A fire that originated on an apartment balcony trapped two residents. The NSW coroner examined missing sprinklers, post-occupation alterations, fire safety statements and unresolved orders. The coroner could not determine the ignition cause on the balance of probabilities.
Locate this case on the globe →Findings and evidence status
Fire origin and limits
The coroner found that the fire originated on the balcony of Unit 53, but could not establish its cause on the balance of probabilities. Connie Zhang died after falling while trying to escape.
Read the primary record ↗Unresolved building safety record
The findings document unapproved alterations, an annual fire safety statement considered probably inaccurate, and fire safety orders and engineering questions that were not substantively resolved before the fire.
Read the primary record ↗Sprinkler protection
The building had no sprinkler system. The coroner recommended that the Australian Building Codes Board consider sprinklers in all new Class 2 and 3 buildings.
Read the primary record ↗One case. Three lines of sight.
Questions for current buildings, inferred from this case. Check local requirements and the building’s actual condition.
Engineer
Reconcile the approved fire strategy with the occupied building. Which alterations, sprinkler assumptions, hydrant and smoke-control questions need a fresh assessment, and who has signed off each answer?
Fire protection contractor
Compare the annual fire safety statement and service evidence with the equipment and configuration on site. Flag discrepancies and keep defects open until the work and verification are recorded.
Brigade
What current information identifies access, firefighting water, smoke-control limitations and unresolved orders before a response? Record any operational discrepancy for the building team to investigate.
What has to connect
Approved plans and later alterations; fire safety statements; system test results; orders; engineering responses; accountable owner and verified close-out date.
Changes and response
The coroner asked the ABCB to consider a wider sprinkler requirement, along with clarifying “substantially enclosed” and “direct egress”. A recommendation did not itself amend the NCC.
Check current status ↗NCC 2019 introduced sprinkler requirements for new Class 2 and 3 residential buildings with four or more storeys and an effective height of 25 metres or less. This is narrower than the coroner’s all-new-buildings proposal; applicability to any building depends on its approval and jurisdiction.
Check current status ↗Reviewed 28 September 2026. Legal and inquiry status can change; use the linked authority for the latest position.