Building fire safety requirements of Australian Standards 3745

Building fire safety requirements of Australian Standards 3745

Australian Standard AS 3745, “Planning for emergencies in facilities,” is a key document that outlines the requirements for effective emergency planning and response in facilities throughout Australia. The main objective of AS 3745 is to establish a framework for managing emergencies and ensuring the safety of occupants in buildings and other facilities.

While AS 3745 does not exclusively focus on fire safety, it does provide guidelines for emergency procedures related to fire incidents. There are some key fire safety requirements and recommendations covered by AS 3745:

1. Emergency Planning Committee (EPC): AS 3745 mandates the establishment of an EPC, consisting of representatives from the building owner, occupiers, and other stakeholders. The EPC is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining an Emergency Plan for the facility.
2. Emergency Plan: The Emergency Plan should provide a comprehensive and structured approach to responding to emergencies, including fires. It should cover:a. Emergency identification and assessment b. Prevention and mitigation strategies c. Emergency response procedures d. Recovery and restoration activities
3. Emergency Control Organization (ECO): The ECO is a group of trained personnel responsible for implementing the Emergency Plan during an emergency. They should have clearly defined roles and responsibilities, including the Chief Warden, Area/Floor Wardens, and First Attack Firefighting Team Members.
4. Training and education: AS 3745 requires that all ECO members and occupants of a facility receive appropriate training and education on emergency procedures, including fire safety. This should include:a. Initial training for ECO members b. Regular refresher training for ECO members c. General emergency awareness training for all occupants
5. Emergency response procedures: AS 3745 mandates that emergency response procedures be developed for various emergency scenarios, including fires. These procedures should cover:a. Raising the alarm and notifying emergency services b. Evacuation and assembly c. Fighting the fire (if safe to do so) d. Assisting people with disabilities or special needs e. Liaising with emergency services upon their arrival
6. Fire safety equipment: The standard emphasizes the importance of having adequate fire safety equipment in the facility, such as fire extinguishers, fire blankets, hose reels, and sprinkler systems. It also recommends regular inspection, testing, and maintenance of this equipment.
7. Signage and diagrams: AS 3745 requires clear signage and diagrams to be displayed throughout the facility, indicating emergency exits, evacuation routes, fire safety equipment locations, and assembly areas.
8. Evacuation exercises: The standard recommends conducting regular evacuation exercises to test the effectiveness of the Emergency Plan and familiarize occupants with emergency procedures.
9. Review and continuous improvement: The EPC should regularly review and update the Emergency Plan and procedures to ensure they remain effective and compliant with any changes in regulations or the facility itself.

It is important to note that this only provides a broad overview of some of the fire safety-related requirements of AS 3745, it is essential that you talk with your local authorities or a fire safety professional to ensure that you are fully compliant.