This week, the 2025 Addendum to Planning for Bush Fire Protection (PBP) has officially taken legislative effect in New South Wales — and it’s particularly relevant for anyone involved in the design and construction of school buildings.
Whether you’re a developer, educational provider or architect, it’s essential to understand the updates and how they may impact your project approvals.
What is the 2025 PBP Addendum?
This Addendum builds upon the existing framework in Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 and subsequent 2022 Addendum, introducing new bush fire protection requirements for primary and secondary school developments in bush fire prone areas.
The key focus is on:
· Vehicular access requirements
· Internal tenability measures (how buildings perform internally in fire conditions)
What Has Changed?
1. Access Provisions
Appendix B of the 2022 Addendum has been amended to remove the applicability of Table 3: SFPP Development Access Requirements specifically for school buildings.
This means schools will no longer be assessed under the stricter Special Fire Protection Purpose (SFPP) vehicle access standards previously required.
2. Specification Changes in the NCC (NSW)
Two important specifications have been amended within Specification 43 (as referenced in Section G5D4 of the National Construction Code – NSW Amendment):
· S43C9: Internal Tenability – Revised to address updated standards for how schools must perform in terms of internal conditions during bush fire events.
· S43C14: Vehicular Access – Now provides more practical and context-specific standards for school access routes in bush fire prone areas.
Why It Matters for School Developments
This legislative update reflects a growing focus on aligning bush fire regulations with realistic implementation for school environments — ensuring safety without overburdening the design process.
If you’re planning a school upgrade, new build, or redevelopment in a bush fire prone area, it’s crucial to check whether your planning documentation aligns with the latest PBP requirements.
The 2025 Addendum and its accompanying guidance document are both available via the NSW RFS site:
