
Fire Services Contractors – The Competent vs The Careless
While facilitating defects, I am astounded how often fire compliance is continually mis- managed. Having a parent who spent his career investigating fires, the words “the fire won’t get you, the smoke will get you well before the flames do” are always front of mind for me.
Reviewing fire doors this week in a building, I was stunned that every door I checked had a fault, either fire compliance or manufacturer’s warranty, yet AFSS has been awarded for the past few years.
Our fire compliance laws have significantly tightened since 2019, and there has been some added value with what the NSW Building Commissioner is doing in this area as well. However, a word of warning to our fire services industry; those companies not undertaking compliance will be caught out eventually, and it will cost you dearly.
While briefly assisting the NSW Fair Trading department while pursuing a fire services contractor for not undertaking compliances in the highest professional regard, Grays Rescue was impressed at how seriously the department is taking AFSS compliance for the greater good.
We have faith that the standards of fire contractor services has increased since new regulations were introduced, and this is an industry that is growing in a positive direction. Although this week’s discovery AFSS compliance is disappointing, that’s why we are here, representing owners corporation’s best interests.
Author – Chris Gray