Essential
Services | Fire Doors | Form10
Essential services refers to the installation, maintenance
and monitoring of the fire and life safety systems installed
or constructed in a building, that ensure adequate levels
of fire safety over the life of the building. A lack of
compliance on behalf of a building owner can result in
fines of up to $1,000 and building notices being placed
by the Council for each breach of the regulations, and
- more importantly - the risk of failure of these safety
items when they are needed (ie in an emergency). There
are also insurance implications for those who fail to comply
with essential services regulations.
Essential services
include all traditional building fire services such as
portable equipment, sprinklers and mechanical
services etc., but also include passive fire safety items
such as fire doors, fire rated structures etc. as well
as building infrastructure items such as paths of travel
to exits. The level of performance of the fire safety
services, annual reporting, and maintenance & display
of the annual report are obligatory and regulated. This
enforcement
is undertaken by the municipal building surveyor or chief
officer of the relevant Fire Brigade.
Essential services
are currently enforced on buildings constructed on or
after 1 July 1994; however pre-1994
buildings are frequently audited by local councils & regulatory
authorities, and are often required to upgrade their
facilities.
An essential service defined under the Building
Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) include the following
safety
measures:
• Air conditioning systems
•
Exit doors
•
Early warning systems
•
Emergency lifts and lighting
•
Emergency power supply
•
Emergency warning & intercommunication systems
•
Fire hydrants
•
Fire indicies for materials
•
Fire isolated lift shafts
•
Fire isolated passageways
•
Fire isolated ramps
•
Fire stairs
•
Fire mains
•
Fire protective coverings
•
Fire rated access panels
•
Fire rated control joints
•
Fire rated materials applied to building elements
•
Fire resisting shafts
•
Fire resisting structures
•
Fire shutters
•
Fire windows |
• Exit signs
• Fire Brigade connections
• Fire control centres
• Fire curtains and doors
• Fire dampers
• Fire extinguishers (portable)
• Fire detectors and alarm systems
• Fire hose reels
• Lightweight construction
• Mechanical ventilation systems
• Path of travel to exits
• Penetrations in fire-rated structures
• Smoke alarms
• Smoke control measures
•
Smoke doors & vents
• Sprinkler systems
• Stairwell pressurisation systems
• Static water storage
• Vehicular access for large isolated buildings
• Warning systems associated with lifts
• Any other fire safety matter which is required by the Act, or regulations the
relevant building surveyor designates on the occupancy permit or otherwise determines
in writing
|
Fire Doors
The purpose of passive fire
products such as fire doors is to contain the fire in one
area, thus reducing potential damage and loss of life.
Fire
doors are installed in (fire resistant) walls, and are
designed to close automatically when alarms are sounded
or power is lost.
KlineFire inspect buildings and
provide tailored solutions to clients' individual needs
for fire doors.
KlineFire inspect and maintain fire doors
in accordance with two levels of inspection (monthly
and annually)
and as required by Australian Standards 18511.7
Form
10
Under the regulations of the Building Control Commission
a 'Form 10' is required to be issued annually. A 'Form
10' is the annual Essential Services Maintenance
Report that details maintenance performed on the essential
services within a building during the previous 12 months.
Its
purpose is to show that:
- each essential safety measure
is operating as required
- each essential safety
measure has been maintained & will
fulfil its purpose
- there have been no penetrations
to fire-resisting constructions since the
last essential safety
report
- there have been no changes to material
or assemblies that must comply with particular
fire hazard properties
since the last essential safety report.
KlineFire carry
out all necessary inspections and maintenance on essential
services, thus ensuring ongoing compliance
with building owners' obligations and responsibilities. |
