IN SUMMARY
When a new commercial tenant moves into a building in Victoria, the existing fire alarms, detection equipment, extinguishers and other Essential Safety Measures (ESM) may not automatically suit the incoming business's activities.
A new tenant doesn't automatically mean new fire safety equipment is required. However, changes in business operations or the intended use of a warehouse or commercial space do typically require a review of whether the current fire safety arrangements remain suitable.
At Fire & Wire, we work with clients to service existing fire safety systems and discuss where further assessment, specialist advice or additional installation or modification may be needed.
For Victorian building owners, landlords and facility managers, the first step is to gain a clear understanding of what the incoming tenant plans to do with your space before determining whether the existing fire safety systems will meet their needs.
How Can a Change of Commercial Tenant Affect Fire Safety in Victoria?
Your building might stay exactly the same when one commercial tenant leaves and another moves in. But what happens inside that space can change considerably.
For example, one business might operate a straightforward office, while another carries out hot works, uses specialist equipment or produces dust and airborne particles during everyday operations.
These differences can matter because your existing fire safety systems may not have been designed or assessed for the new business's activities.
Take a bakery, for instance. Food prep processes in a bakery can produce flour dust around fire detection equipment. Depending on the conditions and systems already installed in the building, this could cause unwanted alarm activations and other associated disruptions.
If you don't understand how the incoming tenant intends to use your premises, potential interactions with existing systems, like the bakery example above, may be overlooked until operations are already underway.
The concern isn't simply whether your building has fire safety equipment. It's whether the existing arrangements have been considered in line with what your new tenant plans to do.
Can a New Commercial Tenant Require Changes to Existing Fire Safety Systems in Victoria?
Yes, depending on the incoming business's activities and the applicable requirements, existing fire safety equipment may need to be reviewed, modified or updated.
At Fire & Wire, we’ve seen this situation play out many times.
In one case, a prospective warehouse tenant needed sprinkler protection for its intended operations, but the building didn't have a sprinkler system. After inspecting the facility, we advised the facility manager that a fire engineer would need to design the new required system before Fire & Wire could then carry out the installation.
Other businesses may have different equipment considerations altogether.
For example, tenants operating significant electrical or technology equipment may require particular attention when selecting fire extinguishers for the building. Depending on the hazards involved, CO₂ extinguishers may be more suitable because they cause less damage to certain equipment than some other extinguishing agents.
This doesn’t mean every incoming tenant needs new equipment.
What matters is understanding whether the existing fire safety arrangements suit the intended use and identifying when further professional assessment is necessary.
What Should Building Owners and Managers Check Before a New Tenant Moves In?
Before welcoming a new commercial tenant, Victorian building owners and managers should understand clearly how the business intends to use the premises.
There are four important questions to ask:
- What will the business actually do? Understand their activities, operating processes and how these differ from the previous tenant.
- What fire safety equipment is already installed? Identify the existing detection, sprinkler and extinguisher arrangements relevant to the proposed operations.
- Will the new tenant introduce specialist equipment or activities? Consider whether hot works, food preparation or other operating conditions may raise questions about your existing systems.
- Will the space be modified? Establish whether any fit-out plans or equipment changes will require additional fire safety consideration.
These questions won't help you determine whether your building meets every applicable requirement.
However, they will help you identify where you need to have further discussions with your ESM provider before the new business starts operating within this environment you’re responsible for.
How Can Fire & Wire Help Building Owners in Victoria with New Commercial Tenant Fire Safety?
When a new commercial tenant's activities raise questions about existing fire safety systems, Fire & Wire can work with Victorian building owners, landlords and managers to discuss and review the equipment we service and identify what may need further attention.
As an Essential Safety Measures (ESM) provider in Victoria, we can work with building managers and landlords to:
- Discuss existing systems: Explain the fire safety equipment already installed and the considerations raised by the proposed use of the new tenant.
- Identify where specialist advice may be needed: Help establish which questions should be referred to a fire engineer or another relevant professional.
- Assist with relevant system work: Where appropriate, undertake installations or modifications in accordance with the relevant design and project requirements.
All relevant information can then be communicated to the tenant after these discussions to ensure that all stakeholders are up-to-date and aware of what needs to happen. Our role here is ultimately to help you understand the existing systems and identify the appropriate next steps, rather than having you just assume every new business needs the same fire safety arrangements.
FAQ: New Commercial Tenants and Fire Safety in Victoria
1. Should I discuss fire safety before signing a lease with a new commercial tenant?
Yes, it's important to understand how the incoming tenant plans to use the space before finalising arrangements, particularly if their activities differ from the previous occupant. If you're unsure whether the existing fire safety systems are suitable, Fire & Wire can discuss the equipment we service and help identify where further specialist advice may be needed.
2. What information should I give my ESM provider about an incoming tenant?
Start with the type of business, their planned activities, any specialist equipment and whether any modifications to the premises have been proposed. The more we understand at Fire & Wire about the intended use of your building, the easier it is to determine which existing fire safety systems may need closer consideration.
3. Does a new commercial tenant need to contact Fire & Wire directly?
Not necessarily. At Fire & Wire, we generally work with the building owner or facility manager, who can then communicate relevant information with the tenant. If the business's activities raise specific technical questions, we can discuss how best to address them with the relevant people.
4. What if a tenant changes its business operations after moving in?
It's always worth revisiting your fire safety arrangements if your tenant introduces new activities or equipment that weren't part of your original discussions. Let Fire & Wire know what's changed so we can consider whether any further assessment or modification is required.
5. What if a prospective tenant hasn’t finalised how they’ll use the space?
Share what you already know about the business's intended activities and identify which details still need confirming. Fire & Wire can discuss the existing systems we service and help identify which outstanding questions may require further professional advice before any assumptions are made about your building's fire safety suitability.
Have You Got a New Commercial Tenant Moving In? Make Fire Safety Part of the Conversation with Fire & Wire
Before the new business starts operating, it's important to understand whether their activities will raise questions about the fire safety systems already installed in your building.
At Fire & Wire, we work with Victorian building owners and managers to discuss existing fire safety systems and identify where further professional advice or relevant installation or modification work may be needed.
Bringing fire safety into the conversation early ensures all parties understand what needs to be considered and addressed before the new tenant’s operation gets underway.
Let's talk fire safety before your new tenant moves in!
Contact Fire & Wire today to discuss your incoming tenant and the fire safety considerations worth addressing.
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