A new investigation into the fire safety levels in buildings from Port Augusta to Oodnadatta is to be carried out this month (October) following an audit of buildings in the area.
Announcing the investigation, the Building Fire Safety Committee (BFSC) for Out of Council Areas said the review would examine 11-18 properties in South Australia’s out-of-Council areas.
The BFSC said its investigative review to the Outback followed a desktop audit of buildings and properties in the area, including accommodation buildings and caravan parks, that posed the greatest risk to life if fire safety systems were not in place or being maintained.
The Committee said inspections would be undertaken to meet the following objectives:- Establish contacts and introduce the BFSC – its members, role and function; Provide education material and advice on building fire safety to building owners and occupiers; Identify any pressures hindering compliance (e.g. limited access to relevant tradespeople); and Verify the scope of work identified in the desktop audit.
The BFSC said going forward, it intended to undertake regular site visits, with the next scheduled in April 2022.
The BFSC for Out of Council Areas was established by the State Planning Commission as an ‘appropriate authority’ for the purposes of section 157 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (the Act) to review and monitor building fire safety in South Australia’s out-of-Council areas.
For the rest of the State, Local Government Councils are required under the Act to form a BFSC to take on the role of investigating buildings’ fire safety and in protecting the safety of all who visit, live in and use them.
