NSW: Using Fire Stairs and Isolation Areas for Access During Apartment Renovations

Question: Can a lot owner use the fire stairs and fire isolation area for access to their terrace when carrying out renovation works? This includes access by tradespeople and the removal of building rubble.

Answer: As long as the fire stair is not obstructed and the fire doors are not chocked open

As long as the fire stair is not obstructed and the fire doors remain closed (not chocked open) when not transiting through them, I don’t see any issue from a fire safety perspective.

I think the person who should be asked is the strata manager and conditions placed on the fire stair’s use and terms put in place if there is any damage & clean-up required.

This advice is on the assumption that construction work is permitted under legislation and the public health orders in-place at the time.

This post appears in the October 2021 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.