Essential Fire Safety Measures

Essential safety measures are mandatory and nominated (fire engineering solutions) fire safety systems required by the National Construction Code (BCA) to be installed in residential flat buildings, apartments, boarding houses, hostels, bed and breakfasts, schools, offices, shops, supermarkets, other commercial uses, childcare centres, aged care centres, industrial and public buildings to ensure the safety of occupants within the building in the event of a fire or emergency.

The legislation lists statutory fire safety measures as:

• access panels, doors and hoppers to fire-resisting shafts
• automatic fail-safe devices
• automatic fire detection and alarm systems
• automatic fire suppression systems
• emergency lifts
• emergency lighting
• emergency warning and intercommunication systems
• exit signs
• fire control centres and rooms
• fire dampers
• fire doors
• fire hose reel systems
• fire hydrant systems
• fire seals protecting openings in fire-resisting components of the building
• fire shutters
• fire windows
• lightweight construction
• mechanical air handling systems
• perimeter vehicle access for emergency vehicles
• portable fire extinguishers
• safety curtains in proscenium openings
• smoke alarms and heat alarms
• smoke and heat vents
• smoke dampers
• smoke detectors and heat detectors
• smoke doors
• solid core doors
• standby power systems
• wall-wetting sprinkler and drenching systems
• warning and operational signs