FPAS Fire Safety Assessment (FSA) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

FPAS FSA scope

Accreditation for assessing existing buildings and their fire protection systems against the BCA/NCC fire safety provisions and referenced Australian Standards, producing a documented assessment report.

Assessment report mandatory content

Scope of assessment, BCA/NCC edition applied, standards referenced, methods used, limitations, findings with evidence, and clear conclusions or recommendations for each identified non-compliance.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The assessor must disclose any relationship with the owner, designer, installer, or certifier that could compromise objectivity, and manage or decline the engagement where independence is affected.

Competence boundary rule

Matters outside the assessor's competence, such as structural adequacy or complex fire engineering, must be identified in the report and referred to a suitably qualified practitioner.

CPD record keeping

Maintaining a log of continuing professional development with dates, hours, topics, and relevance to fire safety assessment, available for audit by the accreditation body.

Evidence traceability

Recording inspection dates, attendees, instruments and calibration status, photographs, and document references so each conclusion in the report can be independently verified.

Confidentiality obligation

Client and building security information is not disclosed without consent, except where required by law or by the accreditation body's audit or disciplinary process.

Peer review purpose

Independent technical review of an assessment report to confirm methodology, evidence sufficiency, and the consistency of conclusions with the cited code provisions and standards.

BCA fire safety Performance Requirements

The eight mandatory outcomes CP1 to CP8 covering structural stability, fire spread between and within buildings, exits, brigade access and equipment, evacuation, and fire system reliability.

Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions

Prescriptive BCA rules for building class, rise in storeys, and construction that, if fully met, are deemed to satisfy the relevant Performance Requirements without further analysis.

Performance Solution

A design or assessment route that demonstrates compliance with Performance Requirements by analysis or comparison, requiring documented verification methods and acceptance criteria.

Fire-resistance level

An FRL expressed as structural adequacy, integrity, and insulation in minutes, applied to building elements to limit fire spread and maintain structural stability for the required period.

Fire compartment

A space enclosed by fire-resisting construction that limits fire and smoke spread to a defined area for a specified period, protecting exits and adjacent occupancies.

Fire door verification

Check the door's fire rating matches the opening, that it self-closes and latches fully, and that hold-open devices release on alarm or smoke detection.

Penetration sealing

Fire-rated seals around pipes, cables, and ducts passing through fire-resisting elements, verified for correct system, installation, and recorded certification.

Automatic fire detection

Smoke, heat, or other detectors linked to an alarm system that provides early warning to occupants and can initiate suppression, smoke control, or door release.

Sprinkler system verification

Confirm coverage matches the hazard class, heads are unobstructed and correctly spaced, control valves are open and monitored, and the system is maintained under AS 1851.

Hydrant and hose reel check

Verify hydrant coverage, booster location and access, hose reel reach and condition, and that flow and pressure testing records demonstrate the system performs as designed.

Exit travel distance

The maximum permitted distance from any point on a floor to a required exit, set by the DTS provisions according to building class and whether the path is sprinkler protected.

Number of required exits

Determined by occupant number, floor area, and building class under the DTS provisions, with each exit providing an alternative path not compromised by a single fire event.

Exit width calculation

Required aggregate exit width is derived from occupant capacity using the DTS per-person allowances, adjusted for stairways and level surfaces, and checked for obstructions.

Fire-isolated stair

A stairway enclosed in fire-resisting construction with protected discharge, providing a safe egress route that resists smoke and fire ingress for the required period.

Smoke control system

A smoke exhaust or pressure differential system that maintains tenable conditions in escape routes by removing smoke or holding back smoke with pressure and airflow.

Emergency lighting

Battery-backed lighting that maintains illumination of exits and paths of travel for the specified duration when normal supply fails, verified by discharge testing records.

Exit signage

Illuminated and directional signs identifying exits and the direction of travel, verified for visibility, correct pictograms, and operation on emergency power.

Building classification

Class 1 to 9 categorisation by use and occupancy, such as residential, commercial, industrial, or assembly, which determines the applicable DTS fire safety requirements.

Rise in storeys

A defined count of storeys used with building class to set construction requirements, fire resistance, and egress provisions under the DTS provisions.

AS 1851 maintenance

The Australian Standard setting routine servicing frequencies and records for fire protection systems, used to verify ongoing reliability of installed systems.

Fire brigade access

Vehicular access, hardstand, and hydrant booster arrangements that allow the fire service to reach and supply the building, verified against DTS provisions.

Fire control panel location

The fire indicator panel and controls must be located, identified, and accessible as required so the fire service can confirm and manage system status on arrival.

Passive versus active systems

Passive systems resist fire through construction such as FRLs and compartmentation; active systems detect, suppress, or control smoke and require power and maintenance.

Occupant capacity check

Verifying the permitted number of occupants against floor area and egress capacity so that exits, stairs, and discharge paths can accommodate the assessed population.