Posts Tagged ‘building control’

Here’s how fire safety compliance is controlled …

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Does OH&S or Building Control legislation control fire safety compliance? (Where OH&S is Occupational Health and Safety.) This is an interesting question that just seems to get more complex as you get into it. The key thing is, that if you identify by process of elimination that the Building Control legislation does not apply it will still leave you with a duty for life and fire safety under OH&S legislation in Victoria, Australia.

By fire (and life) safety compliance I mean:

  • Fire (and life) safety requirements for the physical measures of new and existing buildings and structures;
  • Maintenance requirements for safety measures in buildings and structures; and
  • Evacuation policies, processes and procedures for existing buildings.

What’s a practical example of where this sort of ambiguity occurs? (more…)

What is Building Control legislation?

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

An associate of mine has just written a great presentation about what is the legal basis (in lay persons terms) for the fire protection requirements in Victoria, Australia.  Russell said one of the things that motivated him to write it was people keep saying to him (and his clients) “it’s the law.” “The law”! Gee, that covers lots of ground. I agree with Russell, let’s narrow it down a bit!

In part, the application of these, and other building requirements, is about Building Control legislation. (I know you have been pondering this question!) Building Control legislation (in Victoria, Australia) can be explained, in part, by what its applied to. Of course, I am taking here about the application of the Building Act 1993 and Building Regulations 2006. It’s about defining minimum standards of compliance for buildings in the areas of health, safety, amenity, and energy efficiency for the occupants. (Energy efficiency is an interesting recent inclusion, it is really about the building’s wider impact on the community over the longer term rather than for the specific occupants of a building!) (more…)