4. CASOS DE ESTUDIO
4.1 EMPRESAS PÚBLICAS DE MEDELLÍN (EPM)
a) The date the inspection was carried out; and b) Any problems encountered during the inspection; and
c) The name, designation and signature of the person carrying out the inspection. A log sheet to record this information is provided in Appendix C of this manual.
S E C T I O N 2 / P A G E 3
E S S E N T I A L S A F E T Y M E A S U R E S M A I N T E N A N C E M A N U A L • B U I L D I N G C O M M I S S I O N
PURPOSE
Discharge from exits is to provide an unobstructed pathway for occupants travelling to a road or open space.
REQUIREMENTS
Barriers, such as bollards, must be installed if they are necessary to prevent vehicles blocking access to, or discharge from, an exit.
To provide a passage for occupants travelling to a road or open space, the width of the path must be at least that of the exit as specified by the Building Code of Australia, and in no case less than one metre.
The link between the exit and road or open space must be open to the sky for its length.
METHOD OF OPERATION
To ensure discharges from exits are operational and effective, they must not be obstructed or altered in any way.
It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that all discharges and paths of travel to road or open space are maintained in an efficient condition and kept functional and clear of obstruction.
MAINTENANCE CHECKS
It is recommended that the relevant building surveyor should require a three-monthly inspection. The owner may delegate this function to another person or body where necessary or appropriate.
It is recommended that in carrying out the required inspections, the following points be covered:–
a) Ensure no obstruction of any nature has encroached on or into the designated paths of travel to road or open space; and
b) Ensure that exits have not been blocked and bollards are in place; and c) Check that no unauthorised alteration has been carried out on these sections.
MAINTENANCE RECORDS
A log book must be kept to record:–a) The date the inspection was carried out; and b) Any problems encountered during the inspection; and
c) The name, designation and signature of the person carrying out the inspection. A log sheet to record this information is provided in Appendix C of this manual.
2 . 2 D I S C h A r G E f rO m E x I T S
(Including paths of travel from open spaces to the public roads to which
they are connected)
BCA: D1.7, D1.9 to D1.11, D2.12,
S E C T I O N 2 / P A G E 4
E S S E N T I A L S A F E T Y M E A S U R E S M A I N T E N A N C E M A N U A L • B U I L D I N G C O M M I S S I O N
PURPOSE
Fire-isolated passageways, ramps and stairs are to provide occupants with safe egress from a building.
REQUIREMENTS
These elements must be of fire-resistant construction at a level specified in the Building Code of Australia.
At the entrance point to these elements, fire doors are provided. Fire doors are to be of a specified fire-resistance level, that are either self-closing or have automatic closing facilities linked to smoke or heat detectors or to a fire alarm or sprinkler system installed in the building.
MAINTENANCE CHECKS
It is recommended that the relevant building surveyor should require an annual inspection of these facilities. The owner may delegate this function to another person or body where necessary or appropriate.
It is essential to ensure:–
a) No unauthorised alterations have been made that could compromise the integrity of the fire-resistance level; and b) No obstruction has occurred by stacking of goods or equipment within these areas which may obstruct the door
swing; and
c) No tampering or interference with the self-closing or automatic operation of the fire doors.
Relevant details for the testing and inspection of fire doors are provided in Section 1.5 – Fire doors of this manual.
MAINTENANCE RECORDS
The following information must be recorded:–
a) The dates that monthly and yearly inspections were carried out; and b) The name of the person conducting the inspections; and
c) Any problems identified in the inspection; and d) Actions taken to rectify problems identified; and e) Date rectification occurred; and
f) Signature of the person conducting the inspection.
A log sheet to record this information is provided in Appendix C of this manual.
2 . 3 E x I T S
(Including fire-isolated stairways and ramps, non-fire isolated stairways and ramps,
stair treads, balustrades and handrails associated with exits, and fire-isolated passageways)
BCA: D2.2 to D2.3, D2.8 to D2.11 D2.13, D2.16. D2.17,D2.23
S E C T I O N 2 / P A G E 5
E S S E N T I A L S A F E T Y M E A S U R E S M A I N T E N A N C E M A N U A L • B U I L D I N G C O M M I S S I O N
PURPOSE
Smoke lobbies to fire-isolated exits are to provide occupants with safe egress from a building and prevent smoke entering a stair.
REQUIREMENTS
These elements are constructed to prevent the passage of smoke at a level specified in the Building Code of Australia. Around the entrance point to the exit, smoke lobbies may be provided. Smoke lobbies are constructed to prevent the passage of smoke, into the area and are fitted with smoke doors that are either self-closing or have automatic closing facilities linked to smoke or heat detectors, or to a fire alarm or sprinkler system installed in the building.
The smoke lobby may also be pressured if the required exit stair is required to be pressurised under the smoke hazard management provisions.
MAINTENANCE CHECKS
It is recommended that the relevant building surveyor should require an annual inspection of smoke lobbies. The owner may delegate this function to another person or body where necessary or appropriate.
It is essential to ensure:–
a) No unauthorised alterations have been made that could compromise the integrity of the smoke lobby; and b) No obstruction has occurred by stacking of goods or equipment within these areas; and
c) No tampering or interference has occurred with the self-closing or automatic operation of the smoke doors. Details for the testing and inspection of smoke doors are provided in Section 1.11 of this manual.
Details for the testing and inspection of pressurisation systems are provided in Section 6.1 of this manual.
MAINTENANCE RECORDS
The following information must be recorded:–
a) The dates that monthly and yearly inspections were carried out; and b) The name of the person conducting the inspections; and
c) Any problems identified in the inspection; and d) Actions taken to rectify problems identified; and e) Date rectification occurred; and
f) Signature of the person conducting the inspection.
A log sheet to record this information is provided in Appendix C of this manual.
2 . 4 S m O k E l O B B I E S TO F I r E - I S O l AT E d E x I T S
S E C T I O N 2 / P A G E 6
E S S E N T I A L S A F E T Y M E A S U R E S M A I N T E N A N C E M A N U A L • B U I L D I N G C O M M I S S I O N
PURPOSE
Open access ramps and balconies are to provide occupants with safe egress from a building.
REQUIREMENTS
Where open access ramps or balconies are provided to meet the smoke hazard management requirements of the Building Code of Australia they must:–
a) have ventilation openings to outside air which:–
i. have a total unobstructed area not less that the floor area of the ramp or balcony; and ii. Are evenly distributed along the open sides of the ramp or balcony; and
b) Not be enclosed on the open side above a height of one metre except by an open grille or the like having a free air space of not less than 75% of its area.
MAINTENANCE CHECKS
It is recommended that the relevant building surveyor should require an annual inspection of the ramps or balconies. The owner may delegate this function to another person or body where necessary or appropriate.
It is essential to ensure:–
a) No unauthorised alterations have been made that could compromise the integrity of the ventilation requirements; and
b) No obstruction has occurred by stacking of goods or equipment within these areas.
MAINTENANCE RECORDS
The following information must be recorded:–
a) The dates that monthly and yearly inspections were carried out; and b) The name of the person conducting the inspections; and
c) Any problems identified in the inspection; and d) Actions taken to rectify problems identified; and e) Date rectification occurred; and
f) Signature of the person conducting the inspection.
A log sheet to record this information is provided in Appendix C of this manual.
2 . 5 O P E N AC C E S S r A m P S O r B A l C O N I E S
S E C T I O N 2 / P A G E 7
E S S E N T I A L S A F E T Y M E A S U R E S M A I N T E N A N C E M A N U A L • B U I L D I N G C O M M I S S I O N
PURPOSE
To provide a means of egress from any part of a building.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE EQUIPMENT
To provide sufficient and safe egress from a building, with a minimum of effort and delay, and to present a minimum of obstruction in an exit path.
METHOD OF OPERATION
An exit door must be capable of simple operation to fulfil its designed purpose. An exit door may be a swinging door or could be a sliding door. Sliding doors may be manually operated or power operated.
Swinging doors must be able to be opened readily without a key, from the side facing a person seeking their way out, by a single-handed downward or pushing action on a single device located between 900 mm and 1.2 m above the floor. It could be fitted with a fail-safe device that unlocks the door automatically when any sprinkler, smoke or heat detector system is activated in the building.
Sliding doors must be able to be opened manually under a force of not more than 110N and if power operated:– Must be able to be opened manually under a force of not more that 110N if there is a malfunction of failure •
of the power source; and
If they lead directly to road or open space they must open automatically if there is a power failure to the door •
or on the activation of a fire or smoke alarm anywhere in the fire compartment served by the door.
MAINTENANCE CHECKS
It is recommended that the relevant building surveyor should require exit doors to be inspected every three months. The owner may delegate this function to another person or body where necessary or appropriate.
Maintenance checks should be carried out to ensure that exit doors comply as follows:– Swinging Doors:
Intact •
Operational •
Fitted with hardware that conforms to the requirements of the
• Building Code of Australia, Section D (the hardware
necessary to enable operation as outlined above). Sliding doors:
Open doors manually and confirm doors can be opened under a force of not more than 110N; and •
If power operated:– •
• Simulate power failure and open doors manually. Confirm door can be opened under a force of not more than 110N.
• If they lead directly to road or open space:–
- Simulate fire alarm within the fire compartment and confirm that doors open automatically.
MAINTENANCE RECORDS
A log sheet to record the maintenance and inspections carried out is included Appendix C of this manual.
2 . 6 d O O r S
(Other than fire or smoke doors in a required exit, forming part of a required exit or in a path
of travel to a required exit, and associated self-closing, automatic closing and latching mechanisms)
BCA: D1.6, D2.19 to D2.21, D2.23
Signs
S E C T I O N 3 / P A G E 1
E S S E N T I A L S A F E T Y M E A S U R E S M A I N T E N A N C E M A N U A L • B U I L D I N G C O M M I S S I O N
S i g n s
3.1 ExIT SIGNS (INCLUDING DIRECTION SIGNS) 2
3.2 SIGNS WARNING AGAINST ThE USE OF LIFTS IN ThE EvENT OF FIRE 3
3.3 WARNING SIGNS ON SLIDING FIRE DOORS AND DOORS TO NON-REqUIRED STAIRWAYS,
RAMpS AND ESCALATORS 4
3.4 SIGNS, INTERCOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, OR ALARM SYSTEMS ON DOORS OF FIRE-ISOLATED ExITS
STATING ThAT RE-ENTRY TO STOREY IS AvAILABLE 5
3.5 SIGNS ALERTING pERSONS ThAT ThE OpERATION OF DOORS MUST NOT BE IMpAIRED 6
3.6 SIGNS REqUIRED ON DOORS, IN ALpINE AREAS, ALERTING pEOpLE ThAT ThEY OpEN INWARDS 7
E S S E N T I A L S A F E T Y M E A S U R E S M A I N T E N A N C E M A N U A L • B U I L D I N G C O M M I S S I O N
S E C T I O N 3 / P A G E 2
PurPose
Exit signs are provided to aid occupant identification of exits and paths of travel to exits.