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CFA is encouraging the community to review and provide feedback to draft updates of the Design Guidelines and Model Requirements for Renewable Energy Facilities.
The guidelines are standards that support planning authorities, designers and operators of renewable energy facilities in relation to bushfire risk and fire safety.
All submissions received before 30 October on the draft guidelines will be considered and the guidelines will be updated where appropriate.
CFA Senior Manager Specialist Risk and Fire Safety Matt Allen said providing for the safety of emergency responders and the community at large-scale renewable energy facilities remains a primary focus for CFA.
“CFA’s Renewable Energy Design Guidelines and Model Requirements Renewable Energy provides standard measures for fire safety, risk and emergency management in designing, constructing and operating new renewable energy facilities or upgrades to those already existing,” Matt said.
“The pace of development and the broadening range of renewable energy technologies and their facility configurations continue to pose challenges for emergency management.
“We hope the community takes the time to review the updates and share their feedback as we want to ensure all points of view are considered.”
CFA’s Specialist Risk and Fire Safety Unit (SRFSU) works with regulators and industry to ensure that fire risk management is considered and addressed in the design and operation of renewable energy facilities such as solar farms, wind farms and battery storage solutions.
Matt said the new draft guidelines are designed to reduce the occurrence and consequences of fire at such facilities through risk-based design that enables safe and effective response.
“Our guidelines support operators to prepare Emergency Plans that effectively consider fire risk within the facility, from the facility and from bushfires,” Matt said.
“We want to inform fire and risk management processes for all phases of a facilities lifespan, and it is important that we continue to revise them in the everchanging landscape.”
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan AFSM said these guidelines and working with local facilities has helped when CFA firefighters respond to emergency situations.
“CFA’s guidelines have become a leading standard both nationally and internationally and have been adopted by other Australian fire services, and that is something we’re really proud of.” Jason said.
“These guidelines have been developed and refined over a number of years and have been informed by operational experience and extensive research from previous incidents.
“We look forward to reviewing and considering all submissions during the feedback period to provide a revised set of guidelines that will ensure CFA members feel comfortable and prepared to respond.”
The draft guidelines can be reviewed on CFA’s website until 30 October here.
