Green — Current
Verified and documented
The requirement is current, the responsible person is known and supporting records are available.
Font Size: |
Strata Fire Safety
A practical checklist for safer strata buildings.
Use this checklist to review council oversight, fire-protection systems, building conditions, emergency planning, resident communication and outstanding corrective work.
A council oversight tool
The checklist identifies gaps before they become emergencies.
Council does not need to personally perform every inspection, repair or emergency duty. It does need a reliable system for confirming that responsibilities have been assigned, required work is current and reported deficiencies have been resolved. An unanswered question should become a documented follow-up item.
Amber — Follow-up
Incomplete or uncertain
Work may be scheduled or partially complete, but council still needs confirmation, documentation or corrective action.
Red — Immediate attention
Overdue, impaired or unresolved
A required system, procedure, repair or safety condition is not adequately in place and requires prompt action.
Council review categories
Four areas every council should monitor
The checklist is intentionally broad so it can be adapted to different building sizes, systems and management arrangements.
01
Governance
Leadership, planning and records
- Council has identified who oversees fire-safety responsibilities.
- The property-management agreement clearly assigns applicable inspection, maintenance, recordkeeping and emergency duties.
- A primary Fire Safety Director and appropriate alternates are identified.
- The current Fire Safety Plan is available and reflects the building’s present conditions, systems and contacts.
- Emergency contractor and monitoring-company contact information is current and accessible after hours.
- Recurring inspections, tests, drills and reviews are entered in a reliable calendar or tracking system.
- Council receives and reviews fire-protection inspection and maintenance reports.
- Reports, invoices, repair confirmations, certificates and notices are retained in an organized location.
- The annual budget includes appropriate funding for required testing, maintenance and expected corrective work.
- Open fire-safety issues appear as standing council follow-up items until they are resolved.
Evidence to look for: current contact lists,
council minutes, contracts, calendars, inspection reports and
proof of completed corrective work.
02
Protection systems
Inspection, testing and deficiencies
- Fire alarm and detection systems receive required inspection, testing and maintenance.
- Sprinkler, standpipe, fire-pump and water-supply systems are serviced as applicable to the building.
- Portable fire extinguishers are properly located, accessible and maintained.
- Emergency lighting, exit signs and emergency power systems are tested and maintained.
- Smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms are maintained according to the responsibility arrangements for the building.
- Fire doors, self-closing devices, latches and hold-open devices are inspected and kept functional.
- Fire department connections, hydrants, fire lanes and emergency access points remain visible and accessible.
- Contractor reports clearly identify deficiencies, recommendations and equipment that could not be tested.
- Every deficiency has an assigned priority, responsible person and expected completion date.
- Council has received written proof that completed repairs were verified and the issue was closed.
Important distinction: an annual inspection being
completed does not mean every identified deficiency has been
corrected.
03
Building conditions
Exits, access and shared hazards
- Corridors, stairways, exit doors and paths leading outside are kept clear.
- Exit doors open as intended and are not obstructed, improperly locked or altered.
- Fire doors are not wedged open or prevented from closing and latching.
- Electrical, mechanical, sprinkler and fire-alarm rooms remain accessible and free of inappropriate storage.
- Storage in parkades, lockers and common rooms is controlled and does not create an avoidable fire or access hazard.
- Combustible materials are not allowed to accumulate in service rooms, exits or other inappropriate areas.
- Address numbers, building entrances and emergency-access routes are visible to responding crews.
- Fire lanes and fire department connections are not blocked by vehicles, containers, landscaping or construction work.
- Renovations and contractor work are reviewed for effects on exits, alarms, sprinklers, fire separations and access.
- New or changing hazards are reported to council and incorporated into corrective planning.
Walk the property: some of the most serious
conditions are visible during a basic building tour but may never
appear in a contractor’s annual system report.
04
People and preparedness
Training, communication and emergencies
- Fire Safety Directors, alternates and supervisory staff understand their assigned responsibilities.
- Staff know how to contact 9-1-1, contractors, monitoring companies and responsible council representatives.
- Required keys, access devices and emergency information are available to authorized personnel.
- Fire drills and related training are completed and documented as required by the Fire Safety Plan.
- Owners and residents receive clear information about alarms, evacuation and emergency procedures.
- New owners and tenants receive appropriate building fire-safety information.
- Residents know how and where to report damaged equipment, blocked exits or other hazards.
- Council has a plan for communicating during prolonged outages, evacuations or major building incidents.
- Fire Watch procedures, logs and trained personnel can be arranged promptly when protection is reduced.
- Occupants who may require assistance are considered in planning while personal information remains appropriately protected.
Test the plan: council should be able to explain
who would act during an overnight alarm-system failure—not only
during regular business hours.
Standing meeting review
Keep fire safety on the council agenda
A brief recurring review is more useful than waiting for a major inspection or emergency to expose unresolved issues.
Upcoming work
Which inspections, tests, drills, renewals or Fire Safety Plan reviews are due before the next meeting?
Open deficiencies
Which reported issues remain unresolved, and who is responsible for the next action?
Completed repairs
Has council received written confirmation that repairs were completed and tested?
New building risks
Have renovations, staffing changes, access issues or new hazards affected the building’s safety arrangements?
An issue is not managed until someone owns the next step.
For every amber or red item, record the condition, responsible person, required action, expected date and evidence needed to close it. Keep the matter open until council has verified the result.
- Describe the issue clearly
- Assign a responsible person
- Set an expected completion date
- Record temporary safety measures
- Obtain repair or completion evidence
- Report closure back to council
Next: understand the systems council is overseeing.
The Fire-Protection Systems and Maintenance page explains common building systems, contractor reports, deficiency tracking and what council should retain as proof of completed work.
This checklist provides general fire-safety guidance and does not replace the building’s approved Fire Safety Plan, applicable legislation, professional advice or required inspection and maintenance services.