Strata Fire Safety: Defining Body Corporate Responsibilities

Managing a Body Corporate in the SE QLD, Tweed Heads NSW or Sydney involves a complex web of fire safety obligations. Under the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008, the “occupier” (the Body Corporate) must ensure that all fire safety installations are maintained in accordance with AS 1851.

What We Inspect & Test Our technical service focus for strata buildings is on the common property fire assets that protect all residents:

• Portable Fire Equipment: 6-monthly inspection and tagging of all extinguishers and fire blankets in common areas and basement carparks.
• Exit & Emergency Lighting: Mandatory 6-monthly discharge testing to ensure residents have a clear, illuminated path of travel during a power failure.
• Fire Hydrant Systems: Annual testing of hydrant valves and flow checks to ensure water is available at the required pressure levels.
• Passive Fire Features: Visual inspections of fire doors in common areas to ensure they are not wedged open and that self-closers are fully operational.

Factual Documentation Every test we perform is recorded in your site’s logbook. This documentation is the essential evidence required for your committee to sign off on the annual Occupier’s Statement with confidence that the building’s fire assets are functional.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional fire engineering advice or a formal compliance audit. Fire safety requirements can vary significantly based on building classification, use, and specific local council regulations. All fire safety testing and maintenance should be performed by a qualified technician in accordance with AS 1851. For a site-specific assessment of your property’s compliance, please contact FIRESHIFT directly.