The aged care industry is working cooperatively with the NSW Government to ensure all nursing homes in the State are fitted with fire sprinkler systems, according to new results published today.

New laws that came into effect 12 months ago require all NSW nursing homes to have fire sprinkler systems installed.

Almost half of the 885 Commonwealth-accredited aged care facilities registered with the NSW Government are already fully fitted with fire sprinkler systems. The remaining nursing homes must meet either a September 2014 or March 2016 deadline.

“Today we publish on the Department of Planning and Infrastructure website an update on how the 358 nursing homes which nominated a 2016 deadline are progressing,” Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard said.

“Families can search the website by location, aged care provider or specific nursing home to see what progress is being made towards the deadline.

“It is encouraging to see that the majority of nursing homes which are not already fitted with fire sprinkler systems have started down the path of safer housing for their elderly residents.”

The implementation plans show that, as of September 2013, work had commenced on retrofitting sprinklers in 78 per cent of these facilities. Around 40 per cent are in the first phase of their installation, the project planning phase.

Mr Hazzard said the 129 aged care homes which committed to retrofitting fire sprinklers by September 2014 were not required to produce an implementation report.

“These facilities are making solid progress – and instead of requiring paperwork, we are working closely with them to help them meet their implementation deadline,” he said.