Did you know that from 1st July 2020, an Annual Fire Safety Statement must be authorised by an accredited Competent Fire Safety Practitioner (CFSP)?
Published June 2020
Did you know that from 1st July 2020, an Annual Fire Safety Statement must be authorised by an accredited Competent Fire Safety Practitioner (CFSP)?
This means that only professionals accredited under the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS) can authorise Annual Fire Safety Statements.
Philip Chun employs FPAS Fire Safety Assessment Accredited Practitioners with the required competencies to asses all Statutory Fire Safety Measures. We are able to assist all NSW Building Owners and contractors alike to assess and issue Annual Fire Safety Statements required to be submitted to your local Council:
Contact us for professional advice…..
| Brian Horncastle (FPAS: F045433A) | Mark Wilson (FPAS: F022809A) |
| ✉brian.horncastle@philipchun.com | ✉mark.wilson@philipchun.com |
| ☏0411 945 093 | ☏0400 121 540 |
|
Philip Chun Essential Services Pty Ltd Suite 22.02, Level 22, Australia Square, Tower Building, 264 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 |
|
The Fire Safety Assessment (FSA) class of FPAS accreditation accredits individuals who undertake assessment of the performance capability of fire safety measures (FSMs) for the purpose of informing an annual or supplementary fire safety statement.
This class of accreditation has been designed to address the requirements for certain fire protection work in New South Wales to be carried out by a 'competent fire safety practitioner', under the state's 2017 fire safety reforms.
To gain FSA accreditation, individuals must demonstrate a level of required knowledge, skill and experience to perform the fire safety assessor role, must hold appropriate insurance, and must agree to and abide by the FPA Australia Code of Professional Conduct.
In February 2019 the NSW Government approved both the FSA and Fire Systems Design (FSD) classes of FPAS accreditation under the state's 2017 fire safety reforms, meaning that individuals holding either FSA or FSD accreditation will be recognised as 'competent fire safety practitioners' (CFSPs) under the reforms. Recognition of the two classes is expected to be formalised on 1 July 2020, after which relevant fire protection work in NSW will be required to be undertaken by a CFSP accredited by FPAS or other future approved schemes.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission – combustible cladding checklist
Published October 2018
Our ESM Queensland clients may have received correspondence from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) relating to a combustible cladding checklist.
As part of Philip Chun’s ongoing commitment to support our clients with building compliance, we provide the following advice.
What is the QBCC request about?
Recent events have highlighted the need for the Queensland Government to gain a better understanding of the number of buildings affected by combustible cladding. The request for you to complete a combustible cladding checklist is the first step in an initiative to achieve this.
Why have I received the request to complete a combustible cladding checklist?
Importantly, the fact that you received a request to complete a combustible cladding checklist does not automatically mean you have combustible cladding on your building.
Commencing 1st October 2018, the Queensland Government introduced changes to the Building Regulation 2006. These changes require owners of particular buildings to undertake an assessment of the material used on the external walls of their building. This is intended to identify which buildings are affected by combustible cladding.
What do I have to do to comply?
- The letter from the QBCC contains information related to how the building owner or authorised agent can log-in to the QBCC website and register to complete Part 1 of the combustible cladding checklist.
- Registration is available through saferbuildings.qld.gov.au
- Under Part 4A of the Building Regulation 2006, this must be completed by 29 March 2019 or the date stated on the letter you received.
- Complete questions 1 to 4 of the checklist which are broadly based on the requirements of the Building Code of Australia.
- Print, sign and date the checklist in the presence of a qualified witness, who must also sign and date the printed form.
- Upload the signed form onto the QBCC online system.
Which buildings apply?
Buildings captured by the new Regulation are:
- Buildings with a Classification 2 to 9; and
- Buildings that are of Type A or B Construction; and
- Those for which a building development approval was given, after 1 January 1994 but before 1 October 2018, for building work to build the building or to alter the cladding on the building; and
- Buildings that are privately-owned.
How can Philip Chun assist?
We support our clients in many areas of building compliance and understand how building legislation can at times be daunting.
If you would like Philip Chun to advise you on how to comply with the new framework we can:
- Act as your authorised agent to register and complete the Part 1 combustible cladding checklist on your behalf,
- Where the online system indicates your building may be affected through responses provided in Part 1, we can act as your building industry professional to assess your building, assist with the Part 2 checklist and provide the statement required by the Regulation.
- Should further steps be necessary, we can assist with engagement of a Fire Engineer to complete the activities required for Part 3 of the combustible cladding checklist.
How can I request assistance?
Contact us via phone on 07 3839 3499 or email brisbane@philipchun.com to discuss how we can best assist you to comply with the new Regulation.
Competent Fire Safety Practitioners
Published October 2017
As of the 1st October 2017, the NSW Government made changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 to improve fire safety in new and existing buildings.
The change for building owners is that they must engage a competent fire safety practitioner to perform a building’s essential fire safety assessments and inspections. This includes undertaking the annual fire safety statement assessment of buildings.
A accreditation framework is currently being developed by the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation which will accredit individuals as competent fire safety practitioners.
In the interim, the Fire Protection Association Australia (FPAA) have created an interim Fire Safety Assessor register which provides a list of companies which declare they meet the minimum requirements for experience, insurance, professional conduct and commitment to future accreditation. Philip Chun ESM are competent fire safety practitioners with various existing qualifications in the field of fire safety assessments and engineering that can be provided to building owners to demonstrate current competency levels. We are also able to meet and exceed the below requirements issued by the FPAA.
- The individual listed is employed by an FPA Australia Corporate member and has a minimum of three years’ experience in undertaking inspections/assessments for the purpose of completing Annual and Supplementary Fire Safety Statements in NSW;
- The individual listed is covered by Public and Product Liability Insurance ($10m minimum) and Professional Indemnity Insurance ($2m minimum);
- They have read and agreed to abide by the FPA Australia Code of Practice for companies, and Code of Professional Conduct for individuals;
- They have committed to undertake all assessment of essential fire safety measures in accordance with the relevant regulations, Codes and Australian Standards;
- They hold or have access to current and historical Standards and Codes for the essential fire safety measures that they assess; and
- That they are committed to applying for accreditation in the FPAS Fire Safety Assessor class within 90 days of it becoming available.
Fire Regulation Amendment – Maintenance
Published March 2017
Australian Standards for the routine service of fire protection systems and equipment have been updated to correct editorial issues and uncertainties around baseline data. The Fire Protection Authority has now published the amendment to provide more clarity so that building owners and facility managers can ensure requirements are properly met.
Following its implementation, it became clear that baseline data in AS 1851-2012 (routine service of fire protection systems and equipment) had not been interpreted correctly by the fire protection industry. As such, FP-001 has revised this to clarify the intent of the committee.
In addition, the definition of baseline data and Clause 1.8 states
“Baseline data required by the Standard is limited to that –
a) necessary to verify a routine service activity result; and
b) prescribed by the regulations, codes or Standards that applied to the approved design.”
The change also requires that routine service activities are carried out and results recorded regardless of the availability of baseline data and the lack of required baseline data shall be reported as a non-conformance.
Whilst the generation of baseline data is beyond the scope of AS1851 – 2012, there is still a requirement to re-establish the data if unavailable.
Philip Chun are expert at gathering baseline data to mitigate building non-conformances.
For further information on the amendment, contact David Martini Senior Essential Services Consultant, Philip Chun Essential Services. david.martini@philipchun.com
This story is intended to provide general information. It does not constitute advice and should not be treated as such. Should you require advice, please contact our office.
2016 Industry News
New building regulations are now in effect in Victoria
Published September 2016
Victoria now has a single maintenance standard that can be applied across all buildings.
The insert of 1205A to Part 12 of the Building Regulations 2006, allows building owners to carry out maintenance compliance with AS 1851—2012.
In addition, the Victorian Building Authority has issued an updated Practice Note; PN-23-2016-Maintenance-of-Essential-Safety-Measures providing guidance on preparing maintenance schedules and listing Essential Safety Measures maintenance to AS1851-2012.
Updating your maintenance schedule
Our Essential Services team can advise and assist building owners and facility managers on consolidating and preparing an updated maintenance schedule listing maintenance requirements to AS1851-2012.
Our team works with developers, building owners, agents, facility managers and contractors to ensure that the ongoing safety, reliability and maintenance for the building’s essential services and fire safety obligations are being met.
The Building Amendment Regulations 2016[1] PN-23-2016-Maintenance-of-Essential-Safety-measures is attached (attach PDF). You can find out more at http://www.vba.vic.gov.au/ and for advice please contact Antony Rickards on 0411 557 706 or Antony.Rickards@philipchun.com
Changes to the regulations are summarised for your information. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. Should you require advice please contact our Melbourne office.
This story is intended to provide general information. It does not constitute advice and should not be treated as such. Should you require advice, please contact our office.
NSW strata law changes from December 2016
Published September 2016
The increasing number of people living in strata communities led to a review by NSW Parliament of strata laws and the introduction of the Strata Scheme Management Bill 2015 and the Strata Schemes Development Bill 2015.
The legislation was passed and includes around 90 changes to existing laws, commencing December 2016.
A summary of significant changes impacting property managers and Owners’ Corporations are:
Property management
- For new buildings, the developer must arrange and pay for mandatory defect reporting inspections of the building work by a building inspector approved by the Owners’ Corporation. The regulations prescribe the kind of defective work that is to be reported on and the requirements and qualifications of the inspector – note that numerous specialised inspectors may be required to inspect all aspects of the building. The inspector is to be appointed not later than 12 months after the completion of the work and an interim report is to be issued to the Owners’ Corporation first AGM not earlier than 15 months and not later than 18 months after that completion. A building inspector cannot be appointed by a developer without the approval of the Owners’ Corporation. Inspection costs are payable by the developer.
- For new buildings, the building developer must prepare an initial maintenance schedule for the strata scheme, to be tabled at the first AGM of a new scheme to inform the Owners’ Corporation of their maintenance obligations.
- Developers are required to lodge a 2% building bond for the contract price of the building, as a form of security to fix any defective work.
- All new and existing windows are to be made compliant (child safe) by March 2018. This is a requirement for ALL strata schemes, including existing and older buildings.
You can find more information on the reforms at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au and for advice please contact the Philip Chun Sydney office below.
Our team
Philip Chun is Australia’s largest building regulation code, access and mobility, essential services, fire and life safety consulting group. We have provided services relating to building regulation and control since 1990.
Our essential services team works with building owners, agents, facility managers, developers and contractors to ensure that the ongoing safety, reliability and maintenance for a building’s essential services and fire safety obligations are being met. We provide expert independent advice to ensure you are receiving the maintenance service you are paying for. Our consultants:
- Conduct inspections and audits, and tailors maintenance schedules and reports for new and existing buildings
- Customise maintenance manuals and performance measures to meet Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards
- Provide AS1851 advice, including adopting the latest industry maintenance standards
- Conduct inspections of passive elements, fire penetrations, paths of travel and exits
- Provide advice during DLP maintenance
- Coordinate full function fire system interface tests
- Prepare baseline data (tactical and compartmentation plans, schedules etc) and fire matrix
- Prepare annual essential safety measures reports and fire safety statement
Sydney
Tel: 02 9412 2322
Email: sydney@philipchun.com
Suite 404, 44 Hampden Road, Artarmon NSW 2064
Changes to the strata laws are summarised for your information. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. Should you require advice please contact our office above.