Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety)- Updated.
Formerly referred to as a Competent Fire Safety Practitioner, Extreme Fire Solutions has decided to engage a third-party to inspect all sites in order to avoid any confusion between the two roles. Extreme Fire Solutions primarily operates as a maintenance company, while an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) (APFS) functions as a consultant. This prompted the decision to incorporate all APFS personnel into Fire Matrix, our consulting company.
As of July 1, 2020, the NSW Government is enforcing regulatory changes that will strengthen the state's building regulation and certification industry by improving the quality of checks made, shorten certification times, while upholding life safety.
For a comprehensive list of Fire Safety Measures (FSM) that we are authorized to certify, please visit the following link: https://connect.fpaa.com.au/Connect/FPAS/FSA.aspx
What Is The Requirement For Accredited Practitioner (fire Safety)?
To ensure the reliability of your fire protection system and equipment assessments, it is imperative that the individuals responsible are accredited and included in the FPAS Fire Safety Assessment Accredited Practitioner Register.
Accreditation is a mandatory requirement for each of the Essential Fire Safety Measures, with a minimum of 33 measures, as outlined in your building's fire safety schedule.
Individuals without accreditation are not authorized to conduct annual assessments of essential Fire Safety Measures or perform the annual inspection of fire exits and pathways to fire exits.
What Happens If My Contractor Is Not Accredited?
If your contractor lacks FPAS accreditation for each essential Fire Safety Measure (FSM), they cannot validate the measures as an Accredited Fire Practitioner. As a result, your submission of the Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) may face potential delays, which could lead to further actions by your local council, including financial penalties.
If you are encountering difficulties with Annual Fire Certification due to fire safety practitioner accreditation, please reach out to us immediately.
Fire Safety Assessment Accreditation Levels And Restrictions
The Fire Safety Assessment (FSA) class of accreditation under the FPAS Scheme accredits practitioners as individuals to undertake assessment of existing Fire Safety Measures (for the purpose of informing an Annual or Supplementary Fire Safety Statement) under Part 9 Division 5 and 7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.
To reflect the levels of complexity that some equipment and systems can present, two levels of accreditation are available for three specific fire safety measures:
Automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers);
Fire hydrant systems; and
Automatic fire detection and alarm systems.
For each fire safety measure, practitioners can select the appropriate level of work that best suits their individual needs and circumstances. Each level specifies the system types, configurations and the nature of work a practitioner at that level is accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment on, as well as any conditions that relate to the defined level.
For each fire safety system covered by the FPAS Scheme, Accredited Practitioners are only accredited to undertake the work applicable to the level for which they hold accreditation. Undertaking non-accredited work could be assessed as being a breach of the Code of Professional Conduct, particularly where such work is governed by legislation and this may result in a practitioner’s accreditation being suspended or cancelled.
The below defines the Fire Safety Assessment work that a practitioner is accredited to undertake for the FSM outlined and the available level of accreditation within the Fire Safety Assessment class of accreditation.
Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (Sprinklers) - Fire Safety Assessment
Level 2 (Advanced)
Practitioners at this level are accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of any automatic fire suppression system (sprinklers) subject to specific conditions.
2.1. Accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of any Automatic Fire Suppression System other than combined sprinkler and hydrant systems unless:
2.1.1 the practitioner also holds Level 1 (Basic) Fire Hydrant Systems ‐ Fire Safety Assessment accreditation in order to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of combined sprinkler and hydrant systems.
Level 1 (Basic)
Practitioners at this level are accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of a restricted range of automatic fire suppression systems that include less complex hydraulic or hazard protection considerations.
1.1. Accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of automatic fire suppression systems, excluding:
1.1.1. Systems that include multiple pressure zones
1.1.2. Combined sprinkler and hydrant systems
1.1.3. High hazard sprinkler systems, including those that protect:
1.1.3.1. high hazard process risks
1.1.3.2. high hazard storage risks
1.1.3.3. special commodities
1.1.3.4. flammable and combustible liquids or other dangerous goods.
Fire Hydrant Systems - Fire Safety Assessment
Level 2 (Advanced)
Practitioners at this level are accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of any fire hydrant system subject to specific conditions.
2.1. Accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of any fire hydrant system other than combined sprinkler and hydrant systems unless:
2.1.1 the practitioner also holds Level1 (Basic) Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (sprinklers) – Fire Safety Assessment accreditation in order to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of combined sprinkler and hydrant systems
Level 1 (Intermediate)
Practitioners at this level are accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of a restricted range of fire hydrant systems that include less complex hydraulic considerations subject to specific conditions.
1.1. Accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of fire hydrant systems, excluding:
1.1.1. Systems that include multiple pressure zones
1.1.2. Combined sprinkler and hydrant systems
Automatic Fire Detection And Alarm Systems – Fire Safety Assessment
Level 2 (Advanced)
Practitioners at this level are accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of any automatic fire detection and alarm system.2.1. No restriction on scope of automatic fire detection and alarm system Fire Safety Assessment.
Level 1 (Basic)
Practitioners at this level are accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of a restricted range of automatic fire detection and alarm systems, generally limited to systems that do not provide multiple programmable outputs to control interfaces associated with a range of complex systems.
1.1. Accredited to undertake Fire Safety Assessment of automatic fire detection and alarm systems, excluding:
1.1.1. systems that provide multiple programmable outputs to control interfaces with any or all of the following:
1.1.1.1. emergency warning and intercommunication systems (EWIS) or customised building occupant warning systems
1.1.1.2. zoned fire suppression systems
1.1.1.3. zone pressurisation systems
1.1.1.4. purge systems
1.1.1.5. smoke exhaust systems or smoke vents and heat vents
1.1.1.6. automatic air pressurisation systems including those for lift shafts and pressurised exits
1.1.1.7. associated ancillary equipment, such as dampers, fans, louvres, automatic opening doors and the like with respect to 1.1.1.3 to 1.1.1.6 above
1.1.1.8. fire and/or smoke curtains, fire and/or smoke shutters (where required for mechanical air handling systems).
Note: Automatic fire detection and alarm systems, controlling single‐zone occupant warning systems, single‐zone door releases, fire monitoring, etc. can be assessed under Level 1 (Basic) Automatic fire detection and systems – Fire Safety Assessment accreditation.
Restrictions Or Considerations Applicable To All Accredited Practitioners
Performance (alternative) solutions
Note that individuals accredited in the Fire Safety Assessment class for individual or multiple fire safety measures are accredited to assess the operating performance of these fire safety measures regardless of whether they are subject to a performance (alternative) solution or not.