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DFES Built Environment Branch (BEB) provides advice to building surveyors and other fire safety practitioners (including Local Governments) to ensure plans for construction of new or existing commercial and industrial buildings (Building Classifications 2 to 9) in Western Australia comply with the fire safety sections of the National Construction Code (NCC) and the FES Commissioner’s Operational Requirements.
A building’s compliance with the FES Commissioner’s Operational Requirements is considered critical for preventing fires, ensuring community preparedness and resilience, and safe and effective firefighting operations.
To comply with Building Regulations 2012 18B(1), a building surveyor must provide plans and specifications for the building in sufficient detail to allow assessment of compliance with the FES Commissioner’s Operational Requirements.
The submission of plans and specifications must be provided at least 15 business days before signing a Certificate of Design Compliance in respect of a Class 2 to Class 9 building.
Documents are available:
These documents are:
Prior to completing any documentation, DFES BEB encourages a meeting with our Fire Engineers and/or Building Fire Safety Officers to discuss the proposed designs. These meetings assist in providing an understanding of the FES Commissioner’s Operational Requirements in context of the particular project.
Where Performance Solutions are proposed, it is recommended that recognised fire engineering guidelines are followed, such as the Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines.
A Performance-Based Design Brief or Fire Engineering Brief should be lodged, followed by the required Fire Engineering Report with all relevant building plans, supporting documents and specifications.
For more information, please refer to the following publications:
For information on lodging your documentation, please refer to the Guideline GL-07 submission of documents to DFES for assessment, which outlines how to lodge documents and the required plans and specifications.
Each project differs in length and complexity. Please allow a reasonable amount of time for DFES BEB to provide the FES’ Commissioner advice, and when project planning to ensure best outcomes.
It should be noted that the more the plans and specifications deviate from the National Construction Code and Operational Requirements, the more complex the fire strategies or designs, which as a result require more resources and time to review before providing a response.
Please note: Documents uploaded after 2pm will be processed the following business day
Where a Performance Requirement is proposed to be satisfied by a Performance Solution, the project fire engineer must prepare a Performance-Based Design Brief / Fire Engineering Brief (PBDB / FEB) in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Consultation with stakeholders is a fundamental component in the process of formulating an appropriate scope of work and consequently, the brief and all that flows from it. Consulting at an early stage is therefore essential.
BEB will review the PBDB / FEB and issue a preliminary advice letter.
A response to this letter should be emailed to BEB or provided as an appendix in a revised PBDB / FEB or in the FER + Deemed-to-Satisfy plans submission.
The response, using DFES template (provided with preliminary advice letter), should indicate whether DFES advice has been incorporated, and if not the reason why.
To comply with Building Regulations 2012 18B(1), a building surveyor must provide plans and specifications for the building to allow assessment of compliance with the FES Commissioner’s Operational Requirements.
BEB will review the plans and specifications (including a Fire Engineering Report and supporting documents, when applicable) and issue an advice letter.
When the FES Commissioner’s advice is not followed, Building Regulation 15A(1) applies.
If the building surveyor progresses with signing the Certificate of Design Compliance prior to receiving the FES Commissioner’s advice, he/she is still required to advise the FES Commissioner in writing within 10 days of receiving the advice letter if any of the advice is not followed.
If a review of the revised FER is required, it should be formally lodged, as per BEB Electronic Lodgement Form.
To facilitate a streamline response for building surveyors, a link to the online 15A response form is available in each email issuing the FES Commissioner’s advice letter. Once submitted, a pdf copy of the 15A response form will be sent to both the applicant / building surveyor and BEB.
To report suspicious persons or deliberate lighting of fires call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
