AS 1851-2012 Compliance
Fire safety testing, inspections and maintenance From 13 February 2025, all building owners must maintain essential fire safety measures and equipment in accordance with Australian Standard 1851-2012 (AS 1851-2012). Currently, fire safety measures must be maintained (with no specific standard listed) and assessed annually in accordance with the codes listed in the schedule attached to […]
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Fire Safety Reforms for Strata Buildings
A review of current and upcoming fire safety standards The recent Amending Regulation to the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (known as the DCFS Regulation) introduces several significant changes to enhance fire safety in buildings. Key amendments were: increasing oversight of fire safety performance solutions through enhanced involvement of […]
Read MoreFire Safety in Strata Living
A Collective Responsibility for Safety and Compliance In the realm of strata living, fire safety is a paramount concern and the collective responsibility of every resident. Recent strata incidents across various locations underscore the critical nature of this issue: A balcony BBQ led to a gas explosion in Collaroy on January 18. A faulty lithium-ion […]
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Fire safety for strata owners
Fire safety in strata Fire safety is a core responsibility of owners corporations and strata committees. It is not simply a matter of compliance with regulations. It is one area where a “she’ll be right” attitude or “near enough is good enough” can be a fatal error. As a recent fire in Rome illustrated, one […]
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Keep your water supply safe
Most multi-dwelling buildings are required to have backflow prevention valve systems to ensure that fresh water only flows one way, and the main water supply cannot be contaminated by discharges from the building. The larger your building, usually the more complex the plumbing and the greater the risk of serious preventable mishaps. What is backflow? […]
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Lift Maintenance and Registration
Lifts in strata Lifts are critical infrastructure for strata schemes. Any outage will create serious difficulties for residents, particularly those with mobility challenges, and the responsibility for repairing and maintaining lifts is a key one for owners corporations. Repairs and maintenance First and foremost, the annual levies budget should provide adequately for both regular and […]
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Pool Safety Certificate Registration
In a strata or community scheme, all of the lot owners jointly own any swimming pool or spa pool that is on common property. The owners corporation is responsible for ensuring such pools are compliant with the Swimming Pools Act 1992. The law applies to any excavation, structure or vessel including swimming pools and spa […]
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Annual Fire Safety Statements Certification Requirements
Fire Safety Certification: NSW requirements for owners and strata committees Fire safety statements A fire safety statement is a document issued by or on behalf of the owners of an existing building confirming that an accredited practitioner (fire safety) has assessed, inspected and verified the performance of each fire safety measure that applies to the building. There […]
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