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On 1 July 2008 the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 came into effect.
The new regulations supersede the 1991 Regulation and has been developed by the Department of Emergency Services.
The owners or "managing entity" of all buildings were required to comply with the requirements of this new legislation by 1 July 2009.
Significant fines apply for non-compliance of the regulations.
Buildings required to meet the legislation include = Unit complexes,
commercial buildings, retail complexes, places of worship, child care
centres, hospitals, institutions, hotels etc.
Buildings excluded = Single occupancy building that is a detached
house or town house with only common walls subject to actual Building
Classification other than Class 1A.
REQUIREMENTS
Some of the requirements enforced include:
- Documented Fire Evacuation Plan
- Fire Evacuation Diagrams/Signs prepared and erected at the property
- Annual review of compliance with the regulations
- Appointment of a Fire Safety Adviser for high occupancy buildings
- Regular review, maintenance, testing and inspection of prescribed fire safety installations
- Fire emergency training given to the person responsible for the building's evacuation and occupants
- Fire equipment training to persons working in the building every two years
- Appropriate record keeping onsite in fire safe storage cabinet or office filing cabinet aswell as a copy in an alternative location e.g. electronically
- Certificate of Classification mounted and displayed on the building
PENALTIES
There are severe penalties for non-compliance of the legislation. Far
more severe is possible loss of life and property destruction in the event
of a fire at your building. Don't be at risk!
For example:
- Not having a Fire and Evacuation Plan = $3,000 max.
- Not displaying Evacuation Diagrams = $5,000 max.
- Not having a Fire Safety Adviser = $5,000 max.
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