Fire Safety, Commercial Building Safety Compliance, Reseidenital Rental Smoke Alarms

Building Codes of Australia (ESM)

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Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Building elements required to satisfy prescribed fire resistance levels

Section C, D1.12

Annual Inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Materials and assemblies required to satisfy prescribed fire hazard properties

C1.10

Annual Inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Elements required to be non-combustible, provide fire protection, compartmentation or separation

C2.5 to C2.14, C3.3, C3.11, D1.7 - D1.8, E1.3, G3.4

Annual Inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Wall-wetting sprinklers (including doors and windows required in conjunction with wall-wetting sprinklers)

C3.4, C3.8, C3.11, D1.7, D1.8, G3.8

As per AS 1851 Section 2 if Sprinkler system installed or every six months to ensure compliance, no damage or deterioration and water supply availability.

Fire doors (including sliding fire doors and their associated warning systems) and associated self-closing, automatic closing and latching mechanisms

C2.12 to C2.13, C3.4 to C3.8, C3.10 to C3.11, D1.7 to D1.8, D1.12

Every three months as per AS1851 - Section 17 check operation of handles, closers and electronic strikes

Fire windows (including windows that are automatic or permanently fixed in the closed position)

C3.4, C3.8, C3.11, D1.7 to D1.8

Every six months as per AS1851 - Section 17 for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration, BCA (refer appendix E)

Fire shutters

C3.4 to C3.5, D1.7 to D1.8 AS 1905.2

Every three months as per AS1851 - Section 17, Annual Inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Solid core doors and associated self-closing, automatic closing and latching mechanisms

C3.11

Annual Inspection for damage, deterioration, and check operation of closers, handles and electronic strikes.

Fire-protection at service penetrations through elements required to be fire-resisting with respect to integrity or insulation, or to have a resistance to the incipient spread of fire

C3.12, C3.13, C3.15

Every six months as per AS1851 - Inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Fire protection associated with construction joints, spaces and the like in and between building elements required to be fire-resisting with respect to integrity and insulation

 

 

C3.16

Every six months as per AS1851 - Inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Smoke doors and associated self-closing, automatic closing and latching mechanisms

Specification C2.5, D2.6

Every three months as per AS1851 -. Check operation of closers, handles and electronic strikes

Proscenium walls (Fire Curtains)

H1.3

Annual Inspection for damage, deterioration or unauthorised alteration

 

 

 

MEANS OF EGRESS

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Paths of travel to exits

D1.6

Inspection every three months to ensure there are no obstructions and no alterations

Discharge from exits (including paths of travel from open spaces to the public roads to which they are connected)

D1.7, D1.9 to D1.11, D2.12, G4.3, G4.6, G4.7

Inspection every three months to ensure there are no obstructions and no alterations

Exits (including fire-isolated stairways and ramps, non-fire isolated stairways and ramps, stair treads, balustrades and handrails associated with exits, and fir-isolated passageways)

D2.2 to D2.3, D2.8 to D2.11inc., D2.13, D2.16 to D2.17

Inspection every three months to ensure there are no obstructions and no alterations

Smoke lobbies to fire-isolated exits

D1.7, D2.6

Annual inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Open access ramps or balconies for fire-isolated exits

D2.19 to D2.23

Annual inspection for damage, deterioration, or unauthorised alteration

Doors (other than fire or smoke doors) in a required exit, forming part of a required exit or in a path of travel to a required exit, and associated self-closing, automatic closing and latching mechanisms

D1.6, D2.19 to D2.21, D2.23

Inspection every three months to ensure doors are intact, operational and fitted with conforming hardware

SIGNS

 

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Exit signs (including direction signs)

D1.12, E4.5, E4.6, E4.8

Every six months to AS 2293.2

Signs warning against the use of lifts in the event of fire

C3.6, D1.12

Annual inspection to ensure the warning sign is in place and legible

Warning signs on sliding fire doors and doors to non-required stairways, ramps and escalators

D2.2 to D2.3, D2.8 to D2.11inc., D2.13, D2.16 to D2.17

Annual inspection to ensure the warning sign is in place and legible

Signs, intercommunication systems, or alarm systems on doors of fire-isolated exits stating that re-entry to storey is available

D2.22

Annual inspection to ensure the warning sign is in place and legible

Signs alerting persons that the operation of doors must not be impaired

D2.23

Annual inspection to ensure the warning sign is in place and legible

Signs required on doors, in alpine areas, alerting people that they open inwards

G4.3

Annual inspection to ensure the warning sign is in place and legible

Fire order notices required in alpine areas

G4.9

Annual inspection to ensure the warning sign is in place and legible

LIGHTING

 

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Emergency lighting

E4.2, E4.4

Every six months to AS 2293.2

 

 

FIRE FIGHTING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Fire hydrant system (including on-site pump set and fire-service booster connection)

E1.3

As per AS 1851 - Section 4

Fire hose reel system

E1.4

Every six months to AS 1851 - Section 14

Sprinkler system

E1.5, H1.2, G3.8

As per AS 1851 - Section 2

Portable fire extinguishers

E1.6

Every six months to AS 1851 - Section 15.4

AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Car park mechanical ventilation system

F4.11

Frequency as nominated by manufacturer on label attached to equipment in accordance with AS1851 - Section 18

Atrium smoke control system (see above for smoke and heat vents)

Specification G3.8

As per AS1851 - Section 18

AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Smoke and heat alarm system

Clause 3 of Specification E2.2a

As per AS 1851 - Section 7 inspection to test operation Replace battery or unit as necessary

Smoke and heat detection system

Clause 4 of Specification E2.2a

As per in AS1851 - Section 6

 

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Emergency warning and intercommunication system

E4.9 Clause 6 of Specification G3.8

As per AS 1851 - Section 10

Building occupant warning system

Clause 8 of Specification E1.5, Clause 6 of Specification E2.2a

As per AS 1851 - Section 9

STANDBY POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Standby power supply system

E3.4, Clause 6 of Specification G3.8

Every six months test to ensure auxiliary power is operable. For diesel engines - test as prescribed in AS 1851 - based on proving electrical load in lieu of flow/pressure for pump sets

BUILDING CLEARANCE AND FIRE APPLIANCES

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Open space around large isolated buildings

C2.3 to C2.4

Annual inspection to ensure that unobstructed access to buildings and fire fighting facilities are maintained

Vehicular access around large isolated buildings

C2.3 to C2.4

Annual inspection to ensure clearance is maintained

MECHANICAL VENTILATION

Essential safety measure

BCA provisions

Nature and or frequency of test or inspection

Air conditioning systems

AS 1668.2, BCA E2.2

Quarterly to AS 1851-1, AS 3666