Protecting your investment and adding value to your community Fire Safety Measures - ”the burning questions” Robert Marinelli
Philip Chun Audit and pre Feasibility essential services purchase Concept / Schematic assessments code consulting Design DDA consulting Design reviews, Design Development outlining code For Construction requirements, plan check, consulting, Approvals inspections, authority liaison, issue of Construction approvals Occupation Pre occupancy essential services assessments Post Occupation Annual fire inspection
The Overview • The players • The process • The responsibility • Managing liability • Best practice
The Players Developer • Design team of consultants, including architects and engineers • Interface with council Accredited Certifier • Reviews documentation coordinates the DA and the Construction Certificate • Issued the approval to build the building Builder • Retains the designers and engineers • Sub contractors Principal Certifying Authority • Carries out the Critical Stage Inspections • Issues the Occupation Certificate Owner • Ongoing maintenance and care • Appoint maintenance personnel Council • Overview the statutory ongoing compliance of the building as needed
The Process Design period and issue of Post Occupation Construction Construction Certificate Certificate Specified on the Annual fire safety Occupation Certificate statement as the fire safety certificate Identified in the design Specified on the Construction Certificate Maintain and keep as the fire safety measures operational schedule Measures are installed and certified by the installers Appointment of maintenance firm
The Core Deliverables The fire safety schedule at Construction Certificate The fire safety certificate at Occupation Certificate The annual fire safety statement annually after Occupation Certificate
What are the Measures? Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulations 2000 cl 166 Statutory fire safety measures Access panels, doors and hoppers to fire-resisting shafts Fire shutters Automatic fail-safe devices Fire windows Automatic fire detection and alarm systems Lightweight construction Automatic fire suppression systems Mechanical air handling systems Emergency lifts Perimeter vehicle access for emergency vehicles Emergency lighting Portable fire extinguishers Emergency warning and intercommunication systems Safety curtains in proscenium openings Exit signs Smoke alarms and heat alarms Fire control centres and rooms Smoke and heat vents Fire dampers Smoke dampers Fire doors Smoke detectors and heat detectors Fire hose reel systems Smoke doors Fire hydrant systems Solid core doors Fire seals protecting openings in fire-resisting components Standby power systems of the building Wall-wetting sprinkler and drencher systems Warning and operational signs
What about Fire Engineering? • What is it ? • How it applies to your building? • When does it apply? • How does it affect the building from the owners perspective? • Impact on the annual fire safety statement
The Fire Safety Schedule Issued with the Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate • must deal with the whole of the building • must include and distinguish between the fire safety measures currently implemented in the building or proposed or required to be implemented in the building • must identify each measure that is a critical fire safety measure • must specify the minimum standard of performance for each fire safety measure included in the schedule • an earlier fire safety schedule is superseded by a later fire safety schedule
The Fire Safety Schedule
The Fire Safety Certificate A final fire safety certificate is a certificate issued by or on behalf of the owner stating each essential fire safety measure in the current fire safety schedule: • has been assessed by a properly qualified person , and • was found, when it was assessed, to be capable of performing to at least the standard required by the current fire safety schedule for the building for which the certificate is issued. • is issued prior to the issue of the Occupation Certificate and forms part of the Occupation Certificate approval documentation.
The Fire Safety Certificate • The assessment must have been carried out within the period of 3 months prior to the date on which a final fire safety certificate is issued. • The choice of person to carry out an assessment is up to the owner of the building . • A person who carries out an assessment: a) must inspect and verify the performance of each fire safety measure being assessed, and b) must test the operation of each new item of equipment installed in the building premises that is included in the current fire safety schedule for the building.
The Fire Safety Certificate • As soon as a final fire safety certificate is issued, the owner: a) must cause a copy of the certificate (together with a copy of the current fire safety schedule) to be given to the Fire Commissioner, b) must cause a further copy of the certificate (together with a copy of the current fire safety schedule) to be prominently displayed in the building.
The Fire Safety Certificate • A fire safety certificate must contain the following information – the name and address of the owner of the building or part, – a description of the building or part (including its address), – a list identifying each essential fire safety measure in the building or part, together with the minimum standard of performance specified in the relevant fire safety schedule in relation to each such measure, – the date or dates on which the essential fire safety measures were assessed, – the type of certificate being issued (that is, final or interim), – a statement to the effect referred to in clause 170 (for a final certificate) or clause 173 (for an interim certificate), – the date on which the certificate is issued. • A fire safety certificate for a building or part of a building must be accompanied by a fire safety schedule for the building or part.
The Fire Safety Statement An annual fire safety statement is issued to ensure: Each essential fire safety measure specified in the statement has been assessed by a properly qualified person and was found, when it was assessed, to be capable of performing: • where the fire safety measure is applicable through a fire safety schedule, to a standard no less than that specified in the schedule , or • in the case of an essential fire safety measure applicable otherwise than by virtue of a fire safety schedule, to a standard no less than that to which the measure was originally designed and implemented , • the building has been inspected by a properly qualified person and was found, when it was inspected, to be in a condition that did not disclose any grounds for a prosecution under Division 7 .
The Fire Safety Statement Division 7 issues cover • Fire safety notices • Fire Exits • Doors relating to fire exits • Paths of travel to fire exits
The Fire Safety Statement Time frames • The assessment and inspection of an essential fire safety measure or building must have been carried out within the period of 3 months prior to the date on which the annual fire safety statement is issued. Who does it • The choice of person to carry out an assessment or inspection is up to the owner of the building . • The person who carries out an assessment must inspect and verify the performance of each fire safety measure being assessed.
The Fire Safety Statement Annual fire safety statements lodged with Council :- • must deal with each essential fire safety measure, • must be given within 12 months after the date on which an annual fire safety statement was previously given, or • if a fire safety certificate has been issued within the previous 12 months, within 12 months after the fire safety certificate was issued, whichever is the later. • Failure to give an annual fire safety statement to the council within the time prescribed constitutes a separate offence for each week As soon as practicable after an annual fire safety statement is issued, a copy of the statement and the current fire safety schedule) to be given to the Fire Commissioner, A copy of the statement and the current fire safety schedule) to be prominently displayed in the building.
The Fire Safety Statement Contents of a fire safety statement • the name and address of the owner of the building or part, • a description of the building or part (including its address), • a list identifying each essential fire safety measure in the building or part (for an annual statement),together with the minimum standard of performance specified in the relevant fire safety schedule in relation to each such measure, • the date or dates on which the essential fire safety measures were assessed, • the date on which the building or part was inspected, • the type of statement being issued (that is, annual or supplementary), • a statement to the effect referred to in clause 175 (for an annual statement) • the date on which the statement is issued. • it must be accompanied by a fire safety schedule for the building or part.
The Fire Safety Statement
The Fire Safety Statement
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