Fire Safety Verification Method Awareness

To help practitioners use the new FSVM, the ABCB recently hosted a free, 1 hour webinar. The webinar was developed and delivered in partnership with the Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia), Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) and the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) to provide awareness on the use of the FSVM with an opportunity for participants to ask questions.

The ABCB received an overwhelming number of registrations for the webinar, with over 600 participants on the day. The ABCB’s own, Dr Brian Ashe, presented an overview of the FSVM with a particular focus on the FSVM process flow chart, found in the ABCB's FSVM Handbook, released earlier this year.

The session was highly engaging with over 60 questions asked to the panellists. While not every question was able to be answered during the allocated time, the ABCB will use this information to assist in identifying further opportunities for education and awareness raising activities.

If you were unable to attend the webinar, a webcast will be available from the Resource Library in the coming weeks.

The ABCB is interested in hearing from practitioners about how we can provide support in using the FSVM. We're inviting interested stakeholders to complete a short survey that will help us identify awareness and education opportunities.

The survey is supported by the ABCB’s Consultation Hub and is expected to take between 5 - 10 minutes to complete. It closes on Tuesday 3 September 2019.

The FSVM may be used from 1 May 2020. In the lead up, the ABCB will work with the sector to raise awareness and build understanding and confidence in using the Verification Method.

Handbook

The Fire Safety Verification Handbook is available now from the ABCB Resource Library. The Handbook provides guidance to practitioners seeking to demonstrate compliance with the NCC fire safety Performance Requirements.

Data Sheets

These comprehensive resources are available as an annex to the Handbook. They provide further information to help use the FSVM.

In early 2020, further education about the FSVM will be included in the ABCB's 2020 NCC Seminars.

The new FSVM provides a process for engineering the design of fire safety Performance Solutions. It will provide flexibility in developing Performance Solutions while still maintaining the level of safety required by the NCC.

The FSVM will give practitioners more guidance when developing a fire safety Performance Solution and instil greater confidence in the Performance Solution by the authorities tasked with assessing the solution's adequacy.

Developed in collaboration with fire authorities, industry, academics and consultants, the FSVM facilitates more progressive, innovative and safer fire safety solutions in Australian buildings.