1. Who can assess your fire safety?
It could be the difference between choosing a competent and certified professional or an unqualified person.
Earlier the regulations said a “properly qualified person” could get the job done. However, because “properly qualified” could mean anything, you could have inadvertently chosen an unqualified assessor, leaving your building at risk. Now, the definition is ‘accredited practitioners (fire safety)’, or APFS.
2. How to select the fire safety assessor for your building?
The Department of Finance, Services and Innovation is developing an accreditation process, which will make sure assessors meet strict criteria. They’ll then issue a register of competent fire safety technicians who meet all the standards. In the meantime, here’s are some useful notes and recommendations for strata property owners:
- Familiarise yourself with the guides and fact sheets: The New South Wales Government website offers a trove of information for building owners, including answers to FAQs on new fire safety requirements.
- Choose a qualified and competent fire safety expert: You may refer to the guide that details how to select an APFS. You can also search for an APFS here.
- Fill and submit the required forms: You are required to fill and submit the required forms, such as the annual fire statement and supplementary fire statement.
- Secure guarantee of fire safety compliance: A standardised annual fire safety statement (AFSS) has been introduced from 1 December 2017. This replaces the variety of statements accepted across different councils previously. The new AFSS acts as a guarantee that all fire safety measures within the building are operational and compliant. It will also contain a sign off by the APFS and owners/agent.
Originally published on 22 November 2017
Updated on 18 March 2021
Categories: Legislation & compliance