Clarifying Compliance: Smoke Control Systems and the Role of the Building Surveyor

Froster Engineering was invited to speak at an industry event hosted by the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS). The focus was on a complex but critical topic in commercial building safety: smoke control systems.

Delivered by Director Jeff Froster, the presentation, titled “The Role of the Building Surveyor in Smoke Control Compliance,” helped attendees better understand their responsibilities, common risks, and how to confidently verify system performance.

Why it matters

Smoke control systems are life safety systems, and their effectiveness depends not only on how they are designed but also on how they are installed, commissioned, and maintained. In practice, surveyors are often left navigating uncertain ground between design sign-off and post-construction verification, often without clear guidance or access to accurate performance data.

This presentation aimed to close that gap.

Key topics covered

1. Clarifying the surveyor’s role
   Surveyors play a vital part throughout the building process, from reviewing mechanical documentation to approving final occupancy. While they are not responsible for designing or installing systems, they are required to ensure compliance with BCA performance requirements, especially Clause EP2.2 which covers smoke hazard management.
2. Understanding system intent
   Different systems achieve smoke control in different ways, including natural ventilation, mechanical exhaust, and pressurisation systems. We stressed the importance of understanding the original design intent. Without this clarity, surveyors cannot confidently verify that the system installed on site matches what was approved and is fit for purpose.
3. The problem with assumptions
   Many assume that if documentation is signed off, the system must work. But performance can be undermined by missing control interface documentation, poor commissioning, or changes made during construction.

We shared real-world examples where:

• Systems were built according to drawings but failed testing
• Control sequences were not properly implemented
• Fire system interfaces caused ventilation to fail under test conditions

4. What surveyors need to ask for
   To support performance verification, we outlined the minimum documentation that surveyors should request:

• Functional testing reports
• Control logic or interface diagrams
• Commissioning and performance test data
• As-built documentation that matches actual on-site conditions
• Integration details with fire alarm and building management systems

Having this documentation not only supports compliance but also provides legal and operational protection for surveyors.

5. Taking a proactive approach
   We encouraged surveyors to engage early with mechanical engineers and to advocate for complete documentation and functional testing. Where information is unclear or incomplete, requesting further validation is both reasonable and necessary to ensure public safety.

The takeaway

Smoke control systems cannot be verified on paper alone. They need to be tested, documented, and clearly understood by everyone involved in sign-off. Building surveyors are uniquely positioned to ensure these systems work when they are needed most.

By playing a more proactive role in system verification, surveyors can strengthen building safety outcomes and improve confidence across the industry.

Download the full presentation here

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