Recent Changes to NSW Fire Safety Regulations
The NSW government recently made changes that required the owners of buildings to ensure fire safety measures (equipment) such as fire extinguishers, fire hose reels, fire doors, smoke alarms, hydrant systems and exit and emergency lights were being maintained in accordance with AS1851 and AS2293.2.
In most cases, this requires equipment to be inspected twice per year at six-monthly intervals.
A Shift in Responsibility
It has now become the responsibility of your fire safety assessor, not technicians, to ensure this has occurred and that service and asset records are checked and up to date.
Before February 2026, the NSW government only required you to check and certify the equipment once per year when the Annual Fire Safety Statement AFSS was due for renewal; however, this has now changed.
Why Were These Changes Made?
We understand how frustrating this overreach can be, with many of our customers electing to have their equipment checked once per year rather than six-monthly or even monthly if there is a detection or sprinkler system.
We often don’t realise the importance of regular maintenance until something breaks or fails when used. When it comes to fire safety and the protection of building occupants, the risk is too high.
That is why the NSW government has regulated these changes, allowing inspection to be carried out on a more routine basis.
Our Commitment to Keeping Costs Reasonable
We also understand the customers’ view that these changes are made to facilitate commercial benefits for industry stakeholders, which may be the case, but that is not the case with Survival Solutions.
We understand the massive pressure most building owners and small to medium businesses are under to sustain commercially viable businesses while meeting the myriad of government regulations.
As a small business, we share your struggles and will do our best to help alleviate some of the pain where we can.
It is for this reason that we are working as hard as possible to continue providing these services at reasonable rates, based on our operating expenses.
We have also elected not to increase our rates in response to the recent fuel and operating increase, as the additional expense represents a small fraction of our overall business expenses and should not be the catalyst for higher charges.
We are hoping to secure more customers to make our business more efficient. Rather than increasing costs, we can help you if you need our assistance.
The Survival Solutions Advantage
One of the benefits of having Survival Solutions provide the maintenance service and the annual certification is our access to all documentation, service records, and reports issued to you over the duration of our business, via an online client platform called Uptick, specifically designed to support the fire industry and customers.
Need Assistance?
If you have any further questions or would like Survival Solution to assist you, please reach out for support on 1300 040 362.