Essential vs critical fire safety measures (NSW)
Essential vs critical fire safety measures: a plain-English explanation of common terminology used in NSW documentation (and how it typically appears on schedules and statements).
Understand essential vs critical fire safety measures in NSW and how this affects annual vs supplementary fire safety statements.
Quick answer
In NSW guidance, annual fire safety statements cover essential measures each year. If your schedule specifies critical measures, supplementary statements may be required at the intervals in the schedule.
How to tell what’s essential vs critical
Your Fire Safety Schedule is the source of truth. It will list measures and may flag critical measures and their required frequency. If unsure, seek qualified advice.
Practical tip: build a register
Create a register that mirrors the schedule and includes a field for “critical?” and “frequency”. That’s exactly what the FireSafetyForms tool will automate.
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FAQs
Do critical measures replace essential measures?
No — they’re a subset with more frequent reporting requirements. Annual statements still cover essential measures.
Where is “critical” defined?
The schedule and NSW Planning guidance are key references. For legal definitions, check the Regulation and official sources.
Official references
These links help you verify details with primary sources. (We don’t control third‑party sites.)
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| NSW Planning Portal — Fire safety certification (essential vs critical) | Open |
| Supplementary fire safety statements (FRNSW context) | Open |