AFSS explained: what an annual fire safety statement is in NSW

Straight answer: what AFSS stands for, which NSW buildings need one, and what the accredited practitioner actually certifies.

An annual fire safety statement (AFSS) is a document issued by or on behalf of the owner of an existing building. It confirms that an accredited practitioner (fire safety) has assessed, inspected and verified the performance of each essential fire safety measure that applies to the building. It is required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021, the NSW regulation that governs fire safety in buildings.

Which buildings need one

If a building has essential fire safety measures listed on a fire safety schedule, its owner has an ongoing obligation to keep those measures working and to certify that they do, once a year. This captures most class 2 to class 9 buildings: apartment blocks, commercial premises, industrial units, retail, health and aged care, and mixed-use developments. A standalone single dwelling generally does not carry a fire safety schedule and so does not need an AFSS.

The measures covered are whatever appears on that building's schedule. Common ones are automatic fire detection and alarm systems, sprinklers and other suppression systems, hydrants and hose reels, emergency lighting, exit and directional signage, fire doors and other passive fire separation, and mechanical air handling. The AFSS covers the whole set, not a single system.

What the statement actually certifies

The statement is not a receipt for servicing. It certifies two things for each measure on the schedule: that an accredited practitioner has inspected it, and that the measure was found to perform to the standard it was designed and installed to meet. Where the building has exit systems, it also confirms an accredited practitioner has verified those exits comply with the Regulation.

Because it is a performance certification, the underlying inspection and any rectification work have to happen before the statement can be signed, not after. A measure that is faulty on the day cannot be certified as performing.

Why it matters

The AFSS is the main mechanism councils and Fire and Rescue NSW use to confirm that existing buildings stay safe over their life, not just at completion. It is a legal obligation on the owner, it runs on a strict annual cycle, and late or missing statements attract penalties. The rest of this hub explains the deadlines, who is allowed to sign, and how to find an accredited practitioner.

Sources

• Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (NSW).
• NSW Planning Portal, fire safety certification.
• Fire and Rescue NSW, annual fire safety statements.

This is general information, not legal or compliance advice. Check requirements and figures with your council and the FPAA register.

Keep reading

• What is a fire safety schedule, and how does it drive your AFSS?Your AFSS is only valid if it addresses every item on this list, in full. Here is what a fire safety schedule covers and how it drives your statement.
• AFSS meaning: how it differs from a fire safety certificateAFSS or fire safety certificate: which one your NSW building actually needs, and why they are not interchangeable.
• Essential fire safety measures in NSWThe types of essential fire safety measure in NSW, what each one is, what the annual assessment covers, and how your fire safety schedule defines which apply.