What are the Best Ways to Improve the Fire Safety System in Your Building?

If you own a building in NSW that needs a fire safety system upgrade, you are legally responsible for ensuring that all necessary repairs and upgrades are made. Otherwise, your local municipal council or other authority can issue a fire safety order requiring compliance with fire safety regulations if your building is deemed sub-standard in meeting these requirements.

Perhaps you have recently purchased a sizable, multi-unit residential building, factory, office building or commercial retail building and need to have your new property inspected for fire safety compliance. In many instances, recently purchased properties need inspections, audits and fire safety system upgrades in order to fully comply with current fire safety regulations.

Below are the best ways to improve the fire safety system in your building.

Ensure Your Property’s Adherence to All Safety Standards

Following the inspection and audit of your building by your professional fire safety compliance consultant, if your property meets all standards for fire safety compliance, your qualified consultant will compile your annual fire safety statement (AFSS), which you as building owner or your legal representative will sign.

A copy of this statement must then be forwarded to your local Council and NSW Fire Brigades, and another copy must be displayed in a highly visible common area of your building. However, if repairs or upgrades are necessary before your building can comply with fire safety standards, a detailed report will be generated listing all upgrading to be completed before your property can be approved for complete fire safety compliance.

Comply with the Require Fire Safety System Upgrades

The most important currently required fire safety system upgrades to buildings for ensuring that these properties comply with the New South Wales Essential Fire Safety Measure include the installation of new automatic fire detection and fire alarm systems; installation of updated automatic fire suppression systems, including sprinkler systems; mounting of secure emergency lighting and exit signs; installation of fire hose reels and fire hydrants as well as portable fire extinguishers; installation of reinforced fire doors and mechanical ventilating and air-handling systems; and the use of lightweight, durable, fire-resistant construction materials for repairs or upgrades in all building interiors. Additional fire safety prevention measures may need to be addressed and implemented in some properties. However, these are the primary requirements for upgrading properties for compliance with NSW fire safety measures today.

Replace Deadbolts in Older Buildings

In some older buildings, smoke and fire doors may be fitted with deadbolts, which do not comply with current NSW fire safety requirements. These doors are not considered fire-protective since deadbolts do not allow doors to self-latch, which can cause dangerous conditions during a building fire. These deadbolts must be replaced, or the doors themselves must be removed and replaced with fire-safety-compliant models.

Also, any gaps between fire doors and their frames must be corrected with updated construction or by installing new doors that fit their frames securely, without any gaps. If the gaps between doors and frames are relatively small, it may be possible to correct this problem by using seal upgrades that are fire-safety compliant.

To schedule a thorough fire safety inspection for your building, contact the expert fire safety compliance consultants at Key Compliance located in Kogarah, NSW. Our team of well-qualified and experienced fire safety compliance professionals will determine whether or not your property needs any fire safety system upgrades and assist you in making quality repairs and upgrades to your property for meeting all current regulations for fire safety compliance.