When should consultation with CFA occur?
While CFA’s guidelines provide general guidance, the design team should consult with CFA’s Specialist Risk and Fire Safety Unit early in the planning and facility design phase, well before the finalisation of planning applications and facility design. Consultation with CFA's Specialist Risk and Fire Safety Unit is encouraged at all stages of a project's life cycle.
What information does CFA need for initial consultation?
The availability of the following information (where possible) during initial consultation supports the provision of specific advice for facility planning and design.
- The site address/land parcel information (such as a current VicPlan Property Planning Report).
- Locality plan, showing the facility within the landscape.
- Details of the facility, its type and size (such as the area and perimeter, potential vehicle access points, indicative number of solar panels/arrays, wind turbines, battery capacity/containers, power conversion equipment/units).
- Site layout plans, showing the proposed location of site vehicle access points, internal roads, solar arrays/wind turbines/battery containers, fire water supplies, grid connection points/substations, buildings and vegetation (where available).
- Specifications/technical data sheets on battery energy storage systems (where applicable and available).