Parramatta: Fire safety hazards at Buddhist temple, and Macquarie St, Great Western Highway units

Blocked access for firefighters, no sprinkler systems in unit blocks and faulty alarms. These are some flaws identified in homes and places of worship in Sydney’s second CBD.

The Buddhist temple at 22 Cowper St, Parramatta, had a series of Picture: Google Maps

Fire and Rescue NSW has identified three buildings including apartment blocks and a temple in Parramatta littered with “inadequate” fire safety standards which could impede firefighters during emergencies.

Fire and Rescue NSW raised concerns over the three buildings with Parramatta Council following the inspections in 2022 and November last year.

The buildings are the three-storey Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Buddhist Temple Parramatta at 22 Cowper St, a nine-storey residential block at 128 Macquarie St and the eight-level unit block at 72 Great Western Highway.

Authorities flagged a string of problems at the 34-year-oldtemple.

There was a failure for several fire doors that lead to fire-isolated stairs to close properly because they were “choked’’ open.

Another fire door on the second level that leads to the “fire-isolated” stairways had a broken magnetic device.

Fire authorities found several flaws in the three Parramatta buildings.

A set of stairs was used as a storage area with “large quantities” of boxes and other items stuffed in the shelves and cupboards, and crates of pipes were blocking a passageway.

A roller door was found blocking an area near the carpark and a gate on a stair landing had a pad bolt that could restrict people from escaping if a fire broke out.

Other breaches included insufficient illumination of an exit sign of basement carpark and the doors that housed the fire hydrant failed to have fade and weather resistant signage that stated “fire hydrant booster”.

At the Macquarie St unit block, a problem that prevented water to hydrants was raised in May 2018 but an inspection was not carried out until November last year, when firefighters found multiple flaws in the 42-year-old block.

The report stated there was no sprinkler system in the building and the booster assembly – which allows firefighters to attach hydrants to – was out of reach for fire personnel because of its position in the front garden.

“Furthermore, the orientation and configuration of the booster assembly would not be functional for firefighting personnel to undertake fire fighting operations, with numerous obstructions (including retaining walls and vegetation) and inadequate working space/clearances in front of and around the booster assembly,’’ the report stated.

Problems were first raised about fire safety standards at 128 Macquarie St Parramatta six years ago. Picture: Google

Inspectors found more rules were flouted in the fire hydrant pumproom where non-firefighting equipment was stored and a red strobe light was not installed.

Inadequate clearances were not provided in the hydrant valves in the cupboards and in public corridors of the unit block.

Hydrants were found in the public corridors and carpark instead of the fire-isolated stairways.

There were also incorrect “tulip-style handles” instead of a single hand downward handle in the building.

The report stated exit signs in the carpark were not apparent and extra signs were recommended, while the installation of screen doors outside the main door of apartments compromised the fire rating.

At the 44-year-old Great Western Highway unit block, which fire authorities assessed in November, inspectors found internal hydrants were fitted incorrectly 30cm from the ground.

The unit block at 72 Great Western Highway Parramatta. Picture: Google Maps

“This would make it extremely difficult for any firefighting crew to use, should there be a fire,’’ the report stated.

FRNSW could only access the common area on level one and the basement carpark and pointed out it was a non-exhaustive list of noncompliances.

It found no hydrants, valves or pipes were provided with the hydrant booster. The height of the booster inlets were 750mm too short and the pressure gauge of the inlet was broken and illegible.

Fencing blocked the hydrant pump in the basement carpark, which would impede firefighters’ access in an emergency.

The location of the pump in the building also failed requirements because it was not near a door opening or open space.

Incorrect door handles and inappropriate exit signs were also identified.

FRNSW said: it “believes that there are inadequate provisions for fire safety within the building’’ for each assessment. Inspectors acknowledged problems could relate to the buildings’ ages.

FRNSW has called on the council to review the items, conduct an inspection of the property and address other potential deficiencies.

At the Parramatta Council meeting on Monday, the chamber took the recommendations on board.

Parramatta Council chief executive Gail Connolly said body corporates would be notified about the dangers to their buildings before problems were rectified, which could take several years.

But she said the council could issue an evacuation order if suitable progress was not being made and the risk was excessive.

“Council does have that ability if we are not convinced that suitable action is occurring in a timely manner,’’ she said.

The council will also find out how many notices to rectify cladding problems the council had issued since December 2021. It will also write a report on an update about cladding problems, particularly in the Parramatta CBD.