The guidelines set standards to support planning authorities, designers and operators of renewable energy facilities in managing bushfire risk and fire safety.
CFA's specialist risk and fire safety unit works with regulators and industry to ensure fire risk management is considered in the design and operation of facilities such as solar farms, wind farms and battery storage solutions.
CFA senior manager of specialist risk and fire safety Matt Allen said safety remained a primary focus.
“CFA's Renewable Energy Design Guidelines and Model Requirements for 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,” he 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 shares their feedback as we want to ensure all points of view are considered.”
Mr Allen said the draft guidelines were designed to reduce the occurrence and consequences of fires through risk-based design.
“Our guidelines support operators to prepare emergency plans that effectively consider fire risk within the facility, from the facility and from bushfires,” he said.
“We want to inform fire and risk management processes for all phases of a facility's lifespan and it is important that we continue to revise them in the ever-changing landscape.”
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the guidelines had helped firefighters respond to emergencies.
“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,” Mr Heffernan 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.”
Submissions on the draft guidelines close October 30.
The draft guidelines can be reviewed at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy
