Annual Essential Safety Measures Reports

The Building Regulations 2018 require building owners to maintain essential safety measures so that they operate satisfactorily and more importantly safely.

Building owners must prepare an annual essential safety measures report on the buildings essential safety measures. They may authorise an agent, such as Victorian Essential Safety Building Inspections (VESBI), to complete the report. The annual essential safety measures report needs to be in accordance with the approved form.

VESBI ensures compliance with items listed within the Building Regulations 2018 and ensures they have been maintained according to the National Construction Code and Building Code of Australia. 

The Victoria Building Authority indicate that Essential safety measures apply to all buildings apart from a house or outbuilding. These include the following classes, as defined in A3.2 of the National Construction Code Series Volume One, Building Code of Australia Class 2–9 Buildings (BCA):

• Class 1b: Some boarding houses, guest houses or hostels
• Class 2: Buildings containing sole-occupancy units which are dwellings (e.g. apartments, blocks of flats)
• Class 3: Backpacker accommodation, residential parts of hotels or motels, residential parts of schools, accommodation for the aged, disabled or children
• Class 4: A dwelling in another class of building
• Class 5: Offices for professional or commercial purposes
• Class 6: Shops or other buildings for sale of goods by retail, including cafes, restaurants, milk bars, dining rooms, and bars
• Class 7: Buildings used for car parks, storage or display of goods
• Class 8: Laboratories or buildings for production or assembly of goods
• Class 9: Public buildings such as health care buildings or assembly buildings, nightclubs, bars etc.

Buildings built before 1 July 1994
If the building was built before 1 July 1994, the owner is responsible for ensuring that any safety equipment, safety fittings or safety measures are maintained and fulfilling their purpose. This includes exits and paths of travel to exits.

Buildings constructed or altered since 1 July 1994
If the building was constructed or altered since 1 July 1994, the list of essential safety measures, including their performance level, frequency and type of maintenance required would be included with the occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection.

The owners of all Class 9 buildings, and Class 2 to 8 buildings constructed or altered since 1 July 1994, must have a current copy of the building's occupancy permit on display in the building. These can be framed, or placed in a sealed, transparent or glass covered notice board. Multiple pages may be laminated so they can be suspended or fixed in a prominent position in the building as approved by the building surveyor.


Essential safety measures includes items, such as:

• air handling systems (used for smoke hazard management)
• exit doors
• early warning systems
• emergency lifts
• emergency lighting
• emergency power supply
• emergency warning systems
• exit signs
• fire control centres
• fire curtains and doors
• fire extinguishers
• fire detection and alarm systems
• fire hydrants
• fire isolated stairs
• fire rated materials
• fire windows
• mechanical ventilation (incorporate a cooling tower or hot or warm water system)
• fire isolated passageways and ramps
• paths of travel to exits
• smoke alarms
• smoke control systems
• sprinkler systems.

VESBI's service offerings include:

Inspecting and identifying

For buildings built before 1 July 1994, VESBI can help owners identify essential safety measures​

Auditing

Ensure maintenance has been performed to the requirements of National Construction Code and Building Code of Australia​

Reporting

Produce annual essential safety measures reports in the approved form and format​