Annual Fire Safety Statements (AFSS)
Keeping Your Building Compliant, Protected and Ready for Certification
For commercial buildings, strata properties, mixed-use developments and public buildings, an Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) is a critical compliance obligation.
Building owners are responsible for ensuring that all Essential Fire Safety Measures are inspected, tested, maintained and certified in accordance with the applicable legislation and Australian Standards.
At Performance Facility Management, we help owners, owners corporations, strata managers and facility managers coordinate the entire AFSS process, ensuring inspections are completed, defects are managed, documentation is collected and the Annual Fire Safety Statement is submitted correctly and on time.
Our role is to simplify what can often be a complex compliance process involving multiple contractors, consultants and certifiers.
What Is An Annual Fire Safety Statement?
An Annual Fire Safety Statement is a declaration by the building owner confirming that each Essential Fire Safety Measure installed within the building has been assessed by an appropriately qualified practitioner and is capable of performing to the required standard.
The statement is typically required annually and must be lodged with the relevant authority within the prescribed timeframe.
Failure to submit an AFSS can result in:
- Increased risk to occupants and visitors
- Regulatory penalties
- Council notices
- Fire Orders
- Increased liability exposure
- Insurance complications
How Performance Facility Management Assists
Rather than undertaking individual fire inspections ourselves, we provide independent oversight and coordination of the entire compliance process.
Our services include:
- AFSS compliance management
- Contractor coordination
- Scheduling inspections and testing
- Defect management and tracking
- Compliance reporting
- Review of contractor reports
- Monitoring rectification works
- Collection of supporting certification
- Lodgement support
- Stakeholder communication
- Budget planning for future fire compliance works
We work with your existing fire contractor or can assist in sourcing suitably qualified specialists where required.
Why Independent AFSS Management Matters
Many buildings engage multiple contractors throughout the year, including fire contractors, mechanical contractors, electrical contractors, lift companies and building management providers.
Without proper coordination, important defects can be missed, reports can be delayed and AFSS deadlines can be overlooked.
Performance Facility Management provides independent oversight to ensure:
- All required inspections are completed
- Reports are reviewed and tracked
- Defects are identified and managed
- Contractors remain accountable
- Compliance deadlines are achieved
- Building owners receive clear reporting
Our objective is to reduce compliance risk while providing confidence that the building’s fire safety obligations are being managed appropriately.
Essential Fire Safety Measures Compliance Management
Commercial buildings can contain dozens of Essential Fire Safety Measures (EFSMs), each requiring periodic inspection, testing, maintenance, certification and ongoing compliance management.
While specialist contractors undertake the testing and certification of individual systems, building owners remain responsible for ensuring all required measures are maintained, certified and documented appropriately.
Performance Facility Management provides independent oversight and coordination of the entire Essential Fire Safety Measures compliance process.
We assist owners, strata managers, facility managers and building committees by coordinating contractors, reviewing compliance reports, tracking defects, managing rectification works and ensuring all required documentation is available to support Annual Fire Safety Statement obligations.
Our role is to provide confidence that no critical fire safety measure is overlooked and that compliance responsibilities are being actively managed.
Essential Fire Safety Measures May Include:
| Fire Detection and Alarm Systems | Fire Suppression Systems |
| Fire Indicator Panels (FIP) Smoke Detection Systems Heat Detection Systems Aspirating Detection Systems Beam Detection Systems Occupant Warning Systems Emergency Warning and Intercommunication Systems (EWIS) | Automatic Sprinkler Systems Deluge Systems Drencher Systems Water Mist Systems Gaseous Suppression Systems Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems Special Hazard Suppression Systems |
| Fire Water Systems | Smoke Hazard Management Systems |
| Fire Hydrants Fire Hose Reels Fire Pumps Booster Assemblies Fire Water Storage Tanks Fire Brigade Connections | Mechanical Smoke Exhaust Systems Smoke Spill Systems Stair Pressurisation Systems Zone Pressurisation Systems Smoke Dampers Fire Dampers Combined Fire and Smoke Dampers |
| Emergency Egress Systems | Fire and Smoke Separation |
| Emergency Lighting Exit Signs Exit Pathway Illumination Paths of Travel to Required Exits Emergency Exit Doors | Fire Doors Fire Shutters Fire-Rated Walls Fire-Rated Ceilings Fire Windows Penetration Seals Fire Stopping Systems Lightweight Fire-Rated Construction |
| Building Services Fire Interfaces | Portable Fire Protection Equipment |
| Mechanical Services Shutdown Functions Air Handling Unit Fire Shutdown Controls Smoke Control Interfaces Lift Recall Systems Fire Brigade Lift Controls Building Management System Fire Interfaces Generator and Essential Power Interfaces | Fire Extinguishers Fire Blankets |
| Emergency Management Systems | |
| Evacuation Procedures Emergency Planning Occupant Training Requirements Evacuation Diagrams Emergency Response Documentation |
Independent Compliance Oversight
Performance Facility Management works on behalf of building owners to coordinate the many contractors, practitioners, certifiers and stakeholders involved in maintaining fire compliance.
Our services may include:
- Annual Fire Safety Statement coordination
- Essential Fire Safety Measures registers
- Contractor management and coordination
- Defect tracking and rectification management
- Compliance audits and reviews
- Fire safety documentation management
- Annual certification planning
- Capital works planning and budgeting
- Building committee and stakeholder reporting
- Fire Order response support
- Regulatory compliance assistance
- Risk identification and compliance reporting
Our objective is simple: helping building owners maintain compliance, reduce risk and ensure all Essential Fire Safety Measures are properly managed throughout the life of the building.