Avoiding the 5 Most Common AFSS Pitfalls

…and how to breeze through your next annual sign-off

AFSS day shouldn’t feel like exam day, yet building owners tell us it often does.

After 600+ assessments across Western Sydney we keep seeing the **same five slip-ups** derail otherwise healthy properties. Good news: each one takes minutes (not months) to fix.

1 - Unsealed penetrations in fire-rated walls

Cable trays, new data points, even “just a TV mount” can compromise a wall’s FRL.

2 - Expired fire extinguishers and fire hose reel coverage gaps

The red cylinders are easy to forget—until the assessor checks the date stamp.

* Action: Add a six-monthly calendar reminder for AS 1851 extinguisher servicing.

* Bonus tip: Map hose-reel throw radius on your floorplan so you can prove coverage.

3 - Missing log-book entries (< 12 months)

No, back-dating won’t wash. FRNSW can request the records.

**Fix:** Snapshot your log book today; if the last entry is older than nine months, schedule routine maintenance now so the next inspection isn’t a mad scramble.

4 - Exit doors padlocked or slide-bolted

Sounds extreme, but we still see it—usually after a security upgrade

Rule of thumb: If a door is required exit width in the fire-safety schedule, it must open freely during hours of occupation.

5 - Wrong person signing the owner declaration

Only two signatures matter on an AFSS.

1. The owner (or authorised agent) signs the declaration on the front page.
2. Each EFSM is endorsed by either:
• An FPAS-accredited Fire Safety Assessor (FSA) — check the FPAA register, or
• A Competent Fire-Safety Practitioner your council has approved in writing.

No other signature is valid, and councils will reject an AFSS if the practitioner’s credentials can’t be verified.

6 - You 30-second compliance check

1. Open the **FPAA public register** → search your assessor’s licence #.

2. Confirm status is **Current – Fire Safety Assessment**.

3. Check your inspection date is within three months of AFSS due date.

If any box fails, fix it today—fines (or a Fire Safety Order) aren’t worth the risk

7 - How AFSS Services make your life easier

* Western Sydney-based FPAS assessors

* 48-hour draft AFSS** once defects are cleared.

* Step by Step walkthrough on council-lodgement (so you never miss the seven-day window)

Ready for a compliant sign-off?

Call 1300 347 372 or hit Request Service below — we’ll book you in today