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Have you seen the latest edition of the Fair Trading Foundations Newsletter? There are a couple of changes on their way that NSW Builders should be aware of.
Fair Trading is introducing new fire safety regulations that will help ensure the safety of occupants and protect property. Here are some of the key points that NSW Builders should be aware of.
The new reforms will come into effect in stages. They include increased involvement of Fire and Rescue NSW in reviewing non-standard fire safety design proposals, the creation of an independent checker role to assess installed fire safety measures before buildings are occupied, and the standardisation and simplification of amendment processes for fire safety documentation. The changes were made to the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 in December 2022, and are based on recommendations from a report commissioned by the Office of the Building Commissioner.
Starting from February 13th, 2023, if you're a building practitioner who issues a building compliance declaration under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, you will be required to lodge a copy of the fire safety certificate with your declaration. As a building owner, you will also need to provide a copy of the fire safety certificate to the building practitioner. There will be further changes coming into effect from 1 August 2023 and again on 13 February 2025. You can see the full schedule of changes here.
Builders need to stay up-to-date with the changes to fire safety regulations and ensure they understand what is required from them.
For more information visit the NSW Fair Trading website.
New rules are here for demolition licences and there is a new way to renew a high risk work licence, by going digital. Here’s what NSW Builders should be aware of:
If you hold a demolition licence in NSW, these are some of the changes you’ll see from 1 March 2023.
- “Demolition licences” will be known as “unrestricted demolition licences”.
- “Restricted demolition licences” will still be known as “restricted demolition licences”.
- Demolition licences granted from 1 March 2023 will be valid for five years instead of two.
- From 1 March 2025 there will be a new mandatory training requirement for demolition workers.
For more information on these changes, visit SafeWork NSW.
If you have a high risk work licence, you can now renew it online through the Service NSW website.
You can also add your digital high risk work licence to your Service NSW app which is available for all current licence holders with a MyServiceNSW account.
In-person renewals are still available if you prefer a non-digital option. To request a renewal form, contact SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.
- Fair Trading has introduced new fire safety regulations. These changes will come in stages and NSW can keep up-to-date with the latest information via Fair Trading.
- If you hold a demolition licence in NSW you’ll see some changes to licence names and training requirements. Find out more at SafeWork NSW.
- You can now renew your high risk work licence online through the Service NSW website.
This is a summary of the Fair Trading ‘Foundations’ Newsletter.