Fire safety certification

When constructing a Class 1b, 2 to Class 9 building, you’ll need to comply with  a number of fire safety measures and reporting obligations under Part 9 of the Environmental, Planning & Assessment Regulation 2000. Existing owners also have responsibility to maintain fire safety standards and report on these annually. Owners who do not comply with fire safety regulations can be penalised.

Class 2 to Class 9 buildings are:

• Residential flat buildings
• Certain dual occupancies
• Townhouse developments
• Shops and restaurants
• Office buildings
• Public assembly buildings
• Nursing homes
• Industrial buildings and warehouses
• Places of shared accommodation

Where applicable, a Fire Safety Schedule will be issued alongside the Construction Certificate or Complying Development Consent. The Fire Safety Schedule will list the fire safety measures that need to be installed and the Australian and/or other Standards with which they must also comply. A Fire Safety Schedule may also be issued if Murray River Council conducts a fire safety audit of the premises. 

Essential fire safety services encompass a number of fire safety measures to be carried out within a building or premises. Examples of these services include:

• Emergency lighting
• Exit signs
• Exit systems and paths of travel to exits
• Fire doors
• Portable fire extinguishers
• Fire hose reels
• Fire hydrants
• Smoke detection and alarm systems
• Smoke exhaust systems
• Solid-core doors

Every 12 months after the Fire Safety Certificate is issued, an Annual Fire Safety Statement must be prepared and given to Council and NSW Fire and Rescue. The Annual Fire Safety Statement must certify that a professional fire and building consultant has inspected the building, assessed the fire safety measures, and found they continue to meet standards set out in the Fire Schedule.

A copy of the Fire Safety Certificate and Fire Safety Statement must be displayed within the building in a prominent position