Fire Safety
Leichhardt Council plays an active role in promoting fire safety awareness amongst the community, as Council has a statutory duty to pursue legislative requirements which govern fire safety.
The following information is important for all property owners, property managers, tenants, and business operators who own, occupy or manage buildings throughout the municipality ranging from various types of residential properties to commercial, retail and industrial premises. This information aims to increase general fire safety awareness, and develop an understanding of modern day fire safety issues and how Council commonly deals with building fire safety.
An important State Government decision came into affect in 2006 to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries, by gazetting a new Regulation which makes smoke alarms compulsory in all residential homes and shared accommodation buildings.
Smoke Alarm Battery Replacement for the Elderly (SABRE)
The SABRE program involving the NSW Fire Brigades is designed to support senior citizens residing in their own homes who have limited domestic support, in assisting them in the maintenance of their fire safety devices, primarily their battery operated smoke alarms.
NSW Fire Brigade - Factsheet
Smoke Alarms for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Conventional smoke alarms are not effective in alerting those with hearing impairments. A visual warning device which is interconnected to the smoke/heat alarm can be obtained. Also, a special emergency call service is available for people with a hearing impairment (or speech impairment) with direct access to fire safety emergency response.
NSW Fire Brigade - Factsheet
These are vital safety installations in a building that assist in reducing risk to life and property in the event of a fire or other emergency. They include equipment and protective devices such as smoke alarms, fire hose reels, fire doors, emergency lighting, portable fire extinguishers, and sprinkler systems.
A Fire Safety Certificate is a certification document prepared by or on behalf of a building owner, which declares that each newly installed essential fire safety measure in a building has been assessed by a properly qualified person and was found to be capable of performing to a design and installation standard.
An Annual Fire Safety Statement is a certification document prepared by or on behalf of a building owner, and lodged yearly with Council, which declares that essential fire safety measures already existing in a building have been assessed by a suitably qualified person and have been found to be continuing to perform to a nominated performance standard.
The process of correctly preparing and completing an Annual Fire Safety Statement may seem daunting at first, especially for owners who haven’t undertaken the task previously for their property.
Building owners and property managers please note – LATE ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY STATEMENTS WILL RESULT IN FINES. Council is applying fines in the form of Penalty Infringement Notices for failure to lodge an Annual Fire Safety Statement on time, as well as a range of other fire safety offences.
If it’s identified that fire safety deficiencies exist in any building, or if maintenance or use of a property constitutes a significant fire hazard, then Council has the ability to issue Orders to ensure that the level of fire safety is improved and compatible with the particular building use.
Challenges are always presented and difficulties can arise when historic heritage buildings are confronted by modern day fire safety expectations.
WorkCover NSW is the government approval authority for such events. Council has no power to approve use of fireworks, however Council must still receive notification of a proposed display and decide whether to object to or impose conditions on an applicant’s use of fireworks.
Council employs a fulltime Fire Safety Officer who may be contacted to discuss various aspects of fire safety. You may also need to rely on the support of other professionals or contractors who are external to Council, to assist with attending to fire safety requirements.
Forms
Click here to download a 
Fire Safety Certificate Form - 28 KB or an Annual Fire Safety Statement Form - 33 KB