Taking on a new shop, office, workshop or warehouse comes with a long list of things to sort out. Fire safety tends to sit near the bottom, somewhere after the internet connection and the signage. It is much easier to ask about it before you sign or move in than to untangle it later.
None of these questions is difficult. They are for the landlord, the managing agent or the strata manager, and the answers are worth getting in writing.
What fire equipment is installed
Start with what is there. Depending on the building, that could include:
- portable extinguishers and fire blankets
- hose reels
- exit signs and emergency lighting
- smoke detection and alarms
- sprinklers
- fire doors
Walk through with the agent and have them point each item out. Ask which items belong to the building and which, if any, the last tenant put in and may be taking with them. An empty bracket on the wall is worth asking about.
Who is responsible for servicing it
This question causes the most confusion, so ask it plainly. In some arrangements the owner looks after everything. In others the tenant looks after some of the equipment inside the tenancy, and the owner or strata looks after the shared systems. It depends on the building and on what your lease says.
Ask:
- who arranges servicing for each type of equipment
- who pays for it
- who you should call when something is faulty or damaged
- whether a contractor needs access to your tenancy, and how much notice you will get
If the lease is unclear on any of this, get it clarified before you sign.
When it was last serviced
Ask when the equipment was last checked and whether anything was found that still needs fixing. You can take a quick look of your own as well. Extinguishers and hose reels normally carry a service tag, and a glance at it will tell you whether someone has been looking after them.
Premises that have sat empty for a while deserve a closer look. Equipment can be removed, damaged or simply forgotten between tenants.
Where the records are
Servicing should leave a paper trail. Ask where the records for the building are kept, who holds them, and whether you can see the parts that relate to your tenancy.
Find out too whether the building has an evacuation diagram or emergency plan, and whether you are expected to fit in with a plan that covers the whole building. In a shared building, ask who coordinates an evacuation and where everyone assembles.
SafeWork NSW has information for businesses on planning for emergencies, which is useful when you are setting up your own procedures for staff.
Whether your fit-out changes anything
This one is easy to overlook. A fit-out can affect fire safety even when nobody touches the fire equipment. For example:
- a new wall or partition can hide an exit sign or block the path to an exit
- new shelving or racking can end up in front of an extinguisher or hose reel, or crowd the sprinklers
- a new ceiling can affect the detectors and sprinklers in it
- a new room can end up with no emergency light or detector of its own
- a change in what the space is used for, or what is stored there, can change what equipment is suitable
Raise the fit-out with the owner or agent early. Ask whether approval is needed and who has to be involved. The answer depends on the building and the work, and your designer or builder should be asking the same questions.
Before you open the doors
Once you are in, walk the space with your staff. Show them the exits, the extinguishers and where to meet outside. Make sure everyone knows that in an emergency you call Triple Zero (000).
If you are taking on premises between the Central Coast and Newcastle and want a second pair of eyes on the fire equipment, V&H Fire Group can help. Call Byron on 0483 371 134.
This article is general information, not advice for your building. For what applies to your premises, talk to us on site.
