AFSS pre-inspection checklist

What to gather and confirm before your accredited practitioner arrives to assess your building's essential fire safety measures. Work through the four sections below, then print this page or save it as a PDF to keep on file.

Not sure if you need one at all?

Does my building need an AFSS?

Building / property:

Fire safety schedule reference:

Assessment booked for:

Prepared by:

Documents to have ready

Current fire safety schedule for the building, from council or your own records
A copy of last year's annual fire safety statement, if this is not the building's first AFSS
AS 1851 service and maintenance logbooks for each measure on the schedule; practitioners check these as part of the assessment
Records of any building work carried out since the last assessment that touched a fire safety measure, since this can trigger an amended schedule

Access to arrange before the visit

Keys or access codes for fire stairwells, the roof, plant rooms and switch rooms
Access to the fire hydrant booster assembly and any locked hydrant or sprinkler valve rooms
Access to basement and car park areas if they hold measures on the schedule
Someone on site, such as the owner, building manager or a strata contact, who knows where each measure is located

Before you book the practitioner

Confirm they are an Accredited Practitioner (Fire Safety) and that their accreditation covers every measure on your schedule; some measures need a specific accreditation scope
Send them a copy of the current fire safety schedule before asking for a quote, so the price reflects your actual measures and not a guess
Ask whether the quote covers assessment only, or also re-inspection after any rectification
Book so the assessment falls inside the three-month window before your AFSS due date; use the due date calculator if you are not sure of your dates
Check whether your council charges a fee to lodge. Fees vary by council; lodging with Fire and Rescue NSW itself carries no charge

After the assessment

Confirm who will sign the owner's declaration; it cannot be the same person who carried out the assessment
Arrange rectification immediately for any measure that failed, and re-inspection before the statement is signed
Lodge the signed statement with both your local council and Fire and Rescue NSW
Display the current statement and fire safety schedule prominently in the building
Record the lodgement date; it sets next year's due date

General information, not legal or compliance advice. Check exact requirements with your accredited practitioner and your council. Printed from annualfiresafety.com.au.

Sources

Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (NSW).
NSW Planning Portal, fire safety certification.
Fire and Rescue NSW, lodge a fire safety statement (no charge to lodge with FRNSW).
Bayside Council, fire safety statement (council lodgement administration fee).
Penrith City Council, annual fire safety statement program (assessment must be within 3 months before the statement is issued).

This is general information, not legal or compliance advice. Check requirements with your council and an accredited practitioner.