National Fire Authority (NFA) is duty bound through the National Fire Service Act, 1994 to inspect any premises, whether public or otherwise, to ensure all properties are compliant with fire safety requirements.
NFA has recently embarked on a nation-wide building inspections operation for all commercial buildings in municipalities to ensure fire safety compliance in an effort to minimize the detrimental impact of fire on our communities and national economy.
The NFS Act 1994, empowers the Authority to enter into any land or building for the purposes of inspecting the same as to fire and fire related hazards whether or not such land or property is within the fire district.
NFA’s Acting CEO Jone Koroi said: “Additionally, NFA has been empowered through legislation to demand for a service fee in accordance with the National Fire Service (Fees & Charges) Regulations 2003”.
The fees are charged according to the size of the premises and range between a minimal fee of $56 to $168 for small, medium and large business premises.
“NFA has been given the mandate by the Ministry of Local Government to conduct fire safety inspections in all building premises around the country and by the end of December all business premises should be compliant with the minimum fire safety standards in order to renew their annual business license for 2010”, Mr Koroi said.
Mr Koroi said: “NFA now has trained fire officers to carry out these building inspections and ensure fire safety compliance. NFA has the sole mandate under legislation to carry out fire safety inspections in the country. This a proactive approach to fire safety in an effort to minimize the impact of fire and enhance fire safety and preparedness in our communities”.
Mileta Ting
Corporate Affairs Officer