AS3745

Over the last few days I have been asked three times the following question;

In what circumstances am I required to create an emergency plan for a workplace?

Upon further investigation, the question has hovered around the specific requirements for a 150-250m² Class 6 (retail) building.

Recently the Fire Protection Association of Australia hosted a series of seminars throughout Australia effectively launching the 2010 revision of Australian Standard AS 3745-2010 Planning for Emergencies in Facilities.

The standard was first published in 1990 and was revised in 1995 and 2002. The fourth edition, released in November 2010, outlines the minimum requirements for the establishment, validation and implementation of an emergency plan for a facility.

The standard applies to buildings, structures or workplaces occupied by people, with the exception of Class 1a1 buildings as defined in the Building Code of Australia, unless that dwelling is also used as a workplace.

The standard also provides guidance for the planning and implementation of effective emergency planning committee (EPC), emergency control organisation (ECO) and emergency response procedures, covering emergency situations up until the appropriate emergency service arrives.

While not normally a condition of an Occupancy Permit or Maintenance Determination it is possible an emergency plans and controls could be deemed to be an essential safety measure and fall within the requirements of Part 12 of the Building Regulations 2006 (Vic)

• 1. Clause 1.2 of AS3745-2010 excludes single (Class 1) dwellings