Certification
Achieving Compliance of Fire Systems and Measures
Compliance with fire systems and measures is both complex and mandatory across all stages of a building’s lifecycle—design, installation, and ongoing performance.
Building owners are responsible for appointing a Building Certifier and/or an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) who is qualified to certify every applicable fire safety measure within their building. Fire Systems Certification involves the formal verification that the installation, equipment, and ongoing performance of fire safety systems meet the relevant codes and standards and align with the approved design.
Certification may apply to:
The initial or upgraded system design,
The as-installed fire safety systems, and
The ongoing maintenance and performance, verified through annual certification by an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety), ensuring the system continues to perform in accordance with its original design and installation.
This requirement for certification applies to all essential fire safety measures, as outlined in Clause 88 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Amendment (Fire Safety) Regulation 2022
What is a Fire Safety Measure (FSM)
A Fire Safety Measure (FSM) means any measure (including any item of equipment, form of construction or fire safety strategy) that could be implemented in a building to ensure the safety of persons using the building in the event of fire. They include:
Fire shutters
Fire windows
Lightweight construction
Mechanical air handling systems
Perimeter vehicle access for emergency vehicles
Portable fire extinguishers
Safety curtains in proscenium openings
Smoke alarms and heat alarms
Smoke and heat vents
Smoke dampers
Smoke detectors and heat detectors
Smoke doors
Solid core doors
Standby power systems
Wall-wetting sprinkler and drencher systems
Warning and operational signs
Access panels, doors and hoppers to fire-resisting shafts
Automatic fail-safe devices
Automatic fire detection and alarm systems
Automatic fire suppression systems
Emergency lifts
Emergency lighting
Emergency planning
Emergency warning and intercommunication systems
Exit signs
Fire alarm monitoring
Fire control centres and rooms
Fire dampers
Fire doors
Fire hose reel systems
Fire hydrant systems
Fire seals protecting openings in fire-resisting components of the building
Other fire safety measures may be required by the building certifier and/or a performance (alternative) solution.
Yearly Condition Report
An important provision in Australian Standard AS1851-2012 Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment, is the need to keep records of the service work carried out as evidence that the systems and equipment are fit to fulfil the intended purpose.
When the service work has been completed for each system and equipment, the consolidated reports for each system and equipment form evidence that the service routine has been satisfactorily completed or that failures have been noted or rectified.
This record of service is presented as a Yearly Condition Report (YCR). The YCR is submitted to the building owner/s or owner/s representative provides the information required to completion Fire Safety Statements.
The YCR outlines:
(a) Name and address of building or site.
(b) Period covered by this report.
(c) System or equipment identification and location.
(d) Applicable approved design Standard.
(e) Defects outstanding.
(f) Non-conformances outstanding.
(g) Summary of the relevant records of service.
(h) Statement of condition.
(i) Name and address of responsible entity.
(j) Name and signature of service provider representative and date.
(k) Name of the service provider or company.
Note: The Yearly Condition Report (YCR) is a record of maintenance activities carried out in accordance with AS 1851. It is not an assessment tool for the Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety). The APFS is required to assess each essential fire safety measure against its original performance standard, not simply verify that routine maintenance has been completed.
Fire Safety Statements
A Fire Safety Statement is a document issued by, or on behalf of the owner(s), of an existing building.
The statement confirms that an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety), (formerly known as a Competent Fire Safety Practitioner) has assessed, inspected and verified the performance of each fire safety measure that applies to that building.
There are two types of Fire Safety Statements:
Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS)
An Annual Fire Safety Statement MUST BE ISSUED EVERY YEAR and includes all the essential Fire Safety Measures (FSM) that apply to a building. The statement also verifies that an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) has inspected and confirmed that the exit systems (Paths of Travel) in the building are in compliance with the Regulation.
Supplementary Fire Statements (SFSS)
A Supplementary Fire Safety Statement is issued at more regular intervals (as specified in the Fire Safety Schedule) for any critical fire safety measures that apply to a building.
Please note: The requirements for the Yearly Condition Report (YCR) and the Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) vary between Australian states. It is important to check and comply with the specific regulations applicable in your current state or territory.
Fire Installations
Fire Installation Certificate Requirements
At the completion of the installation and successful testing of the fire system—once it is confirmed to be in full working order—a Fire Installation Certificate must be issued to the builder.
This certificate serves as confirmation that the fire system has been properly installed and tested in accordance with relevant standards.
The builder is responsible for collating all required certificates, including the Fire Installation Certificate, and providing them to the Building Certifier or Principal Certifying Authority. These documents are necessary for the Certifier to issue an Interim or Final Occupation Certificate for the building.
Surveys/Compliance
In addition to the compliance reporting for Routine Inspection and Testing of Essential Fire Measures and Fire Installations, Extreme Fire Solutions offers Fire Safety Surveys and Reporting on existing all fire measures, wet dry or passive.
Such surveys provide a detailed review of the all fire systems within a building, their adherance to the designed Standard of Performance and Installation and the their status in terms of compliance.
The reporting highlights any defects and/or non-compliances along with prioritisation of urgency and/or actions and recommendations for rectification.
Such reports are extremely useful prior to the sale of (or purchase of) building premises, to fully understand the status of the Fire Systems within.