NSW set for April fire safety reforms

Functions that will be required to be undertaken by a competent fire safety practitioner include the annual assessment of essential fire safety measures and the annual inspection of fire exits and paths of travel to fire exits.

Accredited persons will also be the only individuals able to endorse plans and specifications for the installation or modification of hose reels, hydrants, sprinkler systems, fire detection and alarm systems to comply with the Building Code of Australia.

The only alternative to obtaining the endorsement of the plans and specifications from a competent fire safety practitioner will be to obtain a compliance certificate from an accredited certifier.

Mr Anderson said the change would strengthen the state’s building regulation and certification industry by improving the quality of checks made.

“Assessing performance of essential fire safety measures should be completed by a trained and competent fire safety professional, according to a transparent accreditation system,” he commented.

The minister noted that the state government will be working to simplify the co-regulatory framework that sees industry associations helping to accredit individuals “to ensure that construction can continue, but not at the expense of safety”.