About Building Safety
Building Safety is a unit of the Community Fire Safety portfolio. The unit’s role is to ensure a high level of building fire safety measures are maintained in commercial, industrial and public buildings across the State.
The unit performs the statutory responsibilities on behalf of the Chief Officer from the building legislation. Ensuring that fire safety measures in buildings are operationally suitable to support firefighting operations and maintain a high level of fire safety for building occupants.
The unit also approves fire evacuation plans for specified buildings as detailed in the General Fire Regulations.
The regulation of the fire protection industry is also an important function of the unit along with fire engineering and building fire safety audit and compliance.
The building safety unit operates state-wide and has offices in Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie. Staff can be contacted on
Hobart
PO Box 308
HOBART TAS 7001
(03) 6166 5615
BuildingSafetySouth@fire.tas.gov.au
Launceston
339 Hobart Road
YOUNGTOWN TAS 7249
(03) 6777 3666
BuildingSafetyNorth@fire.tas.gov.au
Burnie
15 Three Mile Line Road
BURNIE TAS 7320
(03) 6477 7250
BuildingSafetyNW@fire.tas.gov.au
Policy Development
The unit has several functions that provide advice and support in the development of building fire safety related policy, process, instructions, and guidelines. The unit has contributed significantly over a period at the national level in Australian Standards Committees, AFAC aligned advisory bodies and with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) in the development of the National Construction Code (NCC).
Regulation of the Fire Protection Industry
Under the General Fire Regulations 2021, the Chief Officer regulates the fire protection industry. The unit undertakes this work on behalf of the Chief Officer. Permits are issued to companies who install and maintain fire detection systems, sprinkler systems and special hazard systems. Permits are also issued to individuals who perform work on installing and maintaining portable fire equipment such as fire extinguishers.
Post Fire Investigation and Reporting
Where a fire occurs in a commercial premise, fire safety officers may be involved in the investigation of the fire to ensure the installed fire safety features of the building operated as designed. Officers also assess the efficiency of the fire evacuation from buildings involved in fire to ensure that the evacuation is consistent with the approved fire evacuation plan for the premise.
Consultancy
The unit has several specialist consultants that review and report on the Chief Officers statutory requirements from the Tasmanian building legislation for the fire safety provisions in commercial buildings. The consultants use the NCC and the Australian Standards to ensure buildings are safe for building occupants to occupy including those provisions specifically for firefighters.