This article discusses the responsibilities and powers of a body corporate to prevent obstructions and keep evacuation routes clear under body corporate fire exit authority obligations.
Question: What are the Body Corporate’s responsibility and authority to keep a fire exit doorway clear?
What are the Body Corporate’s responsibility and authority to keep a fire exit doorway clear of vehicles. I understand it is not advised for us to tow however, this particular exit is the main one for a 12 story building and whilst it is unlikely we will need it, we do have a responsibility to keep it clear. Where do we stand with this?
Answer: Building Fire Safety Regulation places the responsibility on the occupier to undertake reasonable steps to ensure that a person does not obstruct an evacuation route
The Building Fire Safety Regulations section 7 – do not allow a “Person” to place a “thing” within 2m of the final exit outside of a building, or in any other place on the evacuation route that is likely to restrict, hinder or delay a person using the evacuation route.
When deciding if an object in an evacuation route is likely to hinder or delay a person, regard must be given to the number, the mobility of the person (s) that would use the evacuation route.
Section 8 & 9 of the Building Fire Safety Regulation places the responsibility on the occupier to undertake reasonable step to ensure that a person does not obstruct an evacuation route.
This post appears in Strata News #483.
Stefan Bauer
Fire Matters
E: sbauer@firematters.com.au
P: 07 3071 9088
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