[Mortimer T]

The problem seems to be that Councils’ ‘policing’ interventions appear entirely arbitrary and that sometimes fire engineering ‘consultants’ have worked for or have close relationships with Council compliance officers.

A Council officer that insists on full compliance of an older building to current safety standards can deliver a windfall fee income

to the various consultants/contractors that oversee substantial and costly compliance works required by an Order.

kaindub wrote:

My understanding of the fire safety rules are that the building only needs to comply with the regualtions in force at the time it was built (Its hard to find these rules but they are out there)

However the local council or the fire brigade can apply orders to bring the building up to a more modern standard. (This usually occurs after a fire incident as neither the council nor the fire brigade police buildings compliance. That is what an AFSS is supposed to do)

I understand, talking to a few fire professionals, that councils can be “reasonable” in the type of stuff to be put into old buildings. (But you have to be prepared to work with them)

However the idea of being proactive has merit. The fire professionals tell me that you are less likely to be subject to an improvement order if there are some fire safety measures in place.

You can get an independent report done by a fire safety practicioner. They can assess your building and advise measures to take to be “more modern”. They can’t force you to upgrade everything and their report will save you installing items that are not required.

 

[Mortimer T]

A year ago I  bought into a NSW 40 unit building and am now chairperson …. The current 3-yr strata contract expires in July ‘25 and I’m keen to change the strata company as they’ve got though 3 strata managers allocated to our building in 18months as a result of resignations. They can’t be treating their staff well.

They unilaterally introduced a full new ( increased) fee schedule on April 1 without any approval from Owners as it is allowed in their current contract!

Not many industries would allow contracts that permit unapproved variations by the contractor.

[Mortimer T]

Thanks for you comment.

The new training requirements are full of good intent, but as with so many legislated compulsions its likely to spawn yet another ‘training’ industry that doesn’t provide much of benefit other than dollars into the trainers pockets. Look at the compulsory 10-year sinking fund planning requirement (NSW) which has delivered for most Strata Schemes, off the peg spreadsheet forecast documents that provide no meaningful or applicable content at all. Good committees already did the right thing, others still haven’t got a clue. Similarly the compulsory inclusion of child safety lock motions in annual meeting agendas.

[Mortimer T]

I wonder if your McAuslan is in any way related to George MacDonald Fraser’s…..a distant kilted kin perhaps?

[Mortimer T]

The difficulty in getting after hours keys from Strata Managers has led to some strata companies changing the restricted key Ausgrid-imposed system locks back to NMB. This advice from a electrician who specialises in strata work.

And who actually owns our electricity supply companies, that they should impose such access controls on private buildings?

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