Fire Safety Building Regulations
Property owners who own buildings other than single dwellings and townhouses (known as class 1b to 9 buildings under the Building Code of Australia (BCA)) are responsible for submitting an annual fire safety statement to Council.
The statement must show that each fire safety measure has been inspected and verified by an accredited practitioner (Fire Safety). It must ensure that the measure is capable of performing to the standard as specified on the fire safety schedule.
The Hills Shire Council has a statutory duty in pursuing the fulfillment of legislative requirements governing fire safety.
Annual Fire Safety Statement
An annual fire safety statement is a document that must be submitted to Council each year by the owner of a building.
It must verify that each “essential fire safety measure” installed in the premises is performing to the standard outlined in the fire safety schedule.
An essential fire safety measure are items such as:
- hose reels
- sprinklers
- hydrants
- exit signs
- emergency lighting
- portable fire extinguishers
- fire and smoke alarms
A fire safety schedule is a list of all essential fire safety measures that are installed in a premises. It also lists the standard of performance required for each measure.
The statement also states that:
- paths of travel and exits are unobstructed
- all relevant signage relating to exits is in place
When is an Annual Fire Safety Statement due?
An Annual Fire Safety Statement must be submitted to Council within twelve (12) months of :
- when the fire safety certificate was issued or
- when the previous annual fire safety statement was issued
The annual fire safety statement must certify that an accredited practitioner (fire safety) has:
- inspected the building
- assessed the fire safety measures, and
- found that the measures are capable of performing to the relevant standard
It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure Council receives the fire safety statement before the due date. Council as a courtesy sends a reminder out approximately 60 days before the statement is due.
Who can assess the standard of performance?
The building owner must have the inspection performed by an accredited practitioner (fire safety).
Who can complete an Annual Fire Safety Statement?
Annual Fire Safety statements can only be issued by the owner or on behalf of the owner.
Is there any cost in submitting the statement?
Council charge a fee for processing this statement and an invoice will be forwarded in accordance with Councils fees and charges.
What happens if I do not submit the fire safety statement?
To ensure the safety of persons occupying a building, essential fire safety measures are:
- required to be maintained and
- are to perform to the standard for which they were originally designed and installed
Failure to comply with these requirements is an offence. Council may issue a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) if:
- the essential fire safety services are not fully maintained or
- if the annual fire safety statement requirements are not complied with
Council may also serve a fire safety order requiring compliance with fire safety requirements.
If a valid annual fire safety statement cannot be sent to Council by the due date, an extension may be considered if there are reasonable grounds.
The following application form must be completed and submitted to Council via email council@thehills.nsw.gov.au (Please note an application fee applies in accordance with Council’s adopted fees and charges to request a review of circumstances).
Annual Fire Safety Statement Request to Review Circumstances- of AFSS submission(PDF, 382KB)
How do I know what fire safety measures are required to be installed in my building?
Generally, the Building Code of Australia specifies in what parts and/or types of buildings the essential fire safety measures are required.
Council can require that fire safety measures be installed in existing buildings under a fire safety order. In the case of a new building, addition, or change the use of an existing building, Council or the Principal Certifier (PC) will specify what measures are required to be installed in a building.
A Fire Safety Certificate would have been required if any of these measures were installed or applied to your building from 1 July 1988.
Annual Fire Safety Statement Form Link
Annual and Supplementary Fire Safety Statement Form
Fire Safety Certificates
A fire safety certificate indicates that fire safety measures have been installed and perform in accordance with the relevant Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards. It must be lodged with Council or the PC (where appropriate) immediately upon completion of:
- A fire safety order or
- A change in use and before the new use is commenced or the building is occupied for new building works or additions/alterations
If you are required to provide certification for these measures, Council or the PC will advise you in the form of:
- a Development Consent
- construction certificate or
- Complying Development Certificate (CDC)
Council or the PC will include detailed information such as the installation and performance standards which apply.
Council may also issue a Fire Safety Order which will specify the measures required to be installed in a building and their standard of performance.
Who can complete a Fire Safety Certificate?
Fire safety certificates can only be issued by the owner or on behalf of the owner.
Interim/Final Fire Safety Certificate Form Link
Fire Safety Certificate Form
How to change a fire safety schedule
From time to time, it may be identified that fire safety schedule for a building is incorrect, and the annual fire safety statement may not be able to be endorsed. It is requested that in the first instance, if you wish to amend the schedule, you contact the Certifying Authority to have the issue resolved.
It should be noted that the only mechanism for Council to amend a schedule is through issuing a fire safety order, in which Council can issue a cost compliance notice to provide this service. Alternatively, A CDC may be applied for from Council or a Private certifying Authority. This may allow for the fire safety schedule to be updated.
For further information visit Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (Part 9) or contact The Hills Shire Council on (02) 9843 0555.