Fire safety inspections

I think that, because every complex is different, the provision of hydrants, hose reels, fire doors and exit pathways and all the paraphernalia of fire safety provisions is highly subjective and specific to each scheme.

That said, I know there are calculations for the width of corridors that are contingent on the number of people who might need to get out in a hurry (one of the hidden dangers of overcrowding).

I also know that that the council or fire brigade can come in and demand a Rolls Royce fire safety upgrade but end up being negotiated down to a Toyota Corolla version, provide that its safe and the work is actually done.

DD – To expand just a little on Jimmy’s post, your building’s compliance with then relevant Building Codes would have been assessed at the time that the original Development Application (DA) was submitted to Council, at which whatever’s deemed necessary for all aspects of safety is listed on a Schedule of Essential Services. When the building is completed, and before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued, whoever it was that installed and tested everything on the Schedule submits an Installation Certificate to Council, and I think to NSW Fire & Rescue / Rural Fire Service.

Annually thereafter, a suitably qualified person is required to check all items shown on the Schedule, and certify that everything that’s required to be in place is, and that it’s all maintained and operating correctly. The Secretary or Strata Manager is required to co-sign that certification, to forward a copy to the Council and I’m fairly certain to the applicable Fire Authority, and to display a copy in a prominent location on the Common Property – such as near the entry foyer or on the O/C’s Notice Board.

So that copy will indicate to you (and others) what essential services for safety (incl. fire) are required to be in place and properly maintained on the Plan, with that only ever changing if the building is further developed or substantially modified such that another DA is submitted, or if a Fire Order is issued by Council or the Fire Authority requiring additional or upgraded services in line with current Codes.

As for the privately owned grassland, any fire controls or prevention measures in place would be the responsibility of NSW Fire & Rescue or the NSW Rural Fire Service depending upon your Plan’s location. So perhaps check with the closest Station.  

Daphne,

I have forgotten your details. Could you please refresh my memory:

1) What year was your scheme registered?

2) How many years have you lived there?

3) Are you on the EC, or get on well with them, or at loggerheads with them?

It is often better to join the EC (if “allowed”), work from within, lead by example, instead of creating a confrontation. This note, and others of yours, sounds like you are stockpiling arms and ammunition for a hostile takeover.

How do you know your scheme has a By-Law requiring a notice board if you don’t already have a copy of the By-Laws?

As far as I know, you don’t just ask the LPI for a copy of your By-Laws. First you ask for a Plan Image ($12.15 from their online shop). Then you go through the Dealings listed on that and you ask for a copy of each dealing ($12.15 each), and from memory you don’t know until after you’ve paid your money whether the dealing was a Change of By-Laws or not.

https://shop.lpi.nsw.gov.au/wps/portal/lpma/lpi-shop/searches/products/!ut/p/b1/04_SjzQ0sjA3NDEzs9CP0I_KSyzLTE8syczPS8wB8aPM4oOdnEJNHQ3NDA3MnV0MPA3N_EycQw29fEMN9YNT8_RzoxwVAV3kPD0!/

Fire Safety Certificates and Annual Fire Safety Statements are only necessary for buildings constructed after the BCA came into effect in 1992, or buildings which have subsequently come to the attention of the Council or the Fire Brigade.

https://www.survivalsolutions.com.au/files/Resource/25_afss-&-cert.pdf

Unless you’re seriously concerned about your fire risk, I would think long and hard about getting the Council involved. As JT said, once they are involved, they can demand the whole box and dice, and that won’t endear you to other owners. It would probably be best to suggest the OC obtain a fire risk assessment from an independent fire safety company.

daphne

i see a lot of posts from you. There is an old saying ” beware of what you wish for”. I think kangaroo made a similar point.

now that I have that off my chest (and please excuse my indulgence) I can provide some answer to your question regarding fire safety.

You already have found out the class of your building. The type of building you have is not subject to any fire codes. The reason is that the construction is such that fire cannot spread upwards to another dwelling, nor sideways (there are firewalls between dwellings).

you should be great full of this classification. Regardless of when your building was built, all buildings are required to comply with current fire safety rules. That means an upgrade and that is very expensive.

the building classification you have means you have minimum requirements i.e. none to meet.

Robert