UCA NSW - Fire Safety Audit Report

Title Page

Organisation
Prepared for
Location
Conducted on
Prepared by
Previous audit date:
Previous audit result:
Audit Report No.
Audit Result

Site Details

Site Profile

Occupier
Number of Buildings
Building Name
Building used as
Building Classifications
- Class 1a
- Class 1b
- Class 2
- Class 3
- Class 4
- Class 5
- Class 6
- Class 7a
- Class 7b
- Class 8
- Class 9a
- Class 9b
- Class 9c
- Class 10a
- Class 10b
Building Code of Australia Classifications
Class 1(a) – a single dwelling or attached dwellings (e.g.: a terrace, duplex, etc.) where each dwelling is separated by a fire wall.
Class 1(b) - one or more buildings that constitute a boarding house, guest house, hostel of small scale (i.e.: not exceeding 12 persons or 300m2 in floor area).
Class 2 – a building containing 2 or more dwelling units (e.g.: flats, apartments).
Class 3 – a residential building for a number of persons such as a large scale boarding house, guest house, hostel, the residential part of a hotel, motel, school, etc.
Class 4 – a dwelling unit that is a part of a commercial use (e.g.: a caretakers/managers flat).
Class 5 – an office building.
Class 6 – a shop or other building where goods or services are retailed directly to the public.
Class 7a – a building used as a car park.
Class 7b - a building for storage, or display of goods or produce for sale by wholesale.
Class 8 – a laboratory or a building where a process takes place (e.g.: factory, workshop, etc.).
Class 9(a) – a health care building (e.g.: a hospital, clinic, etc.).
Class 9(b) – an assembly building (e.g.: community hall, church, sports hall, etc.)
Class 9(c) – an aged care building.
Class 10(a) – a non-habitable building being a private garage, shed, or the like.
Class 10(b) – a structure (e.g.: a fence, wall, mast, swimming pool, etc.).
Building Summary
Building Name
Building used as
Building Classifications
- Class 1a
- Class 1b
- Class 2
- Class 3
- Class 4
- Class 5
- Class 6
- Class 7a
- Class 7b
- Class 8
- Class 9a
- Class 9b
- Class 9c
- Class 10a
- Class 10b
Building Code of Australia Classifications
Class 1(a) – a single dwelling or attached dwellings (eg: a terrace, duplex, etc) where each dwelling is separated by a fire wall.
Class 1(b) - one or more buildings that constitute a boarding house, guest house, hostel of small scale (ie: not exceeding 12 persons or 300m2 in floor area).
Class 2 – a building containing 2 or more dwelling units (eg: flats, apartments).
Class 3 – a residential building for a number of persons such as a large scale boarding house, guest house, hostel, the residential part of a hotel, motel, school, etc.
Class 4 – a dwelling unit that is a part of a commercial use (eg: a caretakers/managers flat).
Class 5 – an office building.
Class 6 – a shop or other building where goods or services are retailed directly to the public.
Class 7a – a building used as a car park.
Class 7b - a building for storage, or display of goods or produce for sale by wholesale.
Class 8 – a laboratory or a building where a process takes place (eg: factory, workshop, etc).
Class 9(a) – a health care building (eg: a hospital, clinic, etc).
Class 9(b) – an assembly building (eg: community hall, church, sports hall, etc)
Class 9(c) – an aged care building.
Class 10(a) – a non-habitable building being a private garage, shed, or the like.
Class 10(b) – a structure (eg: a fence, wall, mast, swimming pool, etc).
Site Contact
Contact Number
Email Address

Approval Documents

Does the organisation hold the relevant approval documents?
What documents are being held?
- Certificate of Classification
- Fire Safety Installation Checklist

Fire Safety Installation Checklist

This list may be used to document the fire safety installations in the building if, following a written request, relevant approval documents cannot be obtained from your Local Government, building certifier or other approval agency. It must be retained with the other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Air handling systems
Access panels through fire rated construction
Emergency lifts
Emergency lighting
Emergency power supply
Emergency warning and intercommunication systems
Exit signage
Fire control centres
Fire curtains
Fire dampers
Fire detection / Alarm system
Fire doors
Fire extinguishers
Fire hose reels
Fire hydrants
Fire mains
Fire pumps
Fire hydrant booster assembly
Fire sprinklers
Fire sprinkler booster assembly
Fire shutters
Fire windows
Protection of penetrations through fire rated construction
Smoke and heat venting systems
Smoke exhaust system
Smoke doorsets
Solid core doors
Special automatic suppression systems (gas, powder etc.)
Stairwell pressurisation systems
Structural fire protection
Systems required to have a fire resistance level
Other features
Additional Fire Safety Installations
Other features - includes additional fire safety installations or conditions that are required under the building's alternative solution of the Building Act 1975 or Building Code of Australia clauses E1.10 and E2.3.
Has a written request been sent to the local government requesting the certificate of classification?
If the relevant approval documents cannot be obtained from your Local Government, building certifier or other approval rating it is a requirement that evidence of attempting to obtain this information forms part of the fire safety management plan. A copy of the written request must be retained with the other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Is this written request retained with other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008?
A copy of the written request must be retained with the other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Are they retained with other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008?
It is a requirement that a full list of the fire safety installations in the building forms part of the fire safety management plan. It must be retained with the other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Has a written request been sent to the local government requesting the certificate of classification?
If the relevant approval documents cannot be obtained from your Local Government, building certifier or other approval rating it is a requirement that evidence of attempting to obtain this information forms part of the fire safety management plan. A copy of the written request must be retained with the other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Is this written request retained with other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008?
A copy of the written request must be retained with the other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.

Fire Safety Installation Checklist

This list may be used to document the fire safety installations in the building if, following a written request, relevant approval documents cannot be obtained from your Local Government, building certifier or other approval agency. It must be retained with the other approval documents as required in Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Air handling systems
Access panels through fire rated construction
Emergency lifts
Emergency lighting
Emergency power supply
Emergency warning and intercommunication systems
Exit signage
Fire control centres
Fire curtains
Fire dampers
Fire detection / Alarm system
Fire doors
Fire extinguishers
Fire hose reels
Fire hydrants
Fire mains
Fire pumps
Fire hydrant booster assembly
Fire sprinklers
Fire sprinkler booster assembly
Fire shutters
Fire windows
Protection of penetrations through fire rated construction
Smoke and heat venting systems
Smoke exhaust system
Smoke doorsets
Solid core doors
Special automatic suppression systems (gas, powder etc.)
Stairwell pressurisation systems
Structural fire protection
Systems required to have a fire resistance level
Other features
Additional Fire Safety Installations
Other features - includes additional fire safety installations or conditions that are required under the building's alternative solution of the Building Act 1975 or Building Code of Australia clauses E1.10 and E2.3.

Assessment System

Audit Process

The contents of this report are based on information obtained during a physical site inspection of the premises, communications with authorised personnel and access to documentation that is held on site.

A simple assessment system has been utilised as detailed below to determine the present state of each category assessed.
Summary of Report Gradings

1. Complies
Items that are deemed to satisfy the requirements of the Building Fire Safety Regulation and Australian Standard 3745 & 1851.

2. Partially Complies
Items that are deemed not critical to the safety of Occupier's, but are still required to be resolved.

3. Non-Compliant
Items that are deemed critical to the safety of Occupier's and require to be resolved within one month. In certain instances immediate interim measures may need to be put in place to ensure the safety of occupiers.

4. Not Applicable
Items that are not present or installed or do not relate to the type of premises.

Definitions

Appropriately Qualified Person
For carrying out maintenance of a prescribed fire safety installation of a particular type, means a person who holds a licence of a class or type, or with an endorsement that is—

• if the installation is a water-based fire safety installation—
o stated in the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003, schedule 2, items 4 to 6; or
o stated in the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003, schedule 3, items 4 and 5; or
o stated in the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Regulation 2003, schedule 2A; or
o otherwise—stated in the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Regulation 2003, schedule 2A; and
• for which the scope of work includes the maintenance of installations of that type.
Critical Defect
A defect in a prescribed fire safety installation for a building is a critical defect if—
(a) the defect is likely to render the installation inoperable; and
(b) the defect is reasonably likely to have a significant adverse impact on the safety of occupants of part or all of the building if a fire or hazardous materials emergency happens.
Designated Assembly Area
For a building or a part of a building, means a place of safety outside the building where persons evacuating the building or the part are expected to assemble under the building’s fire and evacuation plan.
Emergency Plan
The written documentation of the emergency arrangements for a facility, generally made during the planning process. It consists of the preparedness, prevention and response activities and includes the agreed emergency roles, responsibilities, strategies, systems and arrangements.
Evacuation Coordination Instructions
For a building, means instructions about carrying out the evacuation coordination procedures for the building.
Evacuation Diagram
Emergency and evacuation information about the facility, compromising a pictorial representation of the floor area and other relevant emergency response information.
Evacuation Route
The evacuation route is:
• A path of travel from any place in the building, through a final exit of the building, to a place of safety outside the building; or
• A path of travel from a common area of the building, through a final exit of the building to a place of safety outside the building;
• An evacuation route also includes the space above the path of travel.
Fire and Evacuation Instructions
For a building, means general evacuation instructions, first-response evacuation instructions or evacuation coordination instructions for the building.
First-Response Evacuation Instructions
For a building, means instructions about the method of operation of manually operated fire alarms and firefighting equipment in the building, including at least 1 of the following—
(a) training in the use of the fire alarms and firefighting equipment;
(b) a demonstration of the use of manually operated fire alarms and firefighting equipment that are identical, or at least similar to, the fire alarms and firefighting equipment in the building.
Locking a Door
• A reference to locking a door is a reference to locking the door in a closed position;
• Locking a door includes fastening the door or otherwise interfering with its ability to be opened;
• A door on an evacuation route of a building is not locked if it can be opened
o From the internal side using a device that can be operated by downward pressure or pushing action using one hand; or
o In another way the complies with the Building Code of Australia
Maintenance of Fire Installations
Maintenance for a prescribed fire safety installation means inspection and testing, or repair, of the installation necessary to ensure that it continues to operate at its original performance level and in accordance with any relevant Australian Standards.
Occupancy Limits for Buildings
The occupier of a building must ensure that the number of persons in the building at any one time is not more than the maximum number that may be accommodated under the Building Code of Australia, part D1.13 and D1.6

Fire Audit Findings

Means of Escape from Buildings

Evacuation Routes
Evacuation Routes
1. Are evacuation routes clear of obstructions?
The owner/occupier must ensure that no thing impedes or obstructs travel on the evacuation route.

The regulation defines a thing that may impede or obstruct travel as a vehicle, an animal, fixtures or fittings, goods or materials. It may also include people.

An evacuation route is the path a person would take to exit the building. It is usually marked with exit signage. An evacuation route includes the space above the path of travel. An evacuation route must be indicated on the evacuation diagram (refer to items 9 and 44 for further details regarding evacuation diagrams).

Evacuation routes must be a minimum of one metre wide.

A final exit must lead directly to a road or open space and where people are safe from the effects of a fire or hazardous materials emergency in the building.

Evacuation routes start in common areas, not inside units, meeting rooms or individual offices. A common area is a passageway, stairway, corridor or mall.

This item relates to Section 8 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
2. Are final exits clear of obstructions for two metres?
The owner/occupier must ensure a clear evacuation route for two metres outside the final exit of the building (i.e. that no thing impedes or obstructs travel for two metres outside the final exit).

A final exit door is the last exit door from the building.

A final exit door must lead directly to a place of safety outside the building or open space and where people are safe from the effects of fire or hazardous materials emergency in the building.

The regulation defines a thing that may impede or obstruct travel as a vehicle, an animal, fixtures or fittings, goods or materials. It may also include people.

This item relates to Section 8 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
3. Are the final exits of any adjoining properties clear?
The occupier of one building must not block the final exit from a neighbouring building or tenancy.

The owner/occupier must ensure that the final exits of the adjoining property are clear (i.e. that no thing impedes or obstructs travel for two metres outside the final exit).

A final exit door is the last exit door from the neighbouring building or tenancy and leads to a place of safety without any further impediments such as locked gates.

The regulation defines a thing that may impede or obstruct travel as a vehicle, an animal, fixtures or fittings, goods or materials. It may also include people. (An example of a thing obstructing travel would be placing a rubbish skip within two metres of a neighbouring tenant’s final exit).

This item relates to Section 9 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Exit Doors
Exit Doors
4. Is the door hardware the correct type?
Exit doors are doors that are in the evacuation route or are doors at the final exit of the building.

Exit doors must be opened by a single handed downward or pushing action on a single device. Lever type handles or panic bars are the only acceptable door hardware for exit doors. Knob type handles are not acceptable door hardware for exit doors.

Barrel bolts are not illegal providing they are locked in the open position when the building is occupied.

Automatic opening doors that open on activation of the fire detection system are acceptable, providing if they fail they can be manually opened with a force of 110 Newtons (the force required to lift 11 kilograms) or less.

Sliding doors, if approved, are acceptable. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) recommend that an arrow showing the direction of slide and signage indicating slide to open be attached to the door.

This item relates to Sections 10 and 11 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
5. Are the doors along evacuation route unlocked and unobstructed?
The owner/occupier must ensure doors on evacuation routes are not locked if people are known to be in the building.

Doors on evacuation routes must be able to be opened by a single handed downward or pushing action on a single device. Knob type handles are not acceptable door hardware for these doors.

The door hardware of buildings used as child care centres (including Prep and After-School Care where full-time adults are present) are required to comply with the Building Code of Australia, Part D2.21.

Where special door locking arrangements are in place the method of operation and the information provided to staff/occupants is required to be retained in the evacuation coordination procedures, which must be kept with the fire and evacuation plan. (For more information regarding fire and evacuation plans refer to item 44).

This item relates to Sections 10, 11 and 12 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Fire/Smoke Doors and Walls
Fire/Smoke Doors and Walls
6. Are the fire/smoke doors unobstructed and undamaged?
The owner/occupier must ensure that fire/smoke doors are not obstructed nor damaged.

Fire or smoke doors are not to be ‘chocked’ or held open. Fire doors must automatically close and fully latch after each opening.

An exception to this is when the door is held open by a device connected to the buildings fire alarm system that allows the door to close on activation of a fire alarm.

This item relates to Section 13 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008. See the Queensland Development Code MP 6.1 at www.hpw.qld.gov.au/construction/BuildingPlumbing/Building/BuildingLawsCodes/QueenslandDevelopmentCode/Pages/QueenslandDevelopmentCodeCurrentParts.aspx for further details regarding maintenance requirements.
7. Can current maintenance records for fire/smoke doors be produced?
A log book is required to record current inspections.

Fire doors in Class 5, 6, 9a and 9c buildings must be inspected at 6 monthly intervals. A Class 5 building is defined as an office; Class 6 buildings include shops, hotels, service stations; Class 9a
buildings are health care buildings and Class 9c are aged care buildings.

Fire doors in all other buildings must be inspected annually.
8. Are fire/smoke walls free from unprotected penetration?
The owner/occupier must ensure that fire/smoke walls are free from unprotected penetration.

If, for example, tradespersons or other persons have to penetrate fire or smoke walls to fit equipment, air conditioning ducts etc. or run cabling, the person as well as the occupier must ensure these penetrations are filled with the appropriate fire rated compound, or in the case of smoke walls, sealed.

Building plans should indicate whether walls are fire or smoke walls.

This item relates to Section 13 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Evacuation Signs/Diagrams
Evacuation Signs/Diagrams
9. Do the evacuation signs/diagrams contain the required information?
Every building with a total floor area greater than 300 sqm must have evacuation signs/diagrams (except Class 1a and Class 10 buildings).

An evacuation sign comprises evacuation procedures and an evacuation diagram.

An evacuation procedure outlines the process to follow in the event of a fire or hazardous materials emergency.

An evacuation diagram must show the following details (fire safety reference points):

* The place that corresponds to the place in the building where the diagram is displayed (e.g. ‘You are here’ signage).
* The route from (you are here) to the nearest exit.
* Each exit of the building.
* Any intercommunication devices in the common areas (e.g. Warden Intercommunication Points).
* The locations of manually operated fire alarms (e.g. break glass alarms).
* The location of any fire fighting equipment in the building e.g. fire extinguishers and hose reels.
* The designated assembly area outside the building.
* The route from each exit to the assembly area.

This item relates to Sections 18, 29 and 30 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
10. Are the evacuation signs/diagrams securely fastened and orientated for the building?
Evacuation signs/diagrams must be displayed in a conspicuous position, securely attached to a wall or the internal side of a door and orientated in line with the building layout. Sticky tape, blue tac or velcro is not securely fastened, however screws or sufficient double sided tape providing sufficient strength is acceptable.

Evacuation signs/diagrams must be appropriately located on each evacuation route of the building.

‘Orientated’ means the diagram must be understandable to a person reading the sign and the instructions must be accurate and correspond to the building layout.

See Item 58 for explanation on instruction to residents and visitors to the building.

This item relates to Sections 18, 29 and 30 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Evacuation Signs - Accommodation Units
Evacuation Signs - Accommodation Units
11. Are accommodation unit evacuation sign/s securely fastened and orientated for the building?
Accommodation unit evacuation signs must be displayed in accommodation units. (Residential units, other than those mentioned in item 10, that are owner occupied or have a tenancy
agreement/lease in place and registered with the Residential Tenancy Authority are exempt from this requirement).

Types of accommodation units required to have these evacuation signs include:

* An apartment used by holiday makers.
* A serviced apartment.
* A room in a guest house, hotel, motel.

Some Class 2 and Class 3 buildings will be required to have both accommodation and general evacuation signs.

These signs must be securely attached to a wall in a conspicuous position or on the inside of the front door and orientated to the building. The sign must be securely attached without compromising the integrity of any fire doors or walls. ‘Orientated’ means the diagram must be understandable to a person reading the sign and the instructions must be accurate and correspond to the building layout.

This item relates to Sections 47 and 48 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
12. Do the evacuation sign/s contain the required information for the accommodation units?
Accommodation unit evacuation signs in accommodation units must show the following information:

* Each evacuation route from the unit to a place of safety outside the building.
* The location of fire fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers and fire hose reels in the vicinity of the unit.
* The location of manually operated fire alarms (break glass alarms).
* The procedure for evacuating the building.

This item relates to Sections 47 and 48 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos

Occupancy Limits for Buildings

Obligations for all Buildings
Obligations for all Buildings
13. Have steps been taken to ensure the building is not overcrowded?
The occupier of a building must ensure that the number of persons in the building at any one time does not exceed the maximum number that may be accommodated under the Building Code of Australia, Clause D1.6 and Clause D1.13.

Clause D1.6 of the Building Code of Australia outlines the required dimensions of exits and paths of travel to exits while Clause D1.13 outlines the method of calculating the number of persons which can be accommodated in a storey, room or mezzanine with consideration of the purpose for which it is used and layout of the floor area.

Clause D1.13 of the Building Code of Australia refers to the amount of space a person requires in different types of buildings.

A building certifier may give advice on the number of persons allowed by these Clauses. As a general rule of thumb the maximum number of persons permitted in a community building is equivalent to one person per m2.

A copy of the Building Code of Australia can be obtained at: www.abcb.gov.au

This item relates to Sections 14, 15 and16 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Obligations for At-Risk Licensed Premises
Obligations for At-Risk Licensed Premises
14. If an Occupancy Notice has been issued by the Commission, is the building compliant?
Occupancy Notices are issued by the Commissioner of the QFES to occupiers of buildings which have a liquor licence and may be deemed at risk of overcrowding.

If an Occupancy Notice has been issued the occupier must conspicuously display a sign stating the occupancy number above each public entrance and ensure each staff member is aware of the occupancy number.

The occupier must ensure the occupancy number is not exceeded.

A counting system must be implemented in ‘At-Risk’ licensed buildings:

* Where the occupancy number ranges from 200 to 999 people, a manual counting system or an automatic counting system is required.
* Where the occupancy number exceeds 999 people an automatic counting system is required.

The occupancy number must be included in the building’s fire and evacuation plan.

The occupier must notify the Commissioner of QFES if there are changes to the building that may increase the risk of overcrowding.

A Fire Safety Adviser must be appointed within one month of an Occupancy Notice being issued.

This item relates to Sections 104KK, 104KL, 104KM, 104KN, 104KO, 104KP of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 and Section 34 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos

Maintenance of Fire Safety Installations

Exit Signs/Emergency Lighting
Exit Signs/Emergency Lighting
15. Are the exit signs/emergency lighting undamaged?
The owner/occupier must ensure that exit sign covers are in place and unbroken.

Globes for exit signs and emergency lighting must also be in place and undamaged.
16. Can current maintenance records for exit signs/emergency lighting be produced upon request?
A log book (can be electronic) is required to record six monthly inspections.

A licensed electrician or appropriately qualified person is required to conduct the maintenance inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguishers
17. Are all Fire Extinguishers correctly maintained?
The occupier must ensure maintenance of prescribed fire extinguishers are carried out in accordance with MP 6.1 and by an appropriately qualified person.

Prescribed fire extinguishers are those required to be installed in the building.
18. Can current maintenance records for Fire Extinguishers be produced upon request?
The maintenance tag and either an invoice or summary report are acceptable as a record of maintenance.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct six monthly service inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Fire Hose Reels
Fire Hose Reels
19. Are all Fire Hose Reels correctly maintained?
The occupier must ensure maintenance of prescribed fire hose reels is carried out in accordance with MP 6.1 and by an appropriately qualified person.

Prescribed fire hose reels are those required to be installed in the building.
20. Can current maintenance records for Fire Hose Reels be produced upon request?
The maintenance tag and either an invoice or summary report are acceptable as a record of maintenance.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct six monthly service inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
21. Is the Fire Detection and Alarm System operating with no isolations of faults indicating?
The occupier must ensure no devices or zones are isolated or showing a fault unless work is being carried out in those areas and a plan to reinstate the device or zone is in place.
22. Can current maintenance records for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems be produced upon request?
A log book is required to record monthly inspections.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct the maintenance inspections.
23. If the Fire Detection and Alarm System is not connected to QFES are MCPs signed "Ring 000"?
If the Fire Alarm System is only a local system and not connected to QFES monitoring, the Manual Call Points (break glass alarms) should be signed “In case of fire break glass and ring 000” to ensure persons activating these devices are aware that it will raise the alarm in the building but it will not alert the fire service.
24. Is the number of unwanted alarm activations below the prescribed average?
The occupier must ensure that the number of unwanted alarms signalled from a monitored system in any financial year does not exceed four or the prescribed average (whichever is the greater) as published in the Queensland Government Gazette.

This item relates to Section 104DA of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990. Further details can be found at www.qfes.qld.gov.au/buildingsafety/unwanted/default.asp.
25. If a Class 2 accommodation building, are smoke alarms installed in the sole occupancy units?
All accommodation buildings built since 1 July 1997 are required to install, as a minimum, hard-wired battery back-up smoke alarms. QFES recommend photoelectric smoke alarms over
ionisation type alarms.

The owner must ensure that each sole occupancy unit within a Class 2 building built prior to 1 July 1997 has, as a minimum; a nine volt battery operated smoke alarm installed.

The smoke alarm must comply with Australian Standard 3786 and be located as specified in the Building Code of Australia specification E2.2a Clause 3 (c) (i).

Smoke alarms must be tested in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

This item also applies to Class 1A dwellings.

This item relates to Section 104RB of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990. Full details of tenant and owner responsibilities can be found at: www.qfes.qld.gov.au/communitysafety/smokealarms/default.asp.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Evacuation Systems
Evacuation Systems
26. Is the Evacuation System in 'auto' mode with no zones isolated or in fault?
The occupier must ensure that the evacuation system is in the ‘Auto’ mode and that no zones on the evacuation panel are isolated or showing a fault.
27. Can current maintenance records for Evacuation System be produced upon request?
A log book is required to record monthly inspections.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct the maintenance inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Sprinkler Systems
Sprinkler Systems
28. Is the Sprinkler Booster Installation undamaged?
The occupier must ensure the cabinet and internal components are undamaged and hand wheels are fitted to inlets and outlets.
29. Can current maintenance records for the Sprinkler System be produced?
A log book is required to record maintenance inspections.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct maintenance inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
On-site Hydrant System
On-site Hydrant System
30. Is the on-site Fire Hydrant Booster Installation undamaged?
The occupier must ensure the cabinet and internal components are undamaged and hand wheels are fitted to inlets and outlets.
31. Are the on-site Fire Hydrants undamaged?
The occupier must ensure on-site fire hydrants are undamaged i.e. not bent or creased and hand wheels are fitted.
32. Can current maintenance records for the on-site Hydrant System be produced upon request?
A log book and tag is required to record current six monthly inspections.

All maintenance including the 5 yearly hydrostatic test is to be recorded on a ‘Form 72 - fire hydrant and sprinkler system periodic testing and maintenance’.

Form 72 can be downloaded from the Department of Housing and Public Works web page at www.hpw.qld.gov.au/construction/BuildingPlumbing/Building/BuildingLawsCodes/
QueenslandDevelopmentCode/Pages/QueenslandDevelopmentCodeCurrentParts.aspx.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct maintenance inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Hydrant/Sprinkler Pumpsets
Hydrant/Sprinkler Pumpsets
33. Are the Hydrant/Sprinkler Pumpsets correctly maintained?
The occupier must ensure pumpsets are maintained by an appropriately qualified person.
34. Can current maintenance records for Pumpsets be produced upon request?
A log book is required to record monthly inspections.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct maintenance inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Stairwell Pressurisation
Stairwell Pressurisation
35. Can current maintenance records for Stairwell Pressurisation be produced upon request?
A log book is required to record three monthly inspections.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct maintenance inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Smoke and Heat Ventilation Systems
Smoke and Heat Ventilation Systems
36. Can current maintenance records for Smoke and Heat Ventilation systems be produced upon request?
A log book is required to record six monthly inspections.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct maintenance inspections.
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Standby Power Supply
Standby Power Supply
37. Can current maintenance records for Standby Power be produced upon request?
Where installed, maintenance must be carried out in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.

Only certain buildings require Standby Power Supplies (e.g. Class 9a building that has emergency lifts that service patient care areas, buildings containing some atriums and some hydrant systems that have a backup electric pump).
Any additional comments or photos?
Comments
Photos
Emergency Lift - Fire Service Control
Emergency Lift - Fire Service Control
38. Can current maintenance records for Emergency Lifts be produced upon request?
Emergency lifts apply to buildings above 25m in effective height and some Class 9a buildings.

Where installed, maintenance must be carried out in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations, but in no case at intervals of more than one year.

Has an operational test of the Fire Service Controls been conducted.

An appropriately qualified person is required to conduct maintenance inspections.
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Critical Defects
Critical Defects
39. If a Critical Defect Notice has been received, has action been taken to rectify within one month?
If, following a maintenance inspection, an appropriately qualified person has deemed the fire safety installation to be defective and the defect will make the installation inoperable or have
an adverse impact on the safety of occupants (i.e. a critical defect), the appropriately qualified person is obligated to notify the occupier within 24 hours of the critical defect occurring by
issuing the occupier with a Critical Defect Notice in the approved form.

The Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 requires the critical defect to be rectified within one month of notification.

The Critical Defect Notice issued by the appropriately qualified person should detail the corrective action required.

The occupier should be able to show evidence of taking/initiating this corrective action.

It may be necessary to put in place interim measures for the protection of occupants. (See item 58)

A list of Fire Safety Installations can be found in Schedule 2 of the Building Act 1975 www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/B/BuildA75.pdf.

A copy of the approved Critical Defect Notice with corresponding Explanatory Notes can be found at the following link: www.qfes.qld.gov.au/buildingsafety/pdf/QFES_CriticalDefectNotice.doc

This item relates to Sections 49 and 53 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
40. If a Critical Defect Notice has been received, have interim measures been put in place?
In certain cases interim measures may be required to be put in place by the occupier for the safety of occupants in the building as the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 Section 104D requires the occupier to maintain prescribed fire safety installations to a standard of safety and reliability at all times.

For example, if the fire detection or alarm system has a critical defect and the building is used for accommodation purposes, interim measures, such as battery operated smoke alarms, may have to be installed.

This item relates to Sections 49 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
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Miscellaneous

Housekeeping
Housekeeping
41. Is housekeeping acceptable?
The owner/occupier must ensure there are no excessive flammable materials under buildings or stairways.

It must be ensured that there are no tripping hazards such as lifting tiles and power cords in evacuation routes.

This item relates to Section 69 of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990.
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Evacuation Planning, Instruction and Practice

Fire and Evacuation Plans
Fire and Evacuation Plans
42. Is there a fire and evacuation plan in place for each building?
Every building must have a written fire and evacuation plan in place (except Class 1a and Class 10 buildings).

This may be a hard copy or in electronic format.

See item 44 to understand the items required in the fire and evacuation plan.

This item relates to Section 21 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
43. Is there a managing entity and secondary Occupier's fire and evacuation plan for multi-occupancy buildings?
A multi-occupancy building is a building where there is more than one tenant, for example a high-rise building or a shopping centre.

A managing entity is, for example, a Body Corporate or Centre Manager.

Secondary occupiers are occupiers of part of a multi-occupancy building, other than the managing entity.

The managing entity is responsible for evacuating people from the common areas of a multi-occupancy building, to a designated assembly area on the fire and evacuation plan. A common area is a passageway, foyer, stairway, corridor or mall.

Secondary occupiers are responsible for evacuating people from their tenancy. For example a retailer in a shopping centre will evacuate shoppers to the mall area, and then the managing entity’s plan will evacuate them out of the building to the designated assembly area.

Both parties are responsible for ensuring their plans complement the other.

See item 44 to understand the items required in the fire and evacuation plan.

This item relates to Sections 22 and 23 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
44. Are all the fire and evacuation plans kept in specified form?
The fire and evacuation plan must incorporate all the requirements of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008. The plan must be in written form. This can be either as a hard copy or in electronic format as long as it is available on request in the building (see item 62).

It must include:

* The evacuation diagram/sign of the building (as mentioned in Item 9).
* Name and address of the building.
* Name, address, telephone number and electronic contact details of the owner and occupier of the building.
* The evacuation coordination procedures for the building.
* Instructions for evacuating the building in line with the evacuation coordination procedures.
* The method of operation of fire fighting equipment and manual fire alarms in the building.
* The procedures for giving fire and evacuation instructions to persons working in the building and ensuring the instructions are given.
* The name and contact details of persons responsible for carrying out the evacuation procedures.
* The date each person became responsible for carrying out the procedures.
* The names and contact details for persons responsible for giving the fire and evacuation instructions.
* Name of the person who developed, changed and reviewed the fire and evacuation plan.

In instances where a number of persons fill a position across rotational shifts, QFES will accept a position title rather than person’s name. For example – ‘Head Steward’ or 'Duty Elder' may be listed as the responsible person for Sunday worship.

If the building is a high occupancy building (requires a Fire Safety Adviser – as detailed in Item 57) the fire and evacuation plan must incorporate additional requirements:

* The name of the Fire Safety Adviser
* Contact details for the Fire Safety Adviser (e.g. Phone number and electronic contact details).
* A description of the qualification/s held by the Fire Safety Adviser.
* The Registered Training Organisation that issued the qualification.
* The date the qualification was issued.

This item relates to Section 21 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
45. Do fire and evacuation plans reflect alternative building solutions?
An alternative solution is that which has been assessed and agreed between parties such as fire engineers, QFES and building certifiers. It allows for an alternative building solution to be put in place meeting the performance, rather than the prescriptive, requirements of the Building Code of Australia.

Alternative solutions for your building can be found on your building’s Certificate of Classification.

If there is an alternative solution for the building, the alternative solution is to be included in the fire and evacuation plan. For example if a building has extended travel distances, the fire and evacuation plan must reference this.

This item relates to Section 24 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
46. Is there a procedure in place to evacuate persons with special needs?
If persons with special needs are in the building the occupier is responsible for ensuring there is a procedure in place to evacuate them safely.

A person with special needs can be:

* A person with a disability.
* A child.
* A person affected by medication or alcohol.
* A person in lawful custody.
* A person working in the building where access is restricted (e.g. a basement, false ceiling cavity).
* A person working in a hazardous area of a building.

An example of a procedure to evacuate persons with special needs may be to identify one or more persons who, on activation of the alarm, are to proceed to the area where the persons with special needs are and assist them in evacuation.

A record of this procedure must be retained with the fire and evacuation plan and other documents required to be kept.

This item relates to Section 19 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
47. Are all fire and evacuation plans available upon request?
All fire and evacuation plans must be made available to interested persons for inspection, free of charge, upon request during normal business hours. This includes electronic copies.

This item relates to Section 26 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
48. Are all fire and evacuation plans current and reviewed annually?
All fire and evacuation plans must be reviewed annually. An example of reviewing the plan may be to walk through the building with the plan to ensure that the evacuation routes have not changed and checking that the same persons remain in the roles listed on the fire and evacuation plan.

The review process must be recorded, and kept with other relevant documents.

If changes are made to the building which affects the fire and evacuation plan, the plan must be altered to reflect the changes as soon as practical but no later than one month after the change occurred. Examples of this include refurbishment or a change in the use of the building.

This item relates to Sections 27 and 28 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
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Fire and Evacuation Instruction
Fire and Evacuation Instruction
49. Have general evacuation instructions been given?
The occupier of the building must give general evacuation instructions to workers within two days of commencing work and then annually.

These instructions include the location of fire safety reference points and the procedures for evacuating the building safely in the event of a fire or hazardous materials emergency. (Fire
safety reference points are those detailed in item 9).

There is no qualification required to provide these instructions.

This item relates to Sections 32 and 35 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
50. Are records for general evacuation instructions kept and available upon request?
A record of general evacuation instructions must be kept. This can be in electronic form. (See item 62)

Details on the instruction records must include:

* The name of each person receiving the instruction.
* The name of the person who gave the instruction.
* The date instructions were given.
* A description of the instructions.
* These records must be retained with other documents required to be kept.

This item relates to Section 45 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
51. Have first response evacuation instructions been given?
The occupier of the building must give first-response evacuation instructions to workers within one month of commencing work and then every two years.

First-response evacuation instructions are instructions concerning the operation of manually operated fire alarms and fire fighting equipment in the building. These instructions can be given by practical hands on training or instruction via a CD, DVD or Internet etc..

There is no qualification required to provide these instructions.

If a Fire Safety Adviser is required for the building, the Fire Safety Adviser or a Registered Training Organisation must give or arrange for the training or instructions to be given (A Fire Safety Adviser is required in high occupancy buildings as defined in item 57 of these Advisory Notes).

This item relates to Sections 36 and 37 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
52. Are records for first response evacuation instructions kept and available upon request?
A record of first-response evacuation instructions must be retained. This can be in electronic form. (See item 62)

Details on the instruction records must include:

* The name of each person receiving the instruction.
* The name of the person who gave the instruction.
* The date instructions were given.
* A description of the instructions.

This item relates to Section 45 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
53. Have evacuation coordination instructions been given?
The occupier of a building must give evacuation coordination instructions to the person/s responsible for carrying out the evacuation coordination procedures every year and within one month of any changes to the procedures or personnel. If a new occupant starts to occupy a building, the new occupant must, within two months, give evacuation coordination instructions to the responsible person/s.

Evacuation coordination procedures include:

* Means of alerting and communicating with persons in the building (e.g. public address messages).
* Alerting the fire service, by phone or manually operated fire alarms.
* Arranging the evacuation of all persons in the building including those with special needs.
* Checking whether all persons have been evacuated.
* Meeting and advising the fire service on arrival at a suitable place as stated on the evacuation plan.

This item relates to Sections 17, 38, 39 and 40 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
54. Are records for evacuation coordination instructions kept and available upon request?
A record of evacuation coordination instructions must be retained. This can be in electronic form. (See item 62).

Details on the instruction records must include:

* The name of each person receiving the instruction.
* The name of the person who gave the instruction.
* The date instructions were given.
* A description of the instructions.

This item relates to Section 45 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
55. Has evacuation practice been conducted annually?
All occupiers are required to conduct an evacuation of a building annually. The practice evacuation must be carried out by an appropriate number of people.

It may not be feasible to evacuate, for this exercise, a person with a disability, however the process for evacuation of persons with special needs must be included in the fire and evacuation plan.

Select numbers of staff such as receptionists may be excluded to answer telephone calls.

This item relates to Sections 43 and 44 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
56. Are evacuation practice records kept and available upon request?
A record of practice evacuations must be retained with the evacuation plan and can be in electronic form.

Details required on the evacuation practice record include:

* The date of the evacuation.
* The times the evacuation started and ended.
* Any action taken or required as a result of the evacuation, such as a review of the evacuation instructions.

This item relates to Section 46 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
57. Has a Fire Safety Adviser been appointed?
The occupier of any building that is a workplace with 30 or more people working as defined under the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 must appoint a Fire Safety Adviser (FSA).

The FSA must hold a current building fire safety qualification as a FSA (have completed a course in the 8 competencies required within the previous three years).

Additional information is available at www.qfes.qld.gov.au/buildingsafety/pdf/QFES-BFS-InfoSheet-FSA.pdf

This item relates to section 34 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
58. Is there a procedure in place to provide 'adequate instruction' to prescribed persons?
Section 104E of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 requires that the occupier of a building must provide adequate instructions to prescribed persons in the building concerning the action to be taken by them in the event of fire threatening the building in order to ensure the safety of themselves and other persons.

The Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 states that at any given time a person is a prescribed person if ,during the past three months, there have been at least two weeks in which the person worked, resided or visited the building for a total period in each week of at least 10 hours.

Adequate instruction for persons working in the building are detailed in items 49, 51 and 53.

Adequate instruction for residents and persons visiting the building may be provided by ensuring references that assist these people in evacuating the building are included in the fire and evacuation plan and that evacuation signs/diagrams are displayed in accordance with item 9 of these Advisory Notes.

This item relates to Section 31 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 and Section 104E of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990.
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Record Keeping

Approval Documents
Approval Documents
59. Are approval documents obtained and kept?
When building was built
- Deemed to Satisfy 1997+
- Alternate Solutions 1997 +
- Built prior to 1997
The owner/occupier is required to take reasonable steps to acquire relevant approval documents.

Relevant approval documents consist of the following:-

* For buildings built under the Deemed to Satisfy Provisions of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) from 1 July 1997 onwards, the following:-

* ‘Certificate of Classification’, and
* A list of fire safety installations within the building.
The owner/occupier is required to take reasonable steps to acquire relevant approval documents.

Relevant approval documents consist of the following:-

* For buildings built with Alternate Solutions from 1 July 1997 onwards, the following:-

* ‘Certificate of Classification’,
* A list of fire safety installations within the building,
* The Fire Safety Management Procedures (Management in Use Documentation), and
* Fire Engineering Report.
The owner/occupier is required to take reasonable steps to acquire relevant approval documents.
• Relevant approval documents consist of the following:-

* For buildings built prior to 1 July 1997, the following:-

* ‘Certificate of Classification’, ‘Certificate of Approval’ or other approval documents (if either of these are not available QFES will accept written documentation showing requests for copies of relevant approval documents from the relevant local government or building certifier), and
* A list of fire safety installations within the building.
A copy of these approval documents must be retained with other documents required to be kept.

A ‘Certificate of Classification’ is the document issued by a Local Government or Certifier which determines the building classification.

The ‘Certificate of Classification’ can be obtained from the local Council. If a search is conducted and no Certificate is available the written evidence of this must be retained with the approval documents.

A list of Fire Safety Installations can be obtained from Schedule 2 of the Building Act 1975 www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/B/BuildA75.pdf

This item relates to Section 25 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
60. Is the Certificate of Classification for the building displayed?
This item only applies to buildings approved after 1 July 1997.

The Building Act 1975 - Section 108A requires buildings, apart from Class 1a buildings (a Class 1a building is a normal domestic family home) which were built on or after 1 July 1997, to display a ‘Certificate of Classification’. It is the building owner’s responsibility to obtain the ‘Certificate of Classification’ from the building certifier.

The ‘Certificate of Classification’ must be displayed conspicuously, as near as practical to the main entrance.

An authorised fire officer may require the owner to produce the ‘Certificate of Classification’ if not displayed. (An authorised fire officer is defined in the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 as a fire officer).

This item relates to Section 108A of the Building Act 1975.
60 (a). Is there an Alternative Building Solutions in place?
60 (b). Is the Alternative Building Solution advice displayed?
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Occupier's Statement (Annual)
Occupier's Statement (Annual)
61. Can an annual Occupier's Statement be produced upon request?
An occupier statement for the maintenance of all fire safety installations must be kept and a copy sent each year to the Commissioner. The occupier statement can be emailed to occupier.statements@qfes.qld.gov.au.

A copy must be retained with the evacuation plan and can be kept electronically.

An example of the occupier statement is contained in the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 6.1. It is acceptable to utilise a modified form (e.g. company logo/heading etc.) as long as all of the relevant information is contained.

Any Critical Defect Notices received during the year must be attached to the occupier statement.

A Critical Defect is referred to in items 39 and 40.

This item relates to MP 6.1 of the Queensland Development Code (links to online resources are provided under the ‘Maintenance of Fire Safety Installations’ section of these Advisory Notes), Sections 55A and 55B of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 and Section 104D of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990.
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Record Security
Record Security
62. Are records kept on site and in a way that is reasonably safe from the effects of fire?
A copy of plans and documents, including prescribed documents must be kept in the building. It is permissible for required documents to be located in lockable metal filing cabinets.

A prescribed document is defined by the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 as meaning any of the following for the building –

* A record of a review of a fire and evacuation plan;
* A fire and evacuation instruction record;
* An evacuation practice record;
* A record of maintenance.

The occupier must keep fire safety records and prescribed documents for at least 2 years.

Documents must be produced upon request of a authorised fire officer.

Records required to be kept by the regulation (other than logbooks required by an Australian Standard for the maintenance of fire safety installations) may be kept electronically as long as they are available for inspection as required by the regulation. (See item 65 for Fire Safety Management Plans).

This item relates to Sections 71, 72 and 86 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
63. Is a copy of all prescribed documents kept in another place?
In addition to keeping the record mentioned above in item 62, a copy of all records must be kept in another place.
These copies may be electronic.
Copies of maintenance records can be retained by the fire contractor. Other records are to be kept by the occupier.

This item relates to Section 71 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
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Budget Accommodation

Fire Safety Management Plan
Fire Safety Management Plan
64. Are current Fire Safety Management Plans prepared and implemented?
If you are the owner of a budget accommodation building, you are required to prepare a Fire Safety Management Plan (FSMP). A budget accommodation building is (in short) one used for
accommodation for six or more persons who share bathroom or sanitary facilities. (For a full definition of a budget accommodation building see the Building Act 1975, s216).

The plan must incorporate:

* The allowable number of occupants, calculated by the room sizes (as defined by the Queensland Development Code MP2.1).
* The evacuation plan for the building including provisions for disabled occupants.
* Proposed training programs for occupants and staff.
* A list of the fire safety installations in the building.
* The proposed maintenance schedule for the fire safety installations.
* The record of maintenance for the fire safety installations.
* A floor plan of the building.

An example of a FSMP is available at www.qfes.qld.gov.au/buildingsafety/pdf/FSMP_Blank.doc.

This item relates to Sections 27, 216 and 217 of the Building Act 1975, Sections 104FA – 104FD of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 and Sections 75 of the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002.
65. Are Fire Safety Management Plans available for inspection during business hours?
A copy of the FSMP must be kept in the building and you must allow anyone access to view it, free of charge, whenever the building is open for business.

The FSMP must be updated within a month of any change of circumstances affecting the plan (e.g. a change in the Fire Safety Standard).

The FSMP must be available on request by a member of the public or an authorised officer of the QFES.

The FSMP can be kept electronically as long as it is available for inspection whenever the building is open for business.

This item relates to Sections 216 and 217 of the Building Act 1975, Sections 104FA and 104FG of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 and Section 75 of the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002.
66. Can evacuation practice records be produced upon request?
An evacuation of the building must be carried out at least annually and a record of the evacuation practice must be kept.

Details of this requirement can be found in items 55 and 56.

This item relates to Sections 43 and 44 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
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