New Zealand Fire Safety Legislation

According to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fire Safety, Evacuation Procedures, and Evacuation Schemes) Regulations 2018 – published on the 28th of May 2018 – there is new legislation in place to ensure the maintenance of fire protection equipment in businesses.

What does this mean?

If you own or operate a business, you are now required by law to maintain your fire protection equipment in accordance with New Zealand Standards and fire safety legislation. This is what the regulations state:

Maintenance of firefighting equipment for use by building’s occupants

The owner of any hand-operated firefighting equipment installed in a building for firefighting by the building’s occupants must maintain it in accordance with NZS 4503:2005—Hand operated fire-fighting equipment.

Owner or tenant of building must install hand-operated firefighting equipment if required by FENZ

(1)  The owner or tenant of a building must comply with a requirement by FENZ under subclause (2).

(2)  FENZ may, in writing, require the owner or tenant of a building to install hand- operated firefighting equipment in a particular location in the building if—

(a)  the building has only a single means of escape; and

(b)  the building has no automatic sprinkler system; and

(c)  FENZ is satisfied that activities occurring in the building and the locations of those activities in the building make it more likely that fire could affect the means of escape from the building.

In addition to these fire protection equipment requirements, there is new legislation regarding the maintenance of appliances and systems.

Appliances and systems

The owner and the occupants of a building must take reasonable fire prevention precautions in relation to

a) electrical wiring, equipment, and appliances, including portable electrical equipment and appliances

The acceptable method for this is to test and tag the appliances and power tools.

If you fail to meet the requirements of this legislation, you will be subject to the following offences:

Offences

(1)  A tenant of a building who knowingly breaches regulation 5 commits an offence.

(2)  A person who knowingly breaches any of regulations 6 to 15 commits an offence.

(3)  A person who commits an offence against subclause (1) or (2) is liable on conviction,—

(a)  in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $10,000; and

(b)  in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $20,000.

Fire Equipment Installation & Maintenance

At Jim’s Fire Safety, we conduct all of our maintenance services in accordance with the NZS 4503:2005—Hand operated fire-fighting equipment. Our technicians are highly trained and up to date with the current national legislation. Upon completion of our tests, you will receive a set of of results for your own records.

Our technicians can supply and install your hand-operated fire protection equipment in accordance with the current fire safety regulations. Call us now to arrange a consultation – together we can ensure that you are compliant with the law.