The Real State of Apartment Fire Safety in Australia / Our Blog / By Finulent Solutions Building committees book the inspection, file the report, and cover the contractor in the levy. Fire safety: handled. Such is a pattern. Except a recent study by the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors found only 36% of apartment buildings inspected in NSW were fully compliant with mandatory fire safety standards. And 13% of Victorian buildings. So most buildings don’t meet obligations that have been law for years. What compliance actually requires Fire safety isn’t one annual visit today. Under AS 1851, different systems need different attention at different times: Monthly – Fire indicator panel checks and some alarm testing Six monthly – Hose reels, extinguisher checks Annual – Sprinkler flow tests, emergency lighting, and exit signs Every 5/10/25 yrs – Major overhauls of hydrant valves, sprinkler systems, and indicator panels Now this last tier’s where buildings are falling behind. Older buildings may have never reached some of these milestones. And when a proper contractor works through the schedule some expensive surprises follow. A professionally designed fire safety plan takes guesswork out of this. It maps every system against its schedule, flags issues, and gives committees a clear picture of what’s compliant and what isn’t. The question of Lithium Batteries Here’s something interesting. There’s currently no Australian Standard specifically for lithium-ion battery fires. This means no fire extinguisher sold in Australia can actually claim compliance for lithium-ion battery fires. AS/NZS 1841:2007 currently covers eight types of portable fire extinguishers: Part 1: General requirements Part 2: Water Part 3: Wet chemical Part 4: Foam Part 5: Powder Part 6: CO₂ Part 7: Vaporizing liquid Part 8: Non-rechargeable So it comes down to regulating the usage of these batteries. And there are three things communities can consider: A bylaw or policy on where batteries can be charged and stored Designated charging areas with appropriate equipment Clear communication to residents – especially those with EVs Updated charging zones, equipment layouts, or evacuation routes can all go into your building plans upfront. Much before it becomes urgent. Cladding: Resolved for some, open for others Victoria is winding up Cladding Safety Victoria as a standalone agency. Remaining responsibilities will go to the Building and Plumbing Commission. But the closure of the program doesn’t mean the issue’s closed for every building. It’s still relevant if your building: Was constructed between the mid-1990s and 2018 Has aluminium composite panels on the exterior Hasn’t received a formal risk classification from a licensed building certifier The first step is to get hold of a licensed certifier to assess the risk. Visual checks are a no go. What a prepared committee looks like in 2026 Records – Current, clear, and covering all service intervals (not just an annual report). Deficiencies – Tracked and on their way for correction. Not carried over from report to report with no plan. Capital works fund – Built to account for major fire system upgrades over time. A 20yr old building with no provision for a 25yr sprinkler overhaul isn’t well planned. Battery policy – Exists, is written down, and residents know it. Fire safety is one of the most important items on the agenda for buildings in Australia. And for committees to be confident their building’s secure, practical fire safety plans are the starting point. At Finulent Solutions, we design compliant fire safety plans specific to the buildings – across residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional sites. From evacuation routes and equipment layouts to sprinkler compliance and documentation, the goal is to be proactive with the fire safety plan.Ready to optimize yours? Let’s talk.
