Updated firefighting water supplies code of practice to be developed
Fire and Emergency New Zealand have commissioned the update of firefighting water supplies code of practice to give guidance on determining sufficient water supply for firefighting purposes, replacing the 2008 version tailored to previous fire service legislation for use in urban environments.
PAS for guidance
SNZ PAS 4509:2008 New Zealand Fire Service firefighting water supplies code of practice shows what is required to enable the fire service to have access to sufficient water during emergencies. It provides practices for planning and approving a subdivision, sizing a water storage facility, and when replacing or renewing a water main along with guidance on water storage facilities in rural areas and alternative firefighting water sources.
A PAS or publicly available specification can be produced by Standards New Zealand on behalf of another organisation, where it is recognised as having the status of a document developed and published by an independent national standards body. They are normative documents - meaning one that provides requirements – and use a similar consensus subject matter-made process as standards.
A need for an update
In compliance with the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017, which mandates regular reviews of the code, Fire and Emergency needs a new, fit-for-purpose code that better supports the organisation's objectives, current legislation, and operational requirements. The firefighting water supplies code of practice is a vital tool for risk management and planning at the local level.
The current version was written primarily for use in Urban Fire Districts as they were defined in the NZ Fire Service Act 1975. It is envisaged the updated version will provide comprehensive guidance on firefighting water supply requirements in both urban and rural settings which will strengthen credibility and support adoption into local government District plans.
Reflective of diverse modern needs
The new code needs to be understandable, accessible and inclusive for all stakeholders, regardless of background or expertise and needs to be better aligned to the legislation for resource management and building and construction.
A working group, comprised of subject matter experts from across Fire and Emergency’s diverse base, has developed a proposed range of changes to assist in drafting the new code by outlining possible components and serving as a foundational framework.
Next steps involve forming a committee who will consider the guidance and new regulatory framework and formally draft and develop the new firefighting water supplies code of practice. This will follow the Standards New Zealand development process before being made available in due time for public feedback and input.