Written report - Fire safety study

The Fire and Rescue NSW Regulation 2023 was amended on 1 February 2026. The assessment fee must be paid upfront via the Payment Portal. Visit Pay upfront fee for further information.

Please be advised that charges will be adjusted for indexation and will commence on 1 july 2026. Visit Indexed charges for FY 2026-27 for further information.

Liaison

A condition of consent can be imposed on development under a relevant planning instrument when the development approval is granted. The condition of consent will require formal engagement with FRNSW.

Overview of service

Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, State planning controls provide for the assessment of ‘hazardous and offensive development’ during the planning stage (i.e. pre-DA approval).

A condition of consent can be imposed on development deemed hazardous or potentially hazardous under a relevant planning instrument when the development approval is granted. The condition will generally require an owner to:

undertake a fire safety study (FSS) in accordance with Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory Paper No. 2 – Fire Safety Study Guidelines (HIPAP No. 2), and
submit the FSS to FRNSW prior to the commencement of the construction stage. The FSS must be approved by FRNSW or developed to its satisfaction.

Note: Where development incorporates performance-based design, the FSS should be undertaken prior to seeking consultation on the performance-based design brief.

FRNSW will assess the application and provide written comments on the FSS.

For further information on the FSS process, please refer to Fire safety study (FSS) process.

Charges for service

The following charges apply to the provision of this service:

Assessment of advisory, assessment or consultancy service — $373
Provision of advisory, assessment or consultancy service — $192 per hour of labour

For a full description of the charges applicable including terms, payment options, and applying for a waiver or reduction of the charges, please refer to the fees and charges page.

Application process

To apply for a written report regarding a condition of consent - fire safety study, the following must be completed and submitted to firesafety@fire.nsw.gov.au:

Pay the upfront assessment fee on the Payment Portal
FRNSW written report application form
A copy of the fire safety study.

Note: The application must include all relevant information. If any attachment exceeds 35 MB, please request a FRNSW SharePoint folder for uploading any large files.

Useful information

Guidance materials

The following guidance materials apply to the fire safety study process:

Position statement - Fire safety study process
Fire safety study (FSS) process
HIPAP No. 2 – Fire Safety Study Guidelines
Technical information sheet - Large-scale external lithium-ion battery energy storage systems – Fire safety study considerations

Note: The applicant should refer to all FRNSW position statements and determine how they may apply to the subject of any FSS.

Further information on process