Certification
Achieving compliance of Fire Systems & Measures can be complex and are mandatory for each of the phase of Design, Installation and Continued performance of Fire Systems.
The owner/s of the building is accountable to select a Building Certifier and/or Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) that is accredited to certify each and every Fire Safety Measure installed or applicable to their building as Fire Systems Certification covers formal validation and certification by stating that the installation, the equipment and performance of the installed and commissioned systems, comply with respective codes and standards are in-line with the approved design.
So not only can the need for certification apply the system design (either initially or as an upgrade), it can apply to the installed system, as well as to the post construction maintenance reporting process whereby an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) validates, annually, the installed system is still capable of performing to the original design/installation requirements.
Certification applies to all selected essential Fire Safety Measures based on clause 166 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.
What is a Fire Safety Measure (FSM)
A Fire Safety Measure (FSM) means any measure (including any item of equipment, form of construction or fire safety strategy) that could be implemented in a building to ensure the safety of persons using the building in the event of fire. They include:
Fire shutters
Fire windows
Lightweight construction
Mechanical air handling systems
Perimeter vehicle access for emergency vehicles
Portable fire extinguishers
Safety curtains in proscenium openings
Smoke alarms and heat alarms
Smoke and heat vents
Smoke dampers
Smoke detectors and heat detectors
Smoke doors
Solid core doors
Standby power systems
Wall-wetting sprinkler and drencher systems
Warning and operational signs
Access panels, doors and hoppers to fire-resisting shafts
Automatic fail-safe devices
Automatic fire detection and alarm systems
Automatic fire suppression systems
Emergency lifts
Emergency lighting
Emergency planning
Emergency warning and intercommunication systems
Exit signs
Fire alarm monitoring
Fire control centres and rooms
Fire dampers
Fire doors
Fire hose reel systems
Fire hydrant systems
Fire seals protecting openings in fire-resisting components of the building
Other fire safety measures may be required by the building certifier and/or a performance (alternative) solution.
Yearly Condition Report
An important provision in Australian Standard AS1851-2012 Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment, is the need to keep records of the service work carried out as evidence that the systems and equipment are fit to fulfil the intended purpose.
When the service work has been completed for each system and equipment, the consolidated reports for each system and equipment form evidence that the service routine has been satisfactorily completed or that failures have been noted or rectified.
This record of service is presented as a Yearly Condition Report. The YCR is submitted to the building owner/s or owner/s representative provides the information required to completion Fire Safety Statements.
The YCR outlines:
Annual period - dates covered
Building details and description
Owners details
List of Fire Safety Measures including the minimum standard of performance
Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) (Competent Fire Safety Practitioner) details
List of any System Defects and Non-Conformances and their status
Name of person issuing YCR
Note: The assessment of essential fire safety measures must have been carried out within the period of 3 months prior to the date on which a final fire safety certificate is to be issued.
Fire Safety Statements
A Fire Safety Statement is a document issued by, or on behalf of the owner(s), of an existing building.
The statement confirms that an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety), (formerly known as a Competent Fire Safety Practitioner) has assessed, inspected and verified the performance of each fire safety measure that applies to that building.
There are two types of Fire Safety Statements:
Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS)
An Annual Fire Safety Statement MUST BE ISSUED EVERY YEAR and includes all the essential Fire Safety Measures (FSM) that apply to a building. The statement also verifies that an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) has inspected and confirmed that the exit systems (Paths of Travel) in the building are in compliance with the Regulation.
Supplementary Fire Statements (SFSS)
A Supplementary Fire Safety Statement is issued at more regular intervals (as specified in the Fire Safety Schedule) for any critical fire safety measures that apply to a building.
Please Note: The Yearly Condition Report and the Annual Fire Safety Statement have different requirements in each State within Australian. Please check your current State requirements.
Fire Installations
When building works have been completed, the Building Owner (or nominated person acting on the owner's behalf) must issue a Final Fire Safety Certificate to the effect that each Essential Fire Safety Measure listed on the Fire Safety Schedule for the Building,
Has been assessed by a properly qualified person and,
Was found, at the time of assessment, to be capable of performing to at least the Standard required by the current Fire Safety Schedule for the building for which the Certificate was issued.
A person who carries out this assessment must inspect and verify the the performance of each Fire Safety Measure being assessed and test the operation of each new item of equipment.
A Final Fire Safety Certificate must be provided by or on behalf of the Building owner before the Building Certifier or Principal Certificating Authority can issue an Interim or Final Occupation Certificate for a Building. As soon as practicable after a Final Fire Safety Certificate is issued, a copy together with the current Fire Safety Schedule must be given to the Fire Commissioner and a further copy displayed in the Building.
Surveys/Compliance
In addition to the compliance reporting for Routine Inspection and Testing of Essential Fire Measures and Fire Installations, Extreme Fire Solutions offers Fire Safety Surveys and Reporting on existing all fire measures, wet dry or passive.
Such surveys provide a detailed review of the all fire systems within a building, their adherance to the designed Standard of Performance and Installation and the their status in terms of compliance.
The reporting highlights any defects and/or non-compliances along with prioritisation of urgency and/or actions and recommendations for rectification.
Such reports are extremely useful prior to the sale of (or purchase of) building premises, to fully understand the status of the Fire Systems within.