FRNSW undertake pre-occupation building inspections, post completion of all building works, to ensure that the fire safety provisions for the building satisfy the relevant performance requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), including when being met by way of a performance solution.
Within NSW, FRNSW involvement in building pre-occupation inspections is prescribed under the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 for:
Reports furnished to a certifier following building pre-occupation inspections provide findings and recommendations in relation to installed fire safety measures and performance solution in relation to fire safety.
Pre-occupation inspections undertaken by FRNSW, and their resultant reports, are a pre-requisite to occupation being granted.
A final fire safety report is a written report specifying whether FRNSW is satisfied that:
*Note: A ‘fire safety requirement’ is defined under schedule 2 as a requirement under the BCA relating to a fire safety system within the meaning of the BCA, or the safety of persons if there is a fire, or the prevention, detection or suppression of fire.
It is required for development involving building work with a performance solution for a fire safety requirement in a class 2 to 9 building for which an application for occupation certificate (OC) has been received, where that OC application relates to a construction certificate only. That is, where the OC application relates to a complying development certificate, an FFSR is not required.
An application for OC, and required documentation, must have been received by the certifier. An FFSR will not be provided if there is no application for OC to be determined by the certifier.
FRNSW recommends that the principal certifier undertake the final critical stage inspection prior to applying for the FFSR to verify the state of building completion and building works are ready for inspection by FRNSW.
A fire safety system report is a written report specifying whether FRNSW is satisfied the relevant fire safety system is capable of performing to the standard in the current fire safety schedule for the building.
*Note: A ‘relevant fire safety system’ is defined under schedule 2 as:
It is required for any Class 2 or 3 building for which an application for occupation has been received and includes building work that involves installing, extending or modifying a relevant fire safety system in the building.
The particular planning pathway is not within the scope of application and, as such, it is applicable irrespective of whether development is subject to a development application or complying development certificate.
The scope of the report varies from a FFSR, in that a FSSR:
Additionally, a FSSR is required irrespective of planning pathway—that is, it is a requirement of development involving installing, extending or modifying a relevant fire safety system that is subject to a development application or complying development certificate.
Where a development requires both a FSSR and a FFSR, an application for final fire safety report should be made which requests both reports concurrently. The concurrent request of a FSSR is detailed at Section 3 ('Fire safety system report (FSSR)') of the Final fire safety report application form.
An application for OC, and required documentation, must have been received by the certifier. An FSSR will not be provided if there is no application for OC to be determined by the certifier.
FRNSW recommends that the principal certifier undertake the final critical stage inspection prior to applying for the FSSR to verify the state of building completion and building works are ready for inspection by FRNSW.
The following apply to pre-occupation building inspections: