Services

Essential Safety Measures

Building Safety with Codus

What is an ESM?

Essential Safety Measures (ESMs) are the building’s egress systems and passive or active fire safety systems that are installed or constructed in the building.

Collectively, these systems limit the spread of fire, facilitate the emergency response by the fire brigade and ensure that occupants of a building will be able to safety evacuate the building in an emergency.

Why maintain ESM requirements?

Essential Safety Measures must be maintained to ensure that in the event of an emergency these systems operate as intended by the building designers and relevant codes and standards. If Essential Safety Measures are not maintained, the risk of injury or death to occupants increases.

In addition, maintenance of Essential Safety Measures is a legal obligation of the building owner under the Building Act and Building Regulations. It is also a condition of an Occupancy Permit and fire engineering based performance solutions.

Non compliance with the maintenance requirements of the Building Regulation could result in Council issuing infringements and or Building Orders. Court imposed penalties on an individual owner can amount to $35,000 and for companies $245,000.

Key Participants & Responibilities

• Relevant Building Surveyor

Identifies the applicable Essential Safety Measures within a building and nominates the required maintenance and frequency. 

• Building Owner

Engages appropriate contractors to undertake maintenance of Essential Safety Measures.  

• Fire Service Maintenance Contractor

A contractor who is qualified to test or repair active fire safety system such as a sprinklers, hydrants, detection system.

Note: Where the fire safety system is considered prescribed plumbing or electrical work, these contractors must also be licensed with the Victorian Building Authority or Energy Safe Victoria.

• ESM Contractor

A contractor engaged to undertake Quarterly, 6-monthly and or Annual Inspections of passive fire safety systems.This contractor would also assist the building owner in the preparation and lodgement of the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report.

Why Codus?

• Quality Endorsed Company & Certified to ISO 9001:2015.
• Successful track record on major projects of the highest complexity Including: Australia 108, Melbourne Emporium, Bendigo Hospital, QV complex, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and The Shrine of Remembrance.
• Efficient systems & processes to ensure timely reporting.
• Accurate and consistent reporting results in reduced Capital Expenditure over the life cycle of the assets.
• Appointment for ESMs where Codus acted as the Relevant Building Surveyor ensures intimate project knowledge & streamlined processes.
• For new engagements, our skilled team will acquire a thorough understanding of the building and the maintenance requirements.

KEY TERMS

Active Essential Safey Measures 

Active fire safety systems detect a fire, alert the building occupants and authorities and control the spread of fire and smoke.

E.g. automatic fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm detection systems and smoke hazard management systems.

Passive Essential Saftey Measures

Passive ESMs are generally the structural components of a building which assist in slowing the spread of fire and smoke.

E.g. fire/smoke walls, fire/smoke stopping treatments of openings or penetrations between fire/smoke separated areas.

Quaterly Passive Inspections

Quarterly reports are based on findings identified from a walk through inspection of paths of travel, exit doors and general passive safety systems.

Half-Yearly Inspections

Specific fire systems vary from building type and use. Where the building requires 6-monthly inspections, active & passive walk-throughs are undertaken.

Annual Inspections

An extensive audit of active and passive systems, reviewing all available independent tester’s logbooks & contractor declarations to assess the level of maintenance being carried out.

 A report is prepared to outline any shortfalls identified and rectification works required before the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) can be signed off for the relevant 12-month period.

Annual Essential Saftey Measures Report (AESMR)

An AESMR is a signed declaration prepared in accordance with Part 15* confirming that all ESMs associated with the relevant building are being maintained to the requirements noted on the Occupancy Permit (OP) or Maintenance Schedule (MS).

*Building Regulations 2018