Enhanced fire safety for new residential care buildings: Fraser

Enhanced fire safety for new residential care buildings: Fraser

From June 1, residents of new residential care facilities in Queensland will be even safer, with the introduction of a mandatory fire safety code.

Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser today announced that Part 14.1 –Fire Safety in Residential Care Buildings, of the Queensland Development Code had been adopted by the State Government.

“The new standard will require sprinkler protection for all new buildings, and a communications link with the fire service for larger buildings. An evacuation plan will also be required and must specify minimum evacuation support ratios between staff and residents.

“All buildings will be required to have building-wide alarms. As a concession, owners will not be required to install fire hose reels, and they will have some relaxation for fire resistant constructions. This will help ensure the new measures are cost effective.

“A range of industry stakeholders have been consulted in developing the code that is now enshrined in law under the Building Act 1975.”

Mr Fraser said the new fire safety code would ensure that all Queenslanders living in new residential care facilities were protected from fire by safety sprinklers which activate at low temperatures.

“The State Government is committed to ensuring all new residential care buildings meet minimum fire safety standards, and with the introduction of this code, we have taken a leadership approach in ensuring vulnerable residents are safeguarded against fire,” he said.

“Residents of care facilities should be able to remain in familiar surroundings as they age, but with peace of mind that they are adequately protected from fire.

“Fire safety in existing residential care facilities is also currently being considered as part of the Government’s staged fire safety improvement strategy for high occupation density accommodation buildings.

“The improvement strategy is the next phase of a fire safety investigation program which began following the Childers backpacker fire in June 2000. In July 2006 the State Coroner, during the inquest into the fire, encouraged clear and enforceable fire safety measures to safeguard residents of high occupation buildings.”

Mr Fraser said that a public benefit test would be undertaken to assess the impacts, benefit and costs of potential regulatory and education options for a fire safety improvement strategy in Queensland’s existing residential care buildings.

“The mandatory fire safety code is for all new buildings, but we must also ensure our existing facilities are protected,” he said.

“The Public Benefit Test will ensure that residential care industry stakeholders are able to contribute in a meaningful way to the process.

“Interested parties and the general public will be invited to participate in workshops or provide written submissions in response to the Public Benefit Test. This will ensure that all Queenslanders living in residential care have access to the same standard of fire safety.”

Media Contact: Chris Ward 0418 424 654