Owners Annual Fire Safety Assessment

Where applicable, the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation (2021) requires building owners, to submit an Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) for each building that was built or redeveloped after 1988.

From 1 July 2020 any AFSS now requires the building owner to engage an ‘NSW Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety)’, to assess the fire safety measures within a building for their annual fire assessment towards completing the building’s AFSS. This is due to a change in legislation under the Building and Development Certifiers Act and Regulation. Under this legislation change, the Fire Protection Association of Australia has been granted the authority, on 1st July 2020 by the Secretary of the Department of Customer Service under section 59 of the Building and Development Certifiers Act 2018, to accredit persons as an Accredited Practitioner (fire safety) to undertake these annual fire assessments, under their Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS).

What is the Annual Fire Safety Statement?

An Annual Fire Safety Statement when issued certifies that:

• Each essential fire safety measure in the building has been assessed by an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) in Fire Safety Assessment.
• Each essential fire safety measure in the building was found to be capable of performing to a standard no less than that to which the measure was originally or subsequently designed and
• The Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) in Fire Safety Assessment has assessed all paths of travel to the exits including the exit doors, and advised of the status, in connection with the NSW Environmental Planning & AssessmentRegulations (2021), at the time of the

Comprehensive fire safety assessment

Wormald Accredited Practitioners (Fire Safety) in Fire Safety Assessment determine when the fire safety measures were installed in your building and research the performance standards that was applicable at the time (not today’s standards).

The inspection identifies whether:

• the fire systems listed on council’s schedule exist on your premises, and are correctly listed by council
• the fire systems can perform to the relevant Australian Standards and legislation
• changes to building structure or use effect fire system performance
• the fire equipment is correctly located and has no obvious damage
• the routine inspection, testing and servicing is being performed and any defects found have been rectified
• the status of the paths of travel to the exits including the exit doors, in connection with the relevant state

About Wormald’s Engineering and Assessments team

Wormald’s Engineering & Assessments team was formally established in 2000.

Our team of consultants is engaged full time to carry out an array of fire safety assessments. Our projects range from single residential strata buildings to multiple highly complex buildings.

With comprehensive industry experience, technical backing and proven track record, we make sure we are always up to date and informed of legislative requirements. We focus on our customer’s needs and expectations in order to deliver ourproducts in a timely and professional manner.

Our experienced staff deal with complex issues / systems and ensure all matters arising are dealt with accurately andprofessionally. We liaise with all our clients in a professional and friendly manner and have the ability to work in occupiedlocations without interruptions of staff.

Other consultancy services offered include BCA assessments, fire systems assessment and contractor co-ordination inobtaining Annual Essential Safety Measures Reports and Annual Fire Safety Statements.

If you would like a quote or have any questions, please contact our team by emailing nswfsa@wormald.com.au.

For information on the NSW Fire Safety Reforms, please view our blog article here.