Fire and Emergency Response

Fire and Emergency Response

The information and resources provided below are designed the support Part 3 Section 10 of Policy 2 – Work Health and Safety concerning fire and emergency response.

Emergency Evacuation Diagrams

Evacuation diagrams need to be simple, easy to read, and include:

• Clear concise information on evacuation procedures.
• Highlighted “You Are Here” notifications for each diagram.
• The location of your nearest Emergency Exit and the clearest path to get there.
• An alternative pathway to the next closest Emergency Exit (in case the nearest pathway becomes inaccessible).
• The location of all Fire Equipment (Fire Hose Reels, Fire Blankets and Extinguishers).
• Details of all Assembly Areas.
• Emergency Contact information.

Contractors to produce compliant evacuation diagrams can be arranged through the parish property team.

This WorkSafe document on Evacuation Procedure and Diagram Essentials provides additional advice.

This Emergency Plan template is provided, if parishes wish to develop a written document to support their evacuation procedures.

This Evacuations Checklist may be of assistance.

Residential Smoke Alarms

To comply with Regulations, the beneficial owner of a building must ensure that smoke alarm(s) comply and be current with the respective regulations/legislation as follows:

• are in accordance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) applicable at the time of the installation of the alarms;
• are not more than 10 years old at the time of the transfer of ownership, or making the dwelling available for rent or hire;
• are in working order; and
• are permanently connected to consumer mains power (hard-wired).

The BCA requires smoke alarms to be interconnected where there is more than one alarm. However, interconnection of smoke alarms is not applicable to a dwelling that was constructed on an application for a building permit made before 1 May 2015.

Residential smoke alarm laws fact sheet by Department of Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety

Public Building Smoke Alarms

All our churches and halls are Class 9b Public Buildings. Existing Class 9b buildings built and approved without smoke alarms are not required to retrofit such devices; however, where practical and affordable, smoke alarms are recommended, particularly in kitchens. The best option for historic churches is using wireless smoke detectors and sounders, so there isn’t any damage to heritage features / ornate ceilings.

Smoke Detection and Alarm Systems

Seating

Seating should be fixed or fastened together in groups of no less than 4 seats.
Rows exceeding 10 seats must have an aisles either side.
Rows are not to exceed 42 seats in length.

The clearance between rows of seats shall be:

• 300 mm if the distance to an aisle is less than 3.5 metres, that is 8 seats; or
• 500 mm if the distance to an aisle is more than 3.5 metres.

NOTE: Where loose seating is set out in rows on a regular basis in a multi-use facility, an approved seating layout should be displayed so that the seats are correctly set out each time.