News
Summer 2006/07 fire safety
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the weather forecast for Victoria is for above average daytime temperatures. This no doubt will lead to an increased probability of bushfire.
For home owners in high risk bushfire prone areas, NOW is the time to develop a practical bushfire survival plan and be prepared.
Bureau of Meteorology
A warm end to the year
There is a strong shift in the odds towards above normal daytime temperatures for the December quarter (October-December) over Victoria, the Bureau of Meteorology announced today.The pattern of seasonal maximum temperature odds across Victoria is mainly due to higher than normal temperatures in the Indian Ocean.
Preventing unnecessary deaths at home!
A terrible tragedy occurred early this morning here in Melbourne, when a man died in a home fire that the fire brigade believe was caused by a discarded cigarette.
Cigarette likely cause of fatal house fire
Fire investigators believe a fatal house fire at Heidelberg Heights, in Melbourne's east, was caused by a discarded cigarette.
A 56-year-old man died in the front room of the Wordsworth Avenue home about 2:00am.
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board spokesman Bob Undy says smoke alarms in the house were working when the fire started.
"The smoke alarms had melted off the roof but being the early hours of the morning, it was unfortunate no-one else heard the alarm," he said.
Review of AS1851:2005 twelve months on
Australian Standard AS1851:2005, Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment was overhauled and subsequently published 12-months ago, in September 2005. According to one consultant;
This standard aims to link the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance aspects of fire equipment to improve system reliability.
The previous AS1851 comprised a suite of individual documents, parts 1 to 16 which have now been amalgamated into a single standard, AS1851-2005. New sections included in this standard include: water mist systems, evacuation plans/procedures, fire monitoring systems and smoke alarms.
Twelve months on, and the uptake of these standards has been complimented through changes to various federal and state regulations and codes. Amendment 1 was also published in July 2006, with changes to 9 clauses and no less than 18 changes to tables throughout the entire document.
Aged care facilities safety inadequate
According to Melbourne Age journalist Carol Nader last Friday (August 25, 2006) the Victorian aged care centres cop flak
Here's an extract from the Melbourne Age article;
Aged care facilities have not improved in condition in the past five years, and more were at risk of "failing, inadequate or obsolete" infrastructure, a report by the Auditor-General finds.
The report found most facilities had not improved since 2001 and many still need rebuilding.
The State Government strongly disputed this.
Department of Human Services secretary Patricia Faulkner said the department did not agree with some findings as the methodology was "flawed". She said claims the overall condition of facilities had not improved was "simply not consistent with tangible fact".
Essential Safety Measures Manual Review
The new Victorian Building Regulations 2006 are now in force and feature important changes for the Victorian building industry including changes to;
- Essential safety measures
- Legislative changes to essential safety measures
- Smoke alarm and sprinkler provisions
- Annual safety measures report
As a result of these changes, the Building Commission are seeking public comment on the proposed changes to the proposed Essential Safety Measures Manual.
