Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) & Alpine Areas

Commercial building owners and managers must recognise that the Building Regulations 2006 with respect to essential safety measures inspections apply to alpine resort buildings. Additional inspection requirements particular to alpine areas are mandatory before signing the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR).

Owners and managers of commercial lodges and premises in Victorian alpine reports should be undertaking regular inspection of their essential safety measures as prescribed in Part 12 of the Building Regulations 2006 which allows for the signing of the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) and compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

General Requirements: AESMR

Current Situation: Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR).

Part 12 of the Building Regulations 2006, effective 13 June 2006 categorises all buildings (excluding houses) as either Subdivision 1, Subdivision 2 or Subdivision 3 buildings for the purpose of maintaining essential safety measures. This Part places obligations on the owner/ agent of a building to ensure "essential safety measures" are being maintained to a prescribed standard, and allows for the signing of the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR)..

Subdivision 1: AESMR

Subdivision 1 buildings require an Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR), and these are either new buildings constructed after July 1994 or the portion of existing buildings which have undergone alterations since July 1994. (Because of the alterations to these existing buildings, they are classified as both Subdivision 1 and 2). Subdivision 1 buildings have each individual essential safety measure specified by a building surveyor when occupancy permits or determinations are issued listing each essential safety measure with their inspection frequencies and maintenance performance requirements. Records of these functions should be kept in a "logbook" which then allows the owner/ agent to compile and sign the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR). Occupancy permits must be displayed in a prominent location or as directed by the relevant building surveyor. Building owner/ property manager must supply evidence of maintenance (i.e. logbooks, test reports, etc.) once 24 hours has been received by council or the Fire Brigade.

In a number of buildings multiple Annual Essential Safety Measures Reports (AESMR) will be required, one for every determination issued. The municipal or private building surveyor can now amalgamate the maintenance conditions of the occupancy permits/ certificates of final inspections/ determinations to create one anniversary Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) date for the entire building.

Subdivision 2: AESMR

Subdivision 2 buildings are buildings that existed prior to July 1994 and have not been altered since. The owner must decide on the method and standard each essential safety measure is maintained to fulfil its purpose and must ensure each essential safety measure is not removed from its approved location except for the purpose of maintenance or in accordance with the Building Regulations 2006. An Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) is required for Subdivision 2 buildings.

Subdivision 1 and 2: AESMR

Existing buildings which have undergone alterations since July 1994 are classified as Subdivision 1 and 2 buildings and the legislative provisions for Subdivision 1 and Subdivision 2 apply to these buildings, since these building will contain essential safety measures and are also subject to the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR).

Subdivision 3: AESMR

The occupier of a building can be fined in addition to the building owner should the essential safety measures, known as exits, paths of travel to exits and any path of travel on the allotment from exits to a road, not be readily accessible, functional and clear of obstruction. These breaks would be nominated in the logbook before signing the AESMR.

Some Additional Mandatory Alpine Area Building Requirements: AESMR

Annual inspection to ensure the essential safety measure known as a warning sign is in place and legible of 'Signs alerting persons that operation of doors must not be impaired' before signing the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR).
Annual inspection to ensure the warning sign is in place and legible of Fire order notices required in alpine areas before signing the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR).

Fire orders (alpine areas): AESMR

Every BCA Class 2, 3 or 9 building must display a notice clearly marked " FIRE ORDERS" in suitable locations near the main entrance and on each storey, explaining-

the method of operation of the fire alarm system and the location of all call-points; and
the location and methods of operation of all fire-fighting equipment; and
the location of all exits; and
the procedure for evacuation of the building.

Fire Orders must be clearly visible before signing the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR).

External doorways

A door fitted to an external doorway which may be subject to the build-up of snow must-
(i) only be capable of opening inwards; and
(ii) be marked "OPEN INWARDS" on the inside face of the door in letters not less than 75 mm high and in a colour contrasting with that of the background; and
(iii) if it serves a corridor or stairway, be positioned in an alcove or recess with-
(A) no horizontal dimension less than twice the width of the door; and
(B) the door positioned to open against a wall such that the distance from any part of its swing to the nearest point of entry of the stairway or corridor is not less than the width of the door.
(b) Every threshold of a required exit doorway must be located so that snow or ice is not deposited in a manner that will obstruct means of egress from that doorway.

Owners Verification On Egress: AESMR

An owner must ensure egress from the building is verified as safe at all times prior to signing the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR).