Queensland Building certifiers and builders – don’t get caught out!

In lieu of recent tragedies, a spotlight has again been shone on fire safety compliance both in passive fire and active fire. However, regardless of this, you may have seen that the QBCC have stepped up concentrated audits as of the 1st of July this year. It has been announced that where breaches are identified, prosecution or action will be taken on the building certifiers.

It’s not new legislation, but there is new activity by the QBCC to regulate and enforce compliance.

Should buildings not meet the new QBCC compliance activities certifiers may not be able to sign off on the building which may stall the handover process. Recently we heard of a case like this which meant that the clients opening day plans were canceled and didn’t leave those involved on a positive note.

LEGISLATIVE RECAP 

To make sure that your project can be signed off by a passive fire certifier, and therefore a building certifier, you will need to ensure you understand the legislation.

1. Under the Building Act, if there is any fire safety installation installed in a building, the following must be given to the building certifier:

a) A list of all of the installations (penetration register)                                         

b) Drawings showing their location (marked up drawings)

2. Also under the Building Act, the building certifier must give the QFES a copy of the list and the drawings within 10 business days of the Certificate of Completion being given.

3. A ‘fire safety installation’ includes the following structural features:

a) Access panels through fire-rated construction                                                   

b) Fire dampers                                                                                                         

c) Fire shutters and fire doors                                                                                     

d) Penetrations through fire-rated construction                                           

e) Structural fire protection                                                           

f) Systems required to have a fire-resistance level’

If you have any doubts about the best way to ensure compliant passive fire protection in your construction, you should seek the advice of a QBCC licenced certifier BEFORE works are started.

If you’d like more information, contact us call 1800 PASSIVE or via plus@plus.systems