The CFS works in collaboration with the SA Metropolitan Fire Service, State Emergency Service, and local government in developing strategies to lower the risk of fire events and to educate the community about fire safety.

The CFS is called a “Fire Authority” under the South Australian Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

Within the Development Assessment Commercial team, our role is to work within the Development Act, focusing on the referral process required under Development Regulations 45 and 103 regarding fire safety systems. The team also conducts inspections of Hospitals and Aged Care facilities for fire safety and represents the Fire Authority as a member of the Building Fire Safety Committee at over 55 local councils.

Fire safety FAQs

Commercial developments

  • Section 45, under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, mandates that the relevant Fire Authority considers any application for assessment of a Performance Solution in relation to Fire Safety Systems where it affects Fire Intervention. Application for referral for Regulation 45
  • A functional test is required under Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, Regulation 103, for any new hydrant system with a booster or any smoke management system that requires to be monitored or used by the fire services. Application report under Regulation 103
  • The Regulations under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 stipulate
    • 20 business days for Regulation 45 assessment
    • 15 business days for Regulation 83/103 commissioning
    • A CFS Fire Safety Officer will contact you if operational responsibilities may impact the delivery of reporting on your application.
  • If it's for commercial use and/or over 500m2 please contact the Development Assessment Service on 08 8115 3372.
  • Make sure you have all relevant information before calling i.e. What will the shed be used for? Accurate size and area of the shed, address of the property, site contact information etc.
  • For completion progress or to discuss your project contact the Development Assessment Service on 08 8115 3372.
  • A CFS Fire Safety Officer will contact you before an inspection.
  • This is highly dependent on the type, size and location of building as well as the scope of fire systems required.
  • Please submit either the development application documents for formal assessment or provide a site plan and address for comment.
  • Refer to Built Environment Section Policy Number 14.

Referrals

  • If the development has any fire service facilities that will be used by the fire services, namely fire hydrants, fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm monitoring systems, smoke management systems or if the site has special hazards, excessive storage or mass battery storage facilities, restricted access or if the local fire service capabilities maybe limited or unknown.
  • Use our map and from the top left Menu select MFS Gazetted Fire Districts.
  • Search for the property address in the top right search bar.
  • If shaded purple: enquiries/applications for assessment for fire safety systems go to MFS
  • Outside shaded area: enquiries/applications go to CFS, cfs.dascommercialteam@eso.sa.gov.au
  • Note: If your application is related to Bushfire Hazard Overlay, your application needs to be directed to CFS, cfs.developmentassessmentservice@eso.sa.gov.au
  • While the local CFS brigade may, out of good will, offer some advice, CFS volunteers are not authorised to answer or offer any advice on fire safety matters for commercial buildings. For all enquires contact the Development Assessment Service on 08 8115 3372.
  • Charges associated with a Regulation 45 referral are determined on an hourly basis, covering time associated with meetings, review of submitted documentation and preparation of the report itself. The hourly rates for these activities are set in SA Government Schedule 17. The time committed to a Regulation 45 referral typical depends on the complexity of the project, the amount of documentation required to be review and the quality of the documentation and information submitted.
  • Yes, we encourage consultation on all projects, particularly in relation to the installed fire safety systems that we will be expected to interact with, such as fire hydrant systems and automatic detection and alarm systems. This is particularly useful and valuable where CFS testing (pursuant to Regulation 103) will be required for a project.

Fire Safety System Testing

  • A functional test is required under PDI Regulation 103 for any new hydrant system with a booster or any smoke management system that requires to be monitored or used by the fire services. This is to ensure that the installed system are installed to the required Australian Standards and matches the local fire service equipment and capabilities.
  • Note: these tests are a requirement under the PDI Regulations to allow a Building Certifier/Local Council to issue an approval to occupy a commercial building.
  • When organising the Regulation 103 test by the CFS it is important to note that at the time of inspection the site must not be a construction site for workplace health and safety reasons. We generally expects the main contractor’s scope of works to be completed (to Practical Completion) with only minor fit out works outstanding, such as painting and joinery or appliance installation. There must be no unfinished construction work and the site must be clear of any electrical hazards, trip hazards and the like. The site also needs to be fully accessible to fire crews.
  • Note: depending on workloads, location, and complexity a request for a test may need two weeks’ notice. These tests normally involve volunteer fire fighters taking time off from their regular employment to assist, please consider this when projecting a practical completion and the requested testing date.
  • When requesting or booking a fire system test, please complete and submit the relevant online forms.
  • Note: you MAY need to make separate application for each fire system you require tested – confirm with Development Assessment Service on 08 8115 3372.
    • Hydrant Booster / Sprinkler testing
    • Alarm connection / Alteration / conditions of connection agreement / MFAS Forms
  • Note: We will not conduct any Hydrant Booster testing until the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) certificate, a Hydrostatic Test Certificate (Plumbers CoC/ Form #2) and block plans for the system has been received. If these are not received within 48 hours of your booking the test maybe cancelled at short notice.
  • No, it is a functionality testing performed by the CFS pursuant to Regulation 103 is not a commissioning test for the purposes of complying with the National Construction Code (NCC) or the respective system installation standards. The functionality testing performed by the CFS is to verify the operation of the specified fire safety systems to adequately facilitate firefighting activities and intervention by the CFS in the event of a fire in the building, thus meeting the functional requirements of Regulation 103.
  • Commissioning of installed fire safety systems in accordance with the requirements of the relevant design and installation standard(s) must be conducted by the installing contractor. The system(s) need to be commissioned and confirmed as meeting the requirements of the standard(s) prior to the Regulation 103 functionality inspection and test. Failure to do so may result in the installed system(s) failing to meet the requirements of the design standard(s). The CFS is not a compliance auditor, however any obvious non-compliances will be identified and will likely require rectification prior to a satisfactory Regulation 103 report being issued. A reinspection or retest may be required.
  • Monitored Fire Alarm Systems
    that is compliance with the requirements of CFS Fire Alarm Conditions of Connection, the relevant Australian Standards and the fire service Standard Operating Procedures needs to be confirmed before the system can be connected to the fire authority monitoring service.
  • Fire Hydrant Systems
    the minimum design hydraulic performance of the system at meet, and the ability of the CFS to effectively use the system, is confirmed via recording of the flows and pressures achieved during the test.
  • Fire Sprinkler system
    the minimum design hydraulic performance of the system at meet, and the ability of the CFS to effectively use the system, is confirmed via recording of the flows and pressures achieved during the test.
  • Hot Smoke Testing
    these tests dynamically and holistically verify the coordinated and integrated operation of all necessary building fire safety systems required to function in the event of a fire alarm activation where smoke management systems are installed. Hot smoke testing cannot be used to verify the actual performance but only the functionality of the installed smoke management system.
    Note: All installed fire safety systems must be commissioned by the installing contractor in accordance with the requirements of the relevant installation standard. This should occur prior to any Regulation 103 inspections or testing conducted by the CFS.