannot be obscured from sight. Just as importantly, they have to be made from a water fade, weather and UV resistant material such as stainless steel, Traffolyte or Rowmark. A plan printed on laminated paper is non-compliant, no matter how accurate the drawing behind it is. On larger or more complex sites, a single plan is often not enough and multiple block plans are required.

Refer to AS2419.1, AS2118.1 and AS2118.6 for the full industry requirements.

The four block plans, and which one you need

Plan	What it shows	Where it is installed
Hydrant block plan AS2419.1	The number and location of hydrants, hose reels and valves, the flow rate and pressure of the booster, and hazards to avoid such as gas mains.	At the front of the building where firefighters can refer to it immediately, and in the pump room where the hydrant system and Fire Brigade Booster Assembly are installed.
Sprinkler block plan AS2118.1 and AS2118.6	The layout of the area where the main stop valves sit, including instructions for an emergency shut down of the automatic sprinkler system.	At each set of installation control assemblies or collection of valves.
Tactical fire plan BCA Spec E1.8	Colour coded locations of fire safety equipment and services, with instructions on how to use the equipment shown, so emergency personnel can make tactical decisions during an incident.	The fire control room or centre, which is required in buildings over 50 metres in height.
Fire alarm or zone block plan BCA Spec E2.2a and AS1670.1	The location of the Fire Indicator Panel and the area covered by each fire alarm zone, guarding against out of date or non-compliant information at the panel.	Adjacent to the FIP, along with mimic panels, repeater panels and the fire brigade panel.

What has to appear on the diagram

• Streets and landmarksStreet and building names, landmarks, open ground and adjoining streets.
• Stairs and panelsThe position of fire stairs, the FIP, fire control centres and sprinkler alarms.
• Water supplyStreet fire hydrant locations and sizes, and the dimensions of any PE underground pipework.
• Valves and storageConnections to the water supply serving the site, plus the location and capacity of storage tanks listed in kilolitres.
• Pumps and boostersPumps, individual hydrants, Booster Assemblies and every isolating and non-return valve, including backflow devices.
• Connected systemsAny connections to sprinklers, drenchers, hose reels or other installed fire safety systems.
• Services and hazardsElectrical switchboards, the substation, LPG tanks, the gas supply shutdown valve and all flammable storage areas.
• ProvenanceThe year of installation and the name of the contractor who supplied the design.

Size, scale and materials

Requirement	What that means in practice
Size	Between A3 and A1.
Scale	A maximum scale of 1:250.
Fixing	Permanently fixed, and never obscured from sight by signage, storage or plant.
Material	Water fade, weather and UV resistant. Stainless steel, Traffolyte or Rowmark.
Not acceptable	Laminated paper. It fades, lifts and fails outdoors, and it does not meet the requirement.
Complex sites	Multiple block plans may be required across the one site.

How it works

1. Tell us the siteThe address, building type and which fire systems are installed.
2. We gather the detailFrom your hydraulic drawings, existing plans or a site survey where drawings are not available.
3. Draft for approvalIt is best practice to submit a draft to your local Fire Authority before manufacture. We prepare the plan for that review.
4. Manufactured and fixedProduced on the correct substrate and installed where the standard requires it.

Part of a complete arrangement

Block plans sit alongside the rest of your fire and emergency compliance. Most sites pair them with evacuation diagrams drawn to AS3745-2010, emergency procedure flip charts, fire equipment servicing to AS1851-2012 and an Annual Fire Safety Statement. One provider means one set of records that agree with each other.

Common questions

What is a block plan?

A block plan is a fixed site diagram installed for the fire brigade rather than for occupants. It shows where the hydrants, valves, boosters, panels and hazards are, so attending firefighters can find and operate the systems without searching the building first.

How is a block plan different from an evacuation diagram?

An evacuation diagram is for the people inside the building and shows exits and assembly areas. A block plan is for emergency services and shows the fire systems and site hazards. Most buildings need both, and they are drawn to different standards.

Can a block plan be printed on laminated paper?

No. Block plans are non-compliant if displayed on laminated paper. They must be made from a water fade, weather and UV resistant material such as stainless steel, Traffolyte or Rowmark.

What size does a block plan have to be?

Between A3 and A1, drawn at a maximum scale of 1:250. For particularly complex sites, more than one block plan may be needed.

Does the fire brigade have to approve the plan?

It is best practice to submit a draft version to your local governing Fire Authority for approval before the plan is manufactured and installed. We prepare the draft so it is ready for that review.

Which block plans does my building need?

It depends on which systems are installed. A building with a hydrant system needs a hydrant block plan, a sprinklered building needs a sprinkler block plan at the valve sets, and buildings over 50 metres need a tactical fire plan in the fire control room. Send us the site details and we will tell you what applies.

Do you cover my area?

Block plans are supplied nationally. Where a site survey is needed to pick up detail that is missing from the drawings, that is carried out across the Greater Sydney metropolitan area.