All owners of buildings categorised Class 1b to Class 9 under the Building Code of Australia must submit an Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS).
The AFSS confirms that:
- an accredited practitioner (fire safety) has inspected, assessed and verified that all the building's fire safety measures are capable of performing to the minimum standard of performance
- there are no fire safety offences
A fire safety measure is any item, piece of equipment, construction feature or strategy for the building that ensures people using the building are safe if there is a fire. Examples include exit signs, portable fire extinguishers, fire hydrant systems and smoke alarms. Fire safety measures must comply with a minimum standard of performance.
A fire safety schedule is a list of the fire safety measures for the building and the minimum standard of performance for each measure. Only a Registered Certifier or Council can issue a fire safety schedule.
The NSW Government requires that fire safety measures are inspected, assessed and verified by an accredited practitioner (fire safety). Check the Fire Safety Assessment Practitioners Register to find an accedited practitioner.
Some fire safety measures are not covered in the Fire Safety Assessment Practitioners Register, such as bespoke fire safety measures. These fire safety measures may be inspected by a person deemed competent by the building owner to do the work.
Class 1a buildings do not need an AFSS
Buildings classified as Class 1a under the Building Code of Australia do not need to submit an AFSS. These include single dwelling houses, terraces and villa houses.
If you are unsure whether this classification applies to your property, check the Building Code of Australia building classifications.