If you are the owner of a commercial building you are liable and responsible for Essential Safety Measures – whether your building is owner occupied or leased. Changes to the Victorian Building Regulations in 2006 have increased the onus on building owners and it is imperative that you:
- Are aware of what your responsibilities are
- Implement and maintain your required essential safety measures
- Maintain and update all life and building fire safety systems to ensure the safety of occupants in case of fire or emergency
Familiarise yourself with this list of essential safety measures or risk severe penalties and costly litigation.
Regulation changes apply to buildings constructed pre-1994
All buildings constructed after 1994 would have included Essential Safety Measures on their occupancy permits. So if this applies to you, make sure you are complying with all measures and get in touch with us for a review if you have any questions or doubts whatsoever.
New regulations stipulate that all buildings constructed pre-1994 must implement Essential Safety Measures. As of June 2009, all owners of pre-1994 buildings will have to submit Annual Essential Safety Measures Reports. These reports will need to be prepared by specialists qualified to identify the required Essential Safety Measures.
Because there were no stated requirements pre-1994, you may need to do more than simply start reporting as of June 2009. It might be a matter of upgrading a number of your building fire safety and other emergency systems. You will then need to create a maintenance schedule to ensure regular inspection and upkeep of the essential safety measures and related equipment.
Download the Essential Safety Services PDF
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