Initial fire safety report
The certifying authority is required to request an initial fire safety report (IFSR) from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and consider any conditions prior to issuing a construction certificate (CC) for building works that includes an alternative solution involving any Category 2 fire safety provision.
When the certifying authority receives an application for CC, where the building works involve an alternative solution that intends to meet any performance requirement of any Category 2 fire safety provision, the certifying authority is required under clause 144(2) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (EPandA Reg.) to refer a copy of the application for CC and its plans and specifications to FRNSW. The alternative solutions report (ASR) required by clause 144A of the EPandA Reg. is considered part of the specifications of the building.
Note: FRNSW use the term ‘alternative solution’ as per the EPandA Reg. instead of ‘performance solution’ as used within the National Construction Code.
The certifying authority should use the initial fire safety report application form. The certifying authority should check the EPandA Reg. savings and transitional provisions to determine the applicability of new provisions on existing consent. FRNSW will notify the certifying authority within 10 days if an IFSR will be provided or not. If being provided, FRNSW will provide the IFSR to the certifying authority within 28 days after the document receipt date.
Note: The EPandA Reg. was amended in 2015 to give the Fire Commissioner discretion to provide an IFSR or not. FRNSW prioritise all applications and assess those that present greater risks and impacts to the community with consideration of available internal resources.
If the competent fire safety practitioner responsible for the ASR has undertaken consultation with FRNSW, the Alternative solution summary table should be completed and attached to the IFSR application.
An IFSR will not be provided if the application for CC has already been determined by the certifying authority. Any proposed change in design after a CC has been issued will require the CC to be modified or a new CC issued for the changed plans and specifications, which includes attaching any new or revised ASR to the fire safety schedule. Clause 148 of the EPandA Reg. requires any modification of CC to be assessed the same way as the initial CC (i.e. the application referred to FRNSW for an IFSR).
Note: FRNSW has no role in receiving or managing updated ASRs on projects. However, FRNSW expects the ASR version applicable to the completed building works to be same the version attached to the current fire safety schedule, and as per applicable CCs.
| Situation | What you should do |
| An application for CC is received for building works to which clause 144 of the EPandA Reg. is applicable |
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| The application for CC has been amended prior to the IFSR being furnished by FRNSW (i.e. the plans and specs have been amended prior to the CC being issued) |
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| The IFSR is not being furnished by FRNSW |
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| The IFSR has been furnished by FRNSW |
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| The development to which an issued CC relates is being modified (i.e. applying to modify CC with new or revised plans and specifications) |
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| The ASR has been updated to include FRNSW conditions from the IFSR |
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| An updated ASR has been received from the competent fire safety practitioner |
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Forms
Initial fire safety report application (MS Word, 285 kb dotm)
Alternative solution summary table (MS Word, 243 kb dotm)
Declaration of updated alternative solution report (MS Word, 213 kb dotm)
What do I get?
The certifying authority will receive an IFSR which is to be used when determining the application for CC being applied for. The IFSR identifies whether FRNSW is satisfied that the alternative solution will meet the performance requirements it intends to meet, fire hydrants are accessible, and hose couplings are compatible with FRNSW. The IFSR may also recommend conditions to be imposed.
Costs
The charge applicable to furnish an IFSR comprises a charge based on the estimated cost of development (as per approved development application) and $180 for the assessment of each applicable Category 2 fire safety provision.
| Est. Cost of Development | Charge |
| Up to $250,000 | $500 |
| $250,001-$500,000 | $500, plus an additional $0.40 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) by which the estimated cost exceeds $250,000 |
| $500,001-$1,000,000 | $600, plus an additional $0.30 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) by which the estimated cost exceeds $500,000 |
| $1,000,001-$10,000,000 | $750, plus an additional $0.20 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) by which the estimated cost exceeds $1,000,000 |
| More than $10,000,000 | $2,550, plus an additional $0.10 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) by which the estimated cost exceeds $10,000,000 |
For a full description of the charges applicable including terms, payment options, applying for a waiver or reduction of the charges, please refer to the fees and charges for services page.
Further information
Initial fire safety report process technical information sheet (Adobe, 977 kb pdf)