Australia is experiencing its second wave of coronavirus, starting in Melbourne and quickly spreading to New South Wales, Queensland, and now South Australia.
16,303 cases have been reported since the 22 January, 2020, and a total of 189 people have died.
To control the outbreak, the Victorian Government has now put that state in lockdown and imposed the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors, with a penalty of $200 for non-compliance.
While other states have not yet reintroduced lockdowns, they are watching the increasing cases carefully, and further actions may be taken.
Industry is reminded that fire safety work is
an essential service, and practitioners should continue to support their clients as best they can where it is safe to do so.
This may require negotiations with clients and councils to determine how much needs to be done and when, but fire systems have to be maintained if they are to stay effective.
For its part, and with its head office in Melbourne, FPA Australia has now set its employees up to work from home, with all staff limited to coming into the office for a maximum of one day a week, and only if necessary.
Despite this, there will be no reduction in our commitment to members and we are here to help if you need us.
For more information and the latest news about the coronavirus,
click here.
For the latest statistics,
click here.
Victorian Building System Review
The Victorian Government recently announced that an expert panel chaired by the Commissioner for Better Regulation has been commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of Victoria’s building system.
Previous reviews such as the Victorian Cladding Taskforce reports and the Shergold Weir Building Confidence report have indicated that the current building system is not fit for purpose.
The new review involves a comprehensive examination of the legislative framework for Victoria’s building, plumbing, and architectural industries that will place safety and consumer protection at the heart of the system.
An expert panel has been established to provide recommendations to the Government on how to deliver a better building system that is underpinned by a modern and effective legislative framework.
The Panel will provide advice to the Minister for Planning on possible early initiatives to improve the way the current system works, while not prejudicing the fundamental reforms that need to be made.
The current planned timelines are that the Panel will produce a Framework for Reform paper at the end of 2020 or in early 2021, which will be followed by a formal public consultation period.
As a key stakeholder in the sector, FPA Australia has been invited to discuss issues in the sector and areas for improvement.
A key focus for the Association will be advocating for improvements in the areas of building and fire safety compliance, including the establishment and enforcement of minimum skills, knowledge, and experience for all practitioners working in fire related roles across the building and planning sectors.
Find out more by visiting the Building System Review website
here.
ACT Government plans to bring back public certifiers
The ACT Minister for Building Quality Improvement, Gordon Ramsay MLA, has announced that, should the ACT Government be re-elected on October 17, a new approach will be taken to certifying large-scale residential developments.
In response to concerns about conflicts of interest in the residential space, where a developer (as the owner of the land) appoints a private certifier, the Minister intends to appoint a small team of public sector certifiers to inspect construction work on complex, multi-unit developments.
This is a slight reversal of the status quo in the Territory, which currently has a fully privatised system.
Critics of the existing arrangement have suggested that developers have been allowed to cut corners, resulting in costly repair work.
The Minister also proposes to introduce a developer licensing scheme, which would include:
- fit and proper person' assessments
- licence scope applying to the most high-risk developments in terms of quality (i.e. multi-unit residential); and
- enforcement regimes.
It is expected that more details will be released closer to the election.
Government reforms - current consultations
National Registration Framework for Building Practitioners discussion paper
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) recently released a discussion paper on a draft National Registration Framework (NRF) for Building Practitioners, which is now open for public comment.
The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) authorised an assessment of the effectiveness of compliance and enforcement systems for the building and construction industry across Australia. The resulting
Building Confidence Report (BCR) highlighted shortcomings in the implementation of the National Construction Code (NCC) and made 24 recommendations to address these issues.
Recommendations 1 and 2 of the BCR propose the registration of building practitioners involved in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings, and that each jurisdiction prescribes consistent registration requirements covering knowledge of NCC, competency and experience, insurance and financial viability, and integrity.
If adopted, the NRF is expected to enhance public confidence and improve national consistency in the registration of building practitioners.
A discussion paper on the NRF has been developed in response to BCR recommendations 1 and 2 – covering core disciplines in building production, approval, and coordination – and stakeholders are now being asked for their feedback.
Responses to questions on the discussion paper, outlined in the
consultation form, are invited until
11:59PM AEST, Sunday, 23 August, 2020 – only comments submitted using the online form will be considered.
Find out more by visiting the National Registration Framework webpage
here.
Design and Building Practitioners Regulations 2021
Following the passing of the
Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 last month, the NSW Government has commenced work on the proposed Regulations.
To assist with its deliberations, three consultation papers have been released, covering key issues it plans to address.
While the current intent is to enable accredited practitioners (fire safety) who hold the FPAS FSD accreditation to be registered designers under the Act, the details of this are still to be determined.
If you wish to provide input into these Regulations, or if you have any questions about it, please contact Paul Waterhouse on
paul.waterhouse@fpaa.com.au.
Practice Guide for registered certifiers
Michael Lambert, who prepared the 2016
Independent Review of the Building Professionals Act 2005 has been leading a project group developing a practice guide for registered certifiers on behalf of the Department of Customer Service.
The Guide provides advice to certifiers about all aspects of their role, and includes a sizeable section about fire safety, including the creation of fire safety schedules.
FPA Australia is part of the Steering Committee for this project and has been assisting with its drafting through the Fire Safety Working Group.
While there are no plans for a full public consultation, we anticipate that there will be a limited consultative process before the Guide is finalised.
If you wish to provide some feedback on this Guide, or if you have any questions about it, please contact Paul Waterhouse on
paul.waterhouse@fpaa.com.au.
Update on ACCC Mandatory Standards Review
In September 2019, the ACCC released a
consultation paper that proposed to revise the
mandatory standard for portable non-aerosol extinguishers.
This is—among other things—intended to reference the latest (2007) edition of the AS/NZS 1841 series of Australian/New Zealand standards rather than the 1999 edition that they currently reference.
FPA Australia made a submission to this consultation in late 2019 and a follow up submission in early 2020 supporting the proposal and making recommendations to ensure that the changes are effective.
We have continued to assist the ACCC to understand the impacts of these changes and as part of this work will be sending out an email with a survey at the end of July to all members involved in the manufacture, supply, installation, routine service, or repair of portable fire extinguishers (as recorded on their Provider of Choice listing).
This survey will not only gather information required by the ACCC to support the revision of the mandatory standard, but also includes additional questions that will help FPA Australia to understand and assist members working with portable fire extinguishers.
It will also help us with a potential future revision of AS 1851-2012.
If you are not an FPA Australia member, or are not currently listed on our Provider of Choice for work with portable fire extinguishers, but would be interested in completing this survey, please email
technical@fpaa.com.au.
NCC 2019 Amendment 1 is now in effect!
The National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1 was adopted on 1 July, 2020, and has now been given legal effect by relevant legislation in each State and Territory.
Key changes include:
- a new provision, A2.2(4), to require (from 1 July 2021) that a process be followed when creating and documenting Performance Solutions;
- a new provision, A5.7, to require labelling of aluminum composite panels;
- a new provision in Volume One, D1.18, regarding egress from early childhood centres;
- clarification amendments in Specification C1.1 of Volume One regarding concessions that permit the use of timber framing for low-rise Class 2 and 3 buildings;
- amendment to 3.5.2.5 in Volume Two to clarify that anti-ponding boards are not required in roofs where sarking is not installed; and
- correction of minor errors.
You can ‘view’ or ‘download’ NCC 2019 Amendment 1 from the Australian Building Codes Board’s (ABCB)
NCC Suite.
Please note: the adopted version of NCC 2019 Amendment 1 differs from and replaces the preview made available on their website earlier this year, so the preview should no longer be used.
You can download the Summary and Instructions for each NCC volume from the ABCB’s
Resource Library to assist with identifying the changes.
To support the process for documenting Performance Solutions, use the ABCB’s updated
Development of Performance Solutions Process document.
The next edition of the NCC is scheduled for adoption in 2022.
Upcoming events
FPA Australia is continuing its series of webinars on key areas of fire safety practice.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for these webinars. Please contact us on (03) 8892 3131 or at
events@fpaa.com.au to discuss packages to suit your business.
Routine Service and Maintenance of Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs
In January 2019, a new edition of AS/NZS 2293.2:2019 was published that was dramatically different to AS/NZS 2293.2:1995.
This new version implements and improves on many of the administrative requirements of Section 1 of AS 1851-2012, including baseline data, defects, tolerances, records, and the relationship between this standard and the overall management of these systems.
Presented by
Russell Porteous, CEO of Firewize, this webinar will give you insights into how emergency lights and exit signs perform and are maintained.
If you have anything to do with the routine service and maintenance of emergency lights and exit signs, this webinar is a ‘can’t miss’!
This webinar will be held on
Wednesday 19 August, 2020 from
8.00am – 9.00am AEST. Costs:
FPA Australia Member: $95 plus GST
Non-member: $140 plus GST
For more information or to register, visit:
https://fpaaust.eventsair.com/emergencylightingandexitsignswebinar
Australian Bushfire Building Conference
Following the unprecedented 2019/20 bushfire season, the 2020 Bushfire Building Conference is shaping up to be a crucial event for building industry professionals, planners and researchers.
A partnership between FPA Australia and the Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE), the 6
th Australian Bushfire Building Conference will explore the theme of:
Stronger and Smarter – Lessons Learnt.
It will be held as a 1.5-day
virtual event on
September 17-18, 2020, with a live event to be added if COVID-19 restrictions allow.
The program will include presentations from renowned national and international experts who will discuss the latest research, updates and technologies on building in bushfire prone areas.
The highlight of this year’s conference will be a key address from Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM, the inaugural Commissioner for Resilience NSW and former Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Conference tickets are $200 + GST for the Virtual Conference and $380 + GST for the Live Conference (yet to be confirmed).
Optional Pre-Conference Field Trip and a BPAD Round Table will be run if conditions allow.
For more information and to register please visit
www.bushfireconference.com.au
Pre-recorded Webinars
Missed a webinar? Wondering what all of the fuss was about? It’s not too late to catch up.
Following feedback from individuals who were unable to attend previous events, FPA Australia has decided to make some of them available for a limited time for purchase.
Access to these pre-recorded webinars is intended as a substitute to a live viewing of the webinar, so you will only be able to watch them for
two (2) weeks from the date of purchase.
Each purchase is for one person, but you can purchase access for multiple individuals and/or for an individual(s) that are not the purchaser.
And those who watch the recordings will still be able to receive CPD points.
If you are interested in any of these topics, please click on the links below.
For more information, contact the events team on (03) 8892 3131 or at
events@fpaa.com.au.
All prices are GST-exclusive.
Fire, Smoke, and Air Dampers
Presented by Brett Fairweather, from It's Engineered (date of recording: 27 May, 2020)
FPA Australia Member: $95
Non-member: $140
Purchase access
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems – Smoke Detection for Smoke Control Systems
Presented by David Isaac, from Fire and Safety Technologies Pty Ltd (date of recording: 11 June, 2020)
FPA Australia Member: $95
Non-member: $140
Purchase access
Fire-Isolated Stair Pressurisation Systems, including Fire-Isolated Ramps and Passageways
Presented by Brett Fairweather, from It's Engineered (date of recording: 16 June, 2020)
FPA Australia Member: $95
Non-member: $140
Purchase access
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems – Occupant Warning Systems
Presented by Chris Orr, from ORR Partners (date of recording: 9 July, 2020)
FPA Australia Member: $95
Non-member: $140
Purchase access
COMING SOON: Passive Fire Protection – Fire and Smoke Doors
A two part Webinar series presented by John Clampett, from John Clampett Consulting, and Leigh Gesthuizen, from Pyropanel Group ASSA ABLOY (dates of recording: 23 and 30 July, 2020)
Details will be made available soon.
Futurise Your Business
FPA Australia has revamped our partnership with netStripes to make it more relevant to practitioners.
The
Futurise Your Business series of live webinars, valued at $300, is being offered for free on the following dates:
- Digital Marketing in a Post Covid Era: How to reignite your digital marketing.
- Thursday, 20 August, 2020
- Thursday, 27 August, 2020
- Social Media Success Factors: How to develop the right content for your ideal audience, understand algorithms, and use analytics to improve performance.
- Thursday, 6 August, 2020
- Thursday, 13 August, 2020
Dinesh De Silva’s presentations will show you how to capitalise on the web to open up new opportunities – click here to find out more.
To register for the webinars,
click here.
Australian Standards update
Here's what's happening with fire protection-related standards at Standards Australia at the moment:
- FP-002—Progress continues on the revision of AS 1670.6. The projects to amend AS 1670.1, AS 1670.3 and AS 1670.4 are expected to kick-off in the next couple of months.
- FP-004—Amendment 2 to AS 2118.1:2017 was published on 17 July. Note, this amendment cannot be used under the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the Building Code of Australia but could be used as part of a Performance Solution. Work continues on the revisions of AS 2118.2 and AS 2118.6.
- FP-009—Public comment on AS 2419.4, the draft new standard for STORZ connections, closed on 28 July. Work continues on the revision of AS 2419.1.
- FP-011—The draft revisions of AS 3772-2008 and AS 4587-1999 are currently at public comment closing 7 September.
- FP-020—Public comment on Amendment 2 to AS 3959:2018 closed on 23 July.
- FP-022—Progress continues on the revision of AS 5062.
- LG-007—New projects for amendment of AS/NZS 2293.1 and AS/NZS 2293.3 have been approved and kicked-off.
- TS-001—Progress continues on the new technical specification for building commissioning.
Further information on newly approved and current projects can be found on the Standards Australia website
here.
Become a part of FPA Australia
It’s been an eventful 12 months, with bushfires, floods, and now a global pandemic following hard on each other’s heels.
In a time of uncertainty, it makes sense to belong to an association that is there to support your business, recognise your skills, and promote the fire protection industry.
FPA Australia offers a diverse range of benefits that add real value for our members, all designed to help you and your business thrive.
We represent:
- almost 1,800 corporate, organisation, professional, and individual members
- 30,000 practitioners
Join us now!
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(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
Board - since 2019, as the Director and General Manager of the Fire Equipment Services group. This is the commercial division of the authority, which partners with clients to protect their people and assets by installing and maintaining fire and life safety systems, and training people in their use. Prior to that he worked as a business unit manager in risk management and compliance firm Greencap (part of Westfarmers) and as a business strategist and operational leader with the Beanstalk Solutions consulting firm. 
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
?
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
On completion of the training course, practitioners will be eligible to apply to the VBA to become registered or licensed in the fire protection restricted class of “Routine Servicing of Unpumped Hydrants and Valves.” 
(03) 8892 3131
FPA Australia
Building 2, 31-47 Joseph St
Blackburn North, Vic 3130
Australia
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