What is a Fire Safety Audit?

In simplest terms, a Fire Safety Audit checks that the building matches the Approved Building Design. It’s an annual inspection and review of Fire Safety Measures and is part of the Essential Safety Measures (ESM) requirement for the building. It includes a review of the building and related documentation such as equipment test reports, training procedures, block plans etc.

A registered Fire Safety Engineer conducts the Fire Safety Audit in accordance with the BCA and the Australian Standards.

When Do I Need a Fire Safety Audit?

Annual with the ESM – it’s the Regulation.
When there is a notable problem in one of the fire safety systems.
When your Fire Safety needs have changed.
When you want to upgrade, consolidate Fire Safety.

What are the Essential Safety Measures (ESM)?

The required maintenance is detailed in the Approved Design and Occupancy Permit. They include a lot more than Fire Safety.

The Essential Fire Safety Measures related to the Performance Solution includes:

Passive essential fire safety measure includes:

Any wall, floor or ceiling required to be fire rated.
The junction of fire-rated elements
Penetration though fire-rate structures, such as pipes, cables and fire doors.

These measures are reviewed to ensure they are intact and functional. For example, no additional penetration has been added, or no materials have been changed to non-compliance ones.

Active essential fire safety measure includes:

Sprinkler system
Detection and alarm system
Fire hose reels, portable extinguishers
Fire Hydrant systems
Smoke hazard management systems

The active essential fire safety measures are tested annually for performance.

There are many more items that could be included, refer to you building ESM schedule. You can find out more about ESM from the VBA in their Essential Safety Measure Maintenance Manual which can be downloaded at https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/consumers/guides/essential-safety-measures

Building Alterations

Any work to a building that affects the ESM required a new Building Permit. This is the Regulation, and it’s important because all ESM are interdependent, they work a system, so it must go through the process and be designed.

For example; putting a wire through a wall can be a problem when it’s a fire-rated wall, so it’s essential to be aware of the ESM in your building and how they are managed.

Get In Touch

If you would like an Annual Fire Safety Audit, update your ESM schedule or plan to make some changes to your building, get in touch.

Ask for Alyce

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