- This topic has 7 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 9 months ago by .
-
Topic
-
We’re owner occupiers living in a large strata in Sydney, built in 1999. Among their serious faults is fire safety. I am in a group of residents reviewing this for our strata committee.
Each floor of each building has a map of how to exit in case of fire. Every map is incorrect & is not only useless but dangerous as it could muddle people trying to exit in a hurry. Can we just get these removed, or are we obliged to have such a map displayed? There are no maps in the apartments.
-
Replies
-
Hi, You don’t say who is the author of the maps and whether you can ensure whether they are in fact necessary for safety compliance, and if so, that they are done properly. The little I’ve learned on fire safety upgrades is in meeting the requirements of the local council and the Fire Brigade. I understand these are the bodies which rule on the various upgrade minimum features that are necessary to meet approved fire safety compliance. Also I’d guestimate that the building’s available budget, and the reasoning of yourself and the committee you speak of will help in arranging the procedure, with the body corporate, or their consultant working within the guidelines of the authorities.
Others will know more.
Good luck!
In our large scheme in Sydney, which has been dealing with numerous fire defects for 10 years, we have alway been advised that maps are not a requirement – just nice to have. However, clearly visible exit signs are.
In the case of emergency, no-one stops to read maps.
In all states of Australia, it is a requirement of AS3745-2010, Section 3.5 of Planning for Emergencies in Facilities, to have Evacuation Diagrams in the common areas of multi-residential buildings.
In Queensland, the emergency exit diagrams must show the path to be followed to exit the building, eg. via the stairwells. The exit diagrams must be no smaller than A4 size. The diagrams show the location of fire hydrants, fire extinguishers and fire hoses for the level the diagram is on.
In our building, the diagrams are placed in the corridors above the Up/Down buttons of the lifts.
It is up to occupiers to familiarise themselves with the exit diagrams. In the event of an emergency they should know in advance the path to exit the building. Visibility is an issue in corridors filled with smoke from a fire, especially at night, event with emergency lighting operating.
Using lifts to evacuate a building in an emergency is an no-no. Fire services personnel have a key that over-rides the lift systems so that if they cannot exit the lift on the level of the fire, the lift doors will shut very much faster than usual.
Your strata manager should also be giving direction on this, a) as they should be aware of current practice, and b) by doing so you will likely share the responsibility should something terrible happen and the nature of signs become an issue in any post-event insurance or litigation.
Hi, As said earlier, in my limited experience, the local fire brigade and local council are the authority bodies on this, and a strata firm may hire a consultant on behalf of owners. I understand the strata firm isn’t the authority or the final arbiter. That said, they may be experienced, and if so, as you say, give a bit of guidance.
Arranging current requirement by a qualified practitioner is one of the annual things that our strata manager just does for us (the pool ones also), as well as the other things such as putting the floor plan fire escape plans about the place and seeking the annual agm appointment of the local fire officer/rep and doing a annual fire drill we all never bother going to. If you have taste for what these may look like ask to see these first on the chance you find these would present better in a nice frame or style or put in a particular locale where that is a choice.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.