Who can sign an Annual Fire Safety Statement?
Who can sign an AFSS?
Short answer
Only someone the NSW regulations actually trust: an FPAS-accredited Fire Safety Assessor (FSA) or another “competent practitioner” your local council has put in writing.
Why the signature matters
Council staff don’t walk through your building before they stamp ‘received’. They rely on that one name and number at the bottom of the form. If it’s wrong:
the AFSS is invalid
the due-date doesn’t pause
fines (or a Fire Safety Order) land on your desk anyway
A 30-second credential check beats a $2000 penalty every time.
The two legal pathways
1) FPAS-accredited Fire Safety Assessor (FSA)
• Who signs? The accredited assessor themselves
• How to double-check? Look up their name or practitioner # on the public FPAA register – their status must read Current under Fire Safety Assessment (FSA).
2) “Competent Fire-Safety Practitioner” accepted by your council
• Who signs? The person named in your council’s letter/email (cl 167A of the EP&A Reg)
• How to double-check? Ask council for the written approval that lists them. No letter = no signature.
No other signatures count – not the sprinkler contractor, caretaker, or owner
Your two-minute credential check
Ask for the assessor’s FPAS practitioner number (if they hesitate, that’s a red flag).
Open the public FPAA register → https://www.fpaa.com.au/Web/Registers/FSA-Register-General.aspx
Search the number; confirm the class shows FSA and the status is Current.
Screenshot or save the result with your compliance file.
If the person isn’t listed, email your council before the inspection and request written approval. No paper trail, no signature.
Three myths we hear every week
“My fire-equipment guy can just sign it.”
Only if he’s FPAS-accredited and has the FSA class. Most maintenance techs hold the Inspect & Test class, which isn’t enough.
“I’ll lodge it first, fix the signature later.”
Council will mark it ‘Received – Non-compliant’ and the countdown to fines keeps running.
“A digital signature is fine, right?”
Yes — as long as the practitioner number is on the form and matches the register.
How AFSS Services keeps it simple
Western-Sydney FPAS assessors on staff
48-hour draft AFSS after any defects are cleared
Up-front pricing — no surprise ‘re-inspection’ charges
Free council-lodgement checklist included with every job
Ready for a compliant sign-off?
Call 1300 347 372 or hit Request Service below — we’ll book you in today