Frequently Asked Questions about Annual Fire Safety Statements

Building owners have the responsibility to maintain their respective properties for them to retain their overall value. They should also ensure that their properties will be protected from elements that can damage valuable assets and hurt occupants.

One thing to consider when managing buildings is fire safety. Fire is an element that can easily deteriorate everything it touches. It can also injure and kill people, making it extremely devastating when not extinguished as soon as possible. Fortunately, incidents of fire in properties can be minimised by implementing fire safety measures.

Fire safety measures can be further enhanced if they are inspected accurately and regularly. Inspections, after all, can confirm whether the fire safety devices and materials are effective in deterring fire instances or not.

Annual Fire Safety Statements are Necessary

Inspections made to confirm the validity and effectiveness of fire safety devices, materials, and others can be formally declared through a document. This document is known as a fire safety statement. For property owners, subjecting their buildings to fire safety assessments yearly can be considered the right step towards protection and safety against fire. These assessments would often touch on fire safety measures and essential services related to fire prevention.

The yearly assessment of fire-related elements is showcased through Annual Fire Safety Statement or AFSS. It is often filled out by a building owner or a nominated person, confirming that their property has been assessed by a competent fire safety practitioner. The assessment made by the professional, as previously stated, would cover essential services and critical fire safety measures of the building. Some parts of a building that a fire safety practitioner may inspect are fire extinguishers, emergency and exit lighting, and fire pathways.

Annual Fire Safety Statements Common FAQs

To know more about AFSS, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about it.

• Who can carry out annual assessments for fire safety?

Fire safety is essential to buildings. Hence, it should be conducted by experts who know their way around fire safety inspections and others. For annual assessments related to fire safety, only those who are accredited as competent fire safety practitioners are allowed to carry out annual assessments. Several specialty fields may be licensed to these people. These fields include fire detection, HVAC, sprinklers, and passive.

• How often should Annual Fire Safety Statements be accomplished?

Annual Fire Safety Statements, as their name implies, should be issued by building owners or persons acting on their behalf once a year to the local council. The local council can use these statements to confirm whether buildings in their communities have been assessed and inspected for fire safety or not.

• Do tenants need to submit an Annual Fire Safety Certificate?

Annual Fire Safety Certificates should only be submitted and filed by building owners. The only role of tenants in a building is to keep the fire safety requirements of the property intact. They must also grant fire safety assessors access to the premises so they can inspect and complete the documentation needed for the certificates.

• What are the penalties for non-compliance?

Failure to comply with the submission of Annual Fire Safety Certificates may lead to fines of $500 and above. Hence, councils urge building owners and businesses to carry out assessments and maintain their fire safety measures regularly.

If you need help with fire safety assessments, you can contact us at Key Compliance.