Mandatory Testing and Inspections

Mandatory Testing and Inspections

All our churches and halls are Class 9b Public Buildings and are subject to the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911, Local Government Act 1995, the Building Act 2011, Health (Public Buildings) Regulations 1992, Australian Standards, BCA rules and local authority requirements as follows:

• All Exit and Emergency Lights must be inspected and tested for satisfactory operation every 6 months under AS2293.2 – 1995. During the testing, the lights must remain illuminated for at least 90 minutes running on battery power. Also see note ¹
• Regulations also require that an Emergency and Exit Sign Logbook is maintained.
• RCDs must be tested via a “push button” test every 6 months.
• RCDs must be tested via an “operating time” and “push button” test every 2 years under AS3760 – 2003. The “operating time” test can only be done by a qualified electrician.
• All electrical appliances must be inspected, tested and tagged every 12 months (in an environment where the equipment/supply cord is prone to flexing or open to abuse) and within a period up to 5 years (in an environment where the equipment/supply cord is not prone to flexing or open to abuse), under AS3760 – 2003.
• All fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fire hose reels must be inspected and serviced every 6 months under AS1851.1 – 2012 to ensure they are serviceable and properly located.
• Smoke alarms (if fitted) should be tested every six months. Also see note ²

Notes:

^{1. Some older or heritage listed buildings may have been built without exit and emergency lights. If this is the case, there is no requirement to retrofit such devices unless modifications are made to the building, and it becomes a requirement of a development applications.^}

^{2. Churches and Halls 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.^}

Other Compliance Requirements

A building Certificate of Approval detailing maximum occupancy number must be displayed.

• Emergency Evacuation Diagrams must be displayed.
• Seating should be fixed or fastened together in groups of no less than 4 seats:
• Rows exceeding 10 seats must have an aisle 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.
• 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.

Parishes should expect that local authorities will inspect public buildings at least annually to ensure compliance with this and the other requirements listed in Appendix 5 to Policy 6.5 – Parish Property Repairs and Maintenance.

An example Local Authority Inspection report is available here. This provides a good idea of the types of items required in a public building.