Changes to statewide structural fire safety responsibilities
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has delegated and authorised Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) staff to exercise a number of powers of the CFA Chief Officer under the Building Act and Building Regulations within country Victoria.
From 22 August 2022 on behalf of CFA, FRV is now wholly responsible for:
- Applications for Report and Consent pursuant to Building Regulation 129.
- Applications for Report and Consent pursuant to Building Regulation 187.
- Pre-applications pursuant to Building Regulation 129(1).
- Undertake reviews of Fire Engineering Briefs.
- Undertaking Consultation in regard to BCA Part A2.2(4)(a).
- Undertaking necessary fire safety and ESM inspections across the state.
This means that CFA no longer needs to sign off on work already undertaken by FRV staff on its behalf. This aims to improve the consistency of process and documentation across the state and the response times to applications.
FRV is currently updating templates and documentation to suit. Industry will see a change that all documentation for the above will be issued on FRV documentation.