Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $4.2bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
Commercial and industrial projects anchor current installation growth
- Non-residential construction has become the main engine of installation work for fire protection contractors, as office, industrial and institutional projects drive demand for automatic detection, alarm and suppression systems in new buildings. Tighter National Construction Code (NCC) fire-safety provisions mean compliant systems are now embedded in most commercial and industrial project scopes, so new builds almost always include significant fire protection packages.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
AS 1851-2012 rollout in NSW will tighten maintenance obligations and deepen recurring demand
- New South Wales is moving to hardwire AS 1851-2012 into law. Amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation will require owners of most Class 1b and Class 2–9 buildings to inspect, test and service essential fire safety measures in accordance with AS 1851-2012 from 13 February 2026 and to keep onsite records for at least seven years or face significant penalties. This change will increase inspection frequency and broaden testing protocols for sprinklers, pumps, detection systems, alarms and portable equipment, increasing demand for routine servicing and replacement across the installed base.
Biggest companies in the Fire Protection Services in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue ($m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
ARA | 316.2 | |
Wormald Australia | 304.6 | |
Chubb Fire & Security | 162.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Design services, Fire system sales and installation services and Fire system maintenance and repair services. Design services is the largest segment of the Fire Protection Services in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Design services support downstream installation and maintenance opportunities
- Design services account for a small share of industry revenue and include fire system design, compliance assessments and integration planning. Demand is strongest in large non-residential and institutional projects that require bespoke system layouts to meet National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standards, while simpler residential projects require limited design input.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Contractors in this industry install and service fire alarm, protection, detection and control systems. The industry’s contractors also provide consultancy services, along with maintenance and repairs, for existing fire protection equipment.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia include Fire system sales and installation services, Fire system maintenance and repair and Design services .Companies
Companies covered in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia include ARA, Wormald Australia and Chubb Fire & Security.Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia include closed circuit television (cctv), fire extinguisher, fire detection system, carbon monoxide and personal protective equipment (ppe).Industry Code
ANZSIC 3234 - Fire Protection Services in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Non-residential construction is lifting installation activity, particularly in commercial and institutional assets. These projects require complex detection, alarm and suppre...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Maintenance work has been the cornerstone of fire protection contractors' activity, helping stabilise the industry’s long-term performance. Original installers often secure m...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
New South Wales has an above-average share of industry enterprises, reflecting urbanisation trends. Sydney's substantial high-rise apartment and office building stock lifts t...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
A reputation for quality is crucial for contractors to secure installation and maintenance projects. Contractors often look to secure ongoing maintenance arrangements on inst...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Market share remains low and fragmented despite the emergence of major players. Many small and mid-sized contractors compete locally. Larger firms mainly dominate complex pro...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2022 through 2026
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2026
- Overview of ARA's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Wormald Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Chubb Fire & Security's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for ARA, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Wormald Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Chubb Fire & Security, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Fire protection contractors have faced a slump in installation work on high-rise apartment building projects since a record peak in 2017-18. However, growing population press...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Skilled labour shortages have contributed to higher average wage rates and pushed up industry wage costs. Still, fire protection contractors have achieved some labour savings...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia in 2026?
The market size of the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia is $4.2bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia in 2026?
There are 2,950 businesses in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia?
The Fire Protection Services industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia?
The Fire Protection Services industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia are ARA, Wormald Australia and Chubb Fire & Security
What does the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia include?
Fire system sales and installation services and Fire system maintenance and repair are part of the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia is ARA.
How competitive is the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Fire Protection Services industry in Australia.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
