Are you the owner or manager of a Short term rental property trying to navigate the new government regulations commencing November 1, 2021.
Here is the information from the NSW Government.
What has been introduced?
The new planning framework for fire includes:
- an amendment to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (EP&A Regulation) to:
- Introduce new fire safety standards for dwellings used for STRA and associated penalty notice offences for non-compliance; and
- Create a new Government-run STRA Register that will ensure compliance with the new fire safety standards, as well track the day limits of each STRA dwelling.
What are the new Fire Safety Standards? (Taken directly from NSW Government Website)
STRA guests face additional safety risks than those of permanent residents, as they are less familiar with the dwelling and its surrounds. The new fire safety standards seek to reduce risks to guests though enhanced early warning, additional safety measures and education.
The Short-term Rental Accommodation Fire Safety Standard is available on NSW Government Website below
The fire safety standards have been revised in response to feedback received on the exhibited standards and strike an appropriate and reasonable balance between the need for higher safety requirements and cost prohibitive safety requirements.
The fire safety standards adopt some standards required of shared accommodation under the Building Code of Australia (BCA), without requiring a change in classification to tourist and visitor accommodation.
New rules for Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA)
The new fire safety standards for the corresponding BCA building classifications are outlined below
ALL DWELLINGS
- Installation of either main powered smoke alarms or long life, sealed battery powered smoke alarms in: dwelling floor levels containing bedrooms, every corridor or hallway associated with a bedroom, or if there is no corridor or hallway, in an area between the bedrooms and the remainder if the building; and to each other storey not containing bedrooms.
- Smoke alarms must comply with AS 3786. • Smoke alarms must be interconnected where there is more than one alarm.
- Require an Evacuation Plan, displaying ‘evacuation signage’ and familiarising guests with exit system, including the national emergency services number (000) and advise guests to download the emergency+ app.
STANDALONE DWELLINGS ONLY (CLASS 1A BUILDINGS)
- Installation of heat alarms in garages located beneath dwellings located above. This would be required only where the garage is not accessible to the guest/s.
DWELLINGS IN MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS ONLY (DWELLINGS IN CLASS 2 AND CLASS 4 BUILDINGS)
- Entry doors should be openable from inside the dwelling without a key.
- Installation of a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen.
Please also be aware that we have seen an increase in Strata run buildings require the Installation of Fire Extinguishers in 1A Buildings.
Here at FCF we do your Evacuation diagrams, Compliance certificates and Fire equipment installation.
Don’t be overwhelmed by new regulations, our job is to make them easy for you to understand and comply with.
Contact Jodie on 4201 0624 / 1300 323 753 to get started.
