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 statement Automatic storage and retieval 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.
New technical information sheet - Fire safety in early childhood centres (20/04/2023)
A new technical information sheet Fire safety in early childhood centres 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.
New technical information sheet - Large-scale external lithium-ion battery energy storage systems - Fire safety study considerations (06/12/2022)
The technical information sheet Large-scale external lithium-ion battery energy storage systems - Fire safety study considerations has been released and is open for public consultation for a minimum of four (4) weeks. All stakeholders are invited to provide comments during this consultation period.
New position statement Use of National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 (3/11/2022)
A new position statement on Use of National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 has been published.
New technical information sheet - Fire safety in early childhood centres (18/08/2022)
The technical information sheet Fire safety in early childhood centres has been released and is open for public consultation for a minimum of four (4) weeks. All stakeholders are invited to provide comments during this consultation period.
Revised Lodgement of emergency plan form (11/08/2022)
Please be advised FRNSW have updated the Lodgement of emergency plan form.
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 |
Revised application forms (15/07/2022)
Please be advised FRNSW have updated application forms for the following requests: performance-based design brief / fire engineering brief questionnaire (FEBQ), initial fire safety report (IFSR), final fire safety report (FFSR) and fire safety system report (FSSR).
As of Monday 18th July 2022, we will no longer be accepting the older application forms.
Your application will be rejected if it is submitted in the wrong format.
These updated applications can be found on our website from Friday 15th July 2022.
Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (24/12/2021)
The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 commences on 1 January 2022. This new regulation replaces many current requirements under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. Some relevant examples related to applications to FRNSW include clauses 144, 152, 152A and 188. FRNSW are endeavouring to update the information on our website and associated documentation and application forms, however until this is completed, please use the existing application forms and information relevant to the type of application.
Revised performance-based design brief / fire engineering brief consultation and position statement (30/07/2021)
The performance-based design brief / fire engineering brief consultation process has been revised and now includes new timeframes. The position statement on Relevant stakeholders in the performance-based design brief (PBDB) has also been revised to be consistent with this consultation.
Revised application forms (30/07/2021)
FRNSW has amended the final fire safety report application and request a maritime lease inspection forms to reflect correct charges. These charges are also updated on the fees and charges for services page.
New position statement Relevant stakeholders in the performance-based design brief (PBDB) (29/06/2021)
A new position statement on Relevant stakeholders in the performance-based design brief (PBDB) has been published.
Amendment to guideline Access for fire brigade vehicles and firefighters (17/11/2020)
The guideline Access for fire brigade vehicles and firefighters has been amended as Version 05.01 where some photos of fire appliances have been replaced.
Amendment to Hazardous chemicals manifest technical information sheet (17/11/2020)
The Hazardous chemicals manifest technical information sheet has been amended to include the NSW Resources Regulator as the regulator for mines and petroleum sites.
New technical information sheet Fire hydrant concessions for existing buildings (27/02/2020)
A new technical information sheet Fire hydrant concessions for existing buildings has been published for consent authorities (i.e. Councils) issuing a Development Control Order on an existing building.
Amendment to guideline Fire safety in waste facilities (27/02/2020)
Amendment two of the guideline Fire safety in waste facilities has been published as Version 02.02. This version incorporates minor amendments of updated Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 references.
New position statement External combustible cladding (27/02/2020)
A new position statement on External combustible cladding has been published.
New position statement Fixed suction for below ground water supply (19/02/2020)
A new position statement on Fixed suction for below ground water supply has been published.
Revised technical information sheets (17/01/2020)
FRNSW have revised the initial fire safety report process, final fire safety report process and fire safety system report process technical information sheets to incorporate changes arising from the EP&A Amendment (building and subdivision) Regulation 2019 that came into effect 1/12/19.
Revised application forms (17/01/2020)
FRNSW has recently revised a number of forms to incorporate changes arising from the EP&A Amendment (building and subdivision) Regulation 2019 that came into effect 1/12/19. Forms may include other minor changes such as requesting the ASIC registered company name. A four week transition period will apply; old forms may not be accepted from 17 February 2020 onwards.
Revised Hazardous chemicals manifest technical information sheet (17/01/2020)
FRNSW have revised the Hazardous chemicals manifest technical information sheet to incorporate the current FRNSW brand, updated references and minor changes to some requirements such as the 'emergency information' container.
New guideline Fire safety during construction work (1/11/2019)
The guideline Fire safety during construction work has been released and is open for public consultation for a period not less than four weeks. All stakeholders are invited to provide comments during this consultation period.