Australia has many safety standards that govern everything from how to take care of live animals to what type of construction material can be used in certain buildings. When it comes to fire safety, most states have very strict laws that dictate what your fire safety practices should be. Many business and property owners don't realise that most of these are not merely suggestions, but they are enforceable by law.

An annual fire safety statement is part of your ongoing commitment to the safety of your employees or tenants and it is a central piece of documentation all business owners need.

What Is an Annual Fire Safety Statement?

Every year each commercial property must have their property inspected by a licensed fire safety practitioner. During this process, they will assess all of your fire safety precautions and preventative measures from your sprinkler system to your fire doors. They will check all the expiry dates and ensure that everything is well within the designated usage timeframe. If something is out of date or faulty, they will require you to fix or replace them. They will also ask about your emergency escape plans to evaluate your readiness for an actual fire event. 

What Happens After the Evaluation?

After the licensed fire safety practitioner has gone over your property and you have replaced all your old or faulty equipment, they will issue you with an annual fire safety statement that you will then submit to your local council. However, in addition to submitting this to the council, you must also display the fire safety statement in a public space that is easily viewable by anyone who enters. That proves that your building is safe to enter and conduct business in. If you don't have this displayed, you can be fined or even have your business shut down pending investigation. 

What Happens If I Forget a Year or Are Running Close to the Deadline?

The simple answer is: you really don't want that to happen. Not only are you at risk of having any commercial licenses revoked, but you will accrue a lot of fines the longer overdue you become. An annual fire safety statement is not difficult to obtain, and there are many practitioners who can provide inspections with a short turnaround. Some councils may allow you to lodge a late fire safety statement, but this leniency period is generally not very long and relying on it is a recipe for disaster. Always make sure to have your annual fire safety statement reminder placed prominently in your calendar with several reminders. 

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