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Building Warrant of Fitness and Compliance Schedule
This page outlines when a Building Warrant of Fitness and the supporting Compliance Schedule are required and how to apply. There are also some Council answers to frequently asked questions about the Building Warrant of Fitness.
A Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) is a building owner's declaration that the specified systems have been maintained in accordance with a Compliance Schedule. A copy of the Building Warrant of Fitness must be provided annually to the Council and publicly displayed at the building it pertains to.
A Compliance Schedule is a document that is required by the Building Act 2004 and prepared by the Council. It details the inspection, maintenance and reporting of a specified system such as sprinkler systems, emergency lighting and fire alarms (view the full list below) to ensure that the building owners take responsibility to guarantee the safety of building occupants and buildings.
Application for Compliance Schedule
When you Need a BWOF
You are required to have a BWOF if your building contains any of the following specified systems:
- automatic systems for fire suppression (for example sprinkler system)
- automatic or manual emergency warning systems for fire or other dangers (other than a warning system for fire that is entirely within a household unit and serves only that unit)
- electromagnetic or automatic doors or windows (for example ones that close on fire alarm activation)
- emergency lighting systems
- escape routes pressurisation systems
- riser main for fire service use
- any automatic back flow preventers connected to a potable water supply
- lifts, escalators, travelators or other systems for moving people or goods within buildings
- mechanical ventilation or air conditioning systems
- building maintenance units providing access to exterior and interior walls of buildings
- laboratory fume cupboards
- audio loops or other assistive listening systems
- smoke control systems
- means of escape from fire
- emergency power systems for, or signs relating to, a system or feature specified in any of clauses above
- Cable Car (including to a private dwelling).
NB: for new buildings or cable cars, the Compliance Schedule process is automatically initiated and a Code Compliance Certificate will be issued along with a Compliance Schedule statement (the Compliance Schedule statement is valid for one year from the issue of the Compliance Schedule).
Department of Building and Housing - BWOF FAQ