Roundtable consultation on fire safety regulation reform 12 Dec 2023 – Better Regulation Division, NSW Department of Customer Service

OCN represented owners’ views at the December 2023 first stage of consultation on fire safety reforms,  covering the design of fire safety systems.

The roundtable canvassed several survey questions.  Several questions were posed where OCN felt the owners’ point of view would be of value.  Many technical questions were left to the subject matter experts present.

Questions where OCN provided input:

  1. What gaps in the current regulatory framework do you consider could impact the proposed model that could compromise fire safety?
    1. Lack of independent assessment of work and tests completed and standards interpretations.  Asset lists need to be owners corporation IP.
  2. Do you have any overarching comments on the proposed approach to fire safety licensing that could help inform the development of the model and further discussion papers?
    1. Independent certification and end to end sign off for good oversight design.
    2. Undertaking maintenance and remediation by the same testing or certifying party has led to a conflict of interest as work deemed non-performing attracts additional work for that party – Independent assessments only alternative.
    3. Class 2 – Data covered in the discussion paper (would be of value to know age of buildings with defects/ non-compliant systems
    4. Existing buildings with major issues (often no available baseline data) – what if any changes to the designs are being considered regarding major existing structural issues?
  3. Should the new licensing requirements be applicable to all classes of buildings (except for class 1a and class 10 buildings/structures)?
    1.  Common sense assumes so.
  4. What regulatory burden impacts should be considered before the fire safety regulatory framework is finalised?
    1. Resource and training delays, additional costs and tying up resources to study and pass exams and ongoing updates to learning?
    2. Works delays
    3. Impact to Owners Corporation, fit for purpose and realistic notice periods and time framed to complete compliance works.

The full discussion paper (on the first section, ‘Design’) can be viewed here.

The OCN will continue to represent owners in this fire safety reform consultation process as they are being heavily impacted by the recent changes and stricter application of compliance in the fire safety industry.