Probe reveals fire safety system faulty
AUCKLAND COUNCIL has admitted it doesn’t require fire safety certifiers charged with protecting public safety to tell it if they are being sued or have settled a claim for incompetence.
The council issues codes of compliance for buildings which rely on certifications issued by independent fire experts for sprinkler and alarm systems.
Responding to an Official Information Act request from the Sunday Star-Times, the council revealed it doesn’t require certifiers to report any failure to meet acceptable standards or if they are are facing legal claims relating to sub-standard systems. Instead, the council relies on the private companies to comply with their obligations and then investigates any complaints.
Lax fire safety has been pinpointed by the fire protection industry and lawyers as a serious and widespread issue that has come to light as a result of the leaky building scandal.
The industry blames costcutting by developers and builders but the Star-Times revealed last week secret settlements paid to building owners by fire engineers and certifiers to fix sub-standard systems.
While the Auckland Council denied having been involved in any claims for buildings not meeting fire standards, leaky building lawyer Paul Grimshaw claimed there had been a number of settlements against fire certifiers and engineers and the council for confidential sums. Another lawyer said a claim against the council and engineers had been filed in the High Court.
Fire safety systems have been found to not meet standards including alarm systems that weren’t loud enough and sprinkler systems that had been constructed using cheap, locally made non-certified parts. The problems are not restricted to Auckland or apartments though the Star-Times understands settlements to date have related to Auckland apartment complexes.
The deals are cloaked in confidentiality but the problems with fire safety are well known with a number of reports published since 2004 highlighting serious defects with fire engineering and construction in New Zealand buildings.
Despite this, the Auckland Council refused to provide information on its knowledge of fire safety issues in high rises. It also rejected an OIA request to release correspondence between fire certifiers and the council.
There is a groundswell of expert opinion that the issue will rival or surpass leaky homes.
Fire Group Consulting director and chairman of the Association of Building Compliance Ron Green said in 99.9 per cent of buildings he inspects nationwide he finds non-compliance.
‘‘It is like leaky buildings except
‘A single event could be catastrophic.’
we don’t have fires all the time like we do rain so we are not finding out about failed fire protection systems. But a single event could be catastrophic.’’
Green says there is a systemic problem with poorly built and maintained systems.
He says he has looked at hospitals, office buildings and