Lismore City Council
Fire safety regulations for all development in the Lismore LGA
Residential dwellings
All new residential dwellings and home alterations and additions require the installation of smoke alarms. A smoke alarm must be installed in any room in which a person sleeps.
Your alarm needs to comply with the Building Code of Australia and the specifications found under Clause 186A to 186F of the Environment Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.
Commercial and industrial
The installation of fire safety measures in buildings is required under the Building Code of Australia. The installation and certification of these is enforced under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.
Council may require fire safety measures outside the scope of the Building Code where circumstances warrant such action in the interest of life or property safety.
An Interim/Final Fire Safety Certificate must be submitted to Council prior to the occupation of a new building or part of a building and upon completion of works required by a Construction Certificate.
The owner/s of a building also needs to submit a Fire Safety Statement to Council on an annual basis.
A copy of the interim/final Fire Safety Certificate and Annual Fire Safety Statement must be displayed within the building and a copy must be forwarded to Fire & Rescue NSW.
A list of fire safety measures can be found under Clause 166 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.
When is a building or premises subject to these requirements?
All Class 1b, 2 to 9 buildings, which are subject to a building approval for a change of use, Construction Certificate, Complying Development Certificate or a Fire Safety Notice or order by the Council, are automatically subject to essential fire safety requirements.
New buildings
A Fire Safety Schedule will be issued with the Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate. The Fire Safety Schedule will list the essential fire safety measures that are to be installed in the building or on the land. A Fire Safety Certificate must be issued prior to the occupation of a building.
Existing buildings
There are a number of older buildings which may not currently be subject to these requirements, however, many of these buildings will be subject to a development consent, Construction Certificate or fire safety order at a future date which may incorporate these requirements.
Every year the owner/managers of a building must submit an Annual Fire Safety Statement to Council, which certifies that each of the measures listed in the most recent Fire Safety Schedule are still installed in the building or on the land, and they remain up to standard.
An Annual Fire Safety Statement is a statement that is issued every 12 months by the owner (or his/her agent) of a building that certifies the essential fire safety measures have been met and have been inspected and assessed by a properly qualified person.
The Annual Fire Safety Statement must be forwarded to Council, the NSW Fire Brigade and be prominently displayed in the building. A fee is to be paid when submitting the Statement to Council in accordance with Council’s Fees and Charges.
Council sends out reminder letters to owners requesting the submission of the Annual Fire Safety Statement. To assist building owners, the list of ‘Essential Fire Safety Measures’ are attached to the letter and are specific to that property.
Building owners are liable to incur penalties if they do not submit an Annual Fire Safety Statement.
If you need more information and/or clarification on any fire safety matters, phone our Fire Safety Officer on (02) 6625 0500.
How do I find out what is installed in my building?
Upon approval of a development for Class 1b and 2 to 9 buildings (as defined under the Building Code of Australia) a Fire Safety Schedule is issued (generally with the Construction Certificate). This Fire Safety Schedule lists all the essential fire safety measures that are currently existing or are to be installed in the building and the performance standard to which each of those measures must be capable of operating.
What should I do now?
It is important that building owners are aware of their fire safety requirements. Failure to comply with the requirement is an offence and the owner could be liable for substantial penalties.
If you are a building owner or manager you should make arrangements to ensure your building is inspected and certified by a qualified person and an Annual Fire Safety Statement is submitted to Council annually.
Are you prepared for a bushfire?
It is important to remember we live in an area where bushfires occur. Preparing and rehearsing an emergency plan are essential to bushfire survival. The NSW Rural Fire Service’s latest campaign is called ‘Planning to make a plan is not a plan’ and it encourages everyone to create their own bushfire survival plan.
To find out more, visit the NSW Rural Fire Service.
If you require any information and/or clarification on fire safety matters, phone our Fire Safety Officer on (02) 6625 0500.
