Building fire safety
This building and fire safety industry portal has been published to assist industry professionals including architects, building owners/managers, building regulation consultants, building surveyors, certifying authorities, consent authorities, dangerous goods/hazardous industry consultants, fire protection installers and consultants, fire safety engineers, government authorities, hydraulic consultants, other engineers, other fire agencies, public agencies and bodies, regulatory authorities, risk analysts and the like.
Building fire safety resources for:
New position statements (13/09/2024)
The following position statements are new or revised:
- Fire engineering for existing buildings
- Fire hydrant system in existing building or premises
- Fire safety in early childhood centres
- Fire sprinkler system in existing building or premises
The Technical Information Sheet Fire safety in early childhood centres has been rescinded as it is superseded by the corresponding new position statement above.
New position statements (30/08/2024)
The following position statements are new or revised:
- Application of fire sprinkler concessions under Specification 18 of the NCC
- Consultation on the performance-based design brief (PBDB)
- Fire hydrant system in new building or premises
- Fire sprinklers in class 1 buildings (i.e. homes)
- Fire sprinklers in class 2 and 3 buildings
- Fixed suction connection for below-ground water supply
- Massive timber building systems
- Pressure reducing fire hydrant valve (PRFHV)
- Security/screen doors fitted to sole-occupancy units (SOUs)
- Small-bore suction connections
New position statements (14/06/2024)
The following position statements are new or revised:
New look position statements web page (4/06/2024)
The position statements web page has been overhauled in a new look format that includes a searchable list of our current published positions. The list can be sorted by alphabetical titles (ascending order) or by date last updated (newest to oldest).
Amended position statements for dry hydrants and electic vehicles and charging (4/06/2024)
The Dry fire hydrant system and Electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging equipment position statements have been amended and published on the position statements web page.
New LinkedIn profile for 'frnsw-firesafety' (29/04/2024)
A new LinkedIn profile has been created under FRNSW to better connect and disseminate information with our indiustry stakeholders. Professionals wishing to receive related notifications are encouraged to connect and follow us at www.linkedin.com/showcase/frnsw-firesafety.
New position statements (29/04/2024)
Ten new or revised position statements have been published as part of a review of all statements, and include:
- Applicable Building Code of Australia (BCA)
- Accessibility of fire hydrants
- Automated vehicle parking system (AVPS)
- Automatic storage and retrieval systems (ASRS)
- Consultation on the performance-based design brief (PBDB)
- Consultation with the relevant fire brigade, fire service or fire authority
- Dry fire hydrant system
- Electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging equipment
- Exemption from fire safety standards
- Fire doors with fire activated bolts
New position statement Automatic storage and retrieval systems (1/11/2023)
A new position statement on Automatic storage and retrieval systems has been published.
Complying Development Certificates and Final Fire Safety Reports (11/09/2023)
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has received a number of enquiries regarding the requirement for certifiers to request a Final Fire Safety Report from FRNSW for certain developments (in accordance with the requirements of section 50 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021) following the receipt of an application for an Occupation Certificate, and whether these requirements are applicable to an application for an Occupation Certificate that relates to a Complying Development Certificate.
FRNSW and the Department of Customer Service have discussed this matter and are of the view that s50 of the abovementioned Regulation was only ever intended to apply to Occupation Certificate applications that relate to a Construction Certificate. The wording contained in s50(1) of the Regulation may not be as clear as it could be, but it is FRNSW view that the policy intent is clearly reflected in the definition of a Final Fire Safety Report contained in s50(8) of the Regulation. As such, it is FRNSW interpretation that a certifier is not required to request a Final Fire Safety Report for developments that were the subject of a Complying Development Certificate.
FRNSW understands that these requirements may be clarified in future amendments to the Regulation.
Please note however that FRNSW should still be consulted as a relevant stakeholder in other applications related to Complying Development Certificates as required, such as performance-based design briefs as per NCC Clause A2G2(4)(a), etc.
Revised performance-based design brief / fire engineering brief questionnaire (FEBQ) form (03/08/2023)
Please be advised that FRNSW have updated the performance-based design brief / fire engineering brief questionnaire (FEBQ) form. The current version is Version 18.
FRNSW encourage applicants to start using the new form straight away, however will permit a two week transition period until 18th August 2023, after which we will no longer be accepting the older application forms for new jobs.
Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Amendment (Fire Safety) Regulation 2022 (01/08/2023)
From 1 August 2023, the Amending Regulation above will expand the types of building proposals that must be referred to FRNSW for comment and the stages for referral through amendment of the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021. This also includes changes to legislated timeframes.
The main changes relate to the performance-based design brief, initial fire safety reports, final fire safety reports and fire safety system reports. FRNSW have made changes to relevant sections of the website, however some guidelines, technical information sheets and process documents are still in the process of being updated.
The Amending Regulation also makes changes to other items, such as a standardised mandatory template for fire safety schedules. Refer to https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/news-and-updates/notices/reforms-to-fire-safety-regulation#further-info for further information on the Amending Regulation.
New technical information sheet - Large-scale external lithium-ion battery energy storage systems - Fire safety study considerations (31/07/2023)
A new technical information sheet Large-scale external lithium-ion battery energy storage systems - Fire safety study considerations has been published.
Revised Emergency plan and Emergency Services Information Package (ESIP) documentation and new ESIP template (21/03/2023)
Please be advised FRNSW have updated the form Lodgement of emergency plan, the technical information sheet Hazardous chemicals manifest and the guideline Emergency services information package and tactical fire plans.
FRNSW have also published a new ESIP template.
Further Update on Revised application forms (18/07/2022)
Due to some errors in the forms uploaded on 15/07/2022, please be advised that FRNSW have updated application forms for the performance-based design brief / fire engineering brief questionnaire (FEBQ) and initial fire safety report (IFSR).
FRNSW have also become aware that some internet browser settings may result in the older forms still being downloaded from the FRNSW website. If this is occurring, please try clearing your cache or try a different browser. If you still have difficulty please email firesafety@fire.nsw.gov.au.
The correct versions of forms as at 18/07/2022 are:
|
Form |
Version |
Date |
|
FEBQ |
17 |
18 July 2022 |
|
IFSR |
23 |
18 July 2022 |
|
Performance solution |
05 |
15 July 2022 |
|
FFSR |
11 |
15 July 2022 |
|
FSSR |
07 |
15 July 2022 |