Essential fire safety measures are any installations or type of construction that have been incorporated into the building to ensure the safety of the occupants within the building in the event of fire or other emergency, and may include such measures as :

Automatic fire suppression systems (eg: sprinkler systems)
* Fire hose reels
* Fire hydrants
* Automatic fire detection and alarm systems
* Fire doors
* Fire extinguishers
* Smoke exhaust systems
* Exit signs
* Emergency lighting

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 contains a list of statutory fire safety measures that may be installed in a building. There may be some other measures, equipment or forms of construction that are not listed, which can be included for the purpose of ensuring the safety of persons in a building in the event of fire.

What is installed in my building?

Upon approval of a development for Class 2-9 buildings (as defined under the Building Code of Australia, which are essentially any building other than a single residence or residential outbuilding such as a pool or carport) a Fire Safety Schedule is issued (generally with the Construction Certificate). This Fire Safety Schedule lists all the Essential Fire Safety Measures that are installed in the building and the performance standard to which each of those measures must be capable of operating. A Fire Safety Schedule can be issued with a Construction Certificate, Complying Cevelopment Certificate or for existing buildings may have been issued with the building approval. A Fire Safety Schedule may also be issued if Council conducts a fire safety audit of the premises.

As the owner of a building what does this all mean?
New Buildings
A Fire Safety Schedule will be issued with the Construction Certificate. The Fire Safety Schedule will list the essential fire safety measures that are to be installed in the building or on the land and the Australian and/or other Standards to which they must be installed.

Prior to occupation of the building a Fire Safety Certificate must be issued.

A Fire Safety Certificate is certificate that is submitted by the building owner, which certifies that each of the specified essential fire safety measures listed in the Fire Safety Schedule have been installed in the building or on the land and that those measures are capable of operating to the performance standard listed in the Fire Safety Schedule.

A Fire Safety Certificate must be submitted prior to the issue of an Occupation Certificate.

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