Fire Regulations
New legislation has been enacted covering fire evacuation and planning to all buildings apart from detached residential buildings. This legislation came into force on 1 July 2008. The owners of all buildings must comply with the requirements of this new legislation by 1 July 2009. The requirements are onerous and heavy fines apply for those not complying.
OBJECTIVE
The main objects of this regulation are-
(a) to ensure persons can evacuate buildings safely and quickly if a fire or hazardous materials emergency happens;
(b) to ensure prescribed fire safety installations for buildings are maintained.
APPLICATION
Applies to ALL buildings
building means a fixed structure that is wholly or partly enclosed by walls and is roofed and includes a floating building and any part of a building but does not include-
(a) a single dwelling house, being either a detached dwelling house or a town, terrace, row, villa or like house attached to another such house or other such houses only by a wall on 1 or more of its sides.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION
- The owner of the building; and
- The occupier of the building; and
- Managing entity
managing entity, of a multi-occupancy building, means the entity that is the occupier of, or in control of, the general access areas of the building.
Examples of entities that may be managing entities of buildings-
- the body corporate of a community titles scheme identifying scheme land on which a building is situated
- the owner of a building
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. Keep evacuation routes clear of obstructions
a. Path of travel to exit from anywhere within the building to be clear
b. Keep area at final exit of building clear for 2 meters
c. Don't obstruct the exit from an adjoining building
d. Do not have doors locked that will obstruct the exit through a path of travel (fire doors to units)
e. Evacuation routes to be kept isolated
2. Keeping of Fire and Evacuation Plans
a. Must be developed by each occupant of the building
b. The managing entity must ensure the fire and evacuation plan takes into account the evacuation coordination procedures stated in the fire and evacuation plans for all parts of the building occupied by secondary occupiers
c. The occupier must ensure the fire and evacuation plan for the part of the building complements the evacuation coordination procedures under the fire and evacuation plan kept by the managing entity for the building
d. ensure the fire and evacuation plan for the building is made available for inspection in the building during its normal business hours
e. allow a person to inspect the fire and evacuation plan free of charge.
f. If any changes are made to the Fire Evacuation Plan by "any party" notice must be given within 1 month of the change
g. Must be reviewed at least annually
3. Evacuation sign and diagrams must be displayed
4. Evacuation procedures training must be given to each person at least annually
5. Training in the use of first response fire equipment must be given at least each 2 years
6. Evacuation practice must be conducted at least annually (The occupier, owner or managing agent to organise this practice)
7. Records must be kept for all training and evacuation practice
8. Records to be kept of all testing of fire equipment.
9. Records to be held for 2 years
10. Must have a Fire Safety Advisor is high occupancy building. (residential building >25m high; building with under 29 workers; special buildings like budget accommodation)
11. All buildings must comply by 1 July 2009
12. Each occupier of a multi occupancy property must have Fire and Evacuation Plans
13. The Managing Entity must ensure all Fire and Evacuation Plans are complementary
14. Fire doors to residential units:
a. This legislation also refers to the requirements of the Building Code of Australia (D2.21)
b. The requirement to have a lever handle to fire doors does not relate to the front doors of sole-occupancy residential units.
c. A deadlock can be fitted to residential unit fire doors, provided:
i. Allows the door to self close (not a dead bolt)
ii. The lock is fire rated and complies with Australian Standard AS1905
iii. The lock is installed in accordance with Australian Standard AS1905
d. Security screen doors in front of the fire door is NOT acceptable
e. The fire door MUST have a self closer fitted and fully operational
f. The fire door MUST NOT be fixed open
15. Re-entry from fire-isolated exits (fire stairs) to comply with the following for buildings > 25m height
a. Doors to the fire stairs above 25m height MUST NOT be locked from the inside of the fire stairs, unless
i. The doors are fitted with a fail-safe device to automatically open the doors in a fire; AND
ii. On at least every 4th floor the door CAN NOT be lockable, or
iii. A communication system operates from within the fire stairs explaining the method of operation of the door