If you manage or own a unit in a strata building, fire safety in the common areas isn't optional — it's a recurring obligation that sits with the owners corporation. Here's what needs to stay compliant, who's responsible, and how to keep it simple.
What needs to stay compliant in shared areas
Common property in a strata building carries several recurring fire-safety obligations:
Emergency and exit lighting
The lights and illuminated exit signs that guide people out during a power failure must be tested every six months under AS/NZS 2293 to confirm they activate and hold charge for the required duration.
Fire extinguishers and blankets
Portable extinguishers require six-monthly servicing under AS 1851, and must be the correct type and correctly located under AS 2444.
Electrical equipment in common areas
Any portable electrical equipment used in shared spaces — in a building manager's office, common room, or shared facilities — falls under AS/NZS 3760 test and tag.
Who arranges and pays for it
For common property, the duty generally rests with the owners corporation, which funds compliance through the building's levies and usually delegates the coordination to the strata manager. Individual lot owners remain responsible for the equipment inside their own lot.
Because the line between common property and individual lots can be unclear, it's worth confirming the boundary for your building.
Not sure where your obligations start and end? Our guide on landlord vs tenant test and tag responsibility in NSW covers the general principles — many of the same ideas apply to strata boundaries.
Why one provider makes strata easier
Strata compliance involves several standards and overlapping schedules, which is where things get missed. Using one provider to handle emergency lighting, fire equipment, and any common-area test and tag means:
- A single point of contact for the strata manager
- One coordinated visit instead of juggling multiple providers
- One consolidated set of records — audit-ready when needed
- Automatic reminders so nothing slips through the cracks
Consolidated digital records and automatic reminders take the tracking burden off the strata manager — which is exactly what's needed when an audit or fire-safety statement is due.
Keeping records audit-ready
Buildings are periodically required to demonstrate their fire safety measures are maintained. Keeping clear, dated certificates for every service means the paperwork is ready whenever it's requested — no scramble, no gaps.
We provide same-day digital compliance certificates after every service, with full details of each item tested, its condition, and the next service due date. Everything is stored digitally and easy to retrieve for audits.
Manage a strata or body corporate building?
If you want a single provider to keep common-area fire safety and electrical compliance on track, a site assessment is the simplest starting point. Same-day certificates. Automatic reminders. One point of contact.
Note: This article is general information. Confirm your building's specific obligations with a qualified fire-safety professional.