TECHNICAL PAPERS owners, tenants, property managers and hospital engineers.
hotels, motels, and common areas of new apartment buildings.
The Premises Standards contain detailed disability access information specifying the circumstances and types of building where the Standards apply, and they apply to a new building, a new part of an existing building, and the affected part of an existing building.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY COMPLIANCE
For disability access, the affected part of a building means: • the principal pedestrian entrance of an existing building that contains a new part and • any part of an existing building that contains a new part, that is necessary to provide a continuous accessible path of travel from the entrance to the new part. Generally speaking, the affected part of a building must comply with the new access requirements where alterations and/or additions are proposed to an existing building, and the proposed work is subject to a building permit/complying development certificate or a construction certificate/building permit. The affected part of the building, relative to disability access, does not apply to: • existing parts of buildings outside the area of the new work and the affected part upgrade • an accessway from the allotment boundary, from any accessible car parking space on the allotment or between other buildings on the allotment Upgrading works for an affected part may include the following disability access works: • accessibility of upper floors to new work • providing lift access features such as Braille or tactile buttons • signage • removing a step at a building entrance • upgrading handrails on a ramp • minimum width requirements of doorways or passageways, including passing and turning spaces As a consequence of the new disability access provisions, the BCA more extensively covers features such as lifts, stairs, ramps, toilets and corridors in buildings such as office blocks, shops,
54
Energy efficiency requirements, as detailed in Section J of Volume One of the Building Code of Australia (and applicable to all building Classes 2-9, unless otherwise stated), apply to the construction of all new buildings, as well as the refurbishment, alteration or extension of any existing building. The energy efficiency requirements allow commercial and public buildings to achieve minimum levels of energy efficiency compliance through the performance-based provisions of the BCA. In essence, these measures are designed to reduce the use of artificial heating and cooling, improve the energy efficiency of lighting, air conditioning and ventilation and reduce energy loss through air leakage. Assessments generally cover building elements such as the building fabric, external glazing, building sealing, air movement, air conditioning and ventilation systems, artificial lighting and power, and access for maintenance. Energy efficiency compliance with the BCA can be achieved by complying with the deemed to satisfy requirements of the BCA or by developing an energy efficiency alternative solution that demonstrates that the proposal meets the relevant BCA performance requirements. Where energy efficiency alternative solutions are sought or additional information is needed, softwarebased energy efficiency analysis can also be deployed to assess the energy contribution of various building components such as building fabric, air filtration and natural ventilation, internal heat sources, air conditioning systems and vertical transport systems.
EMERGENCY PLANNING Emergency plan development, Emergency response procedures, evacuation diagrams, emergency procedures training, and emergency response exercise program implementation are
THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL ENGINEER I JUNE 2014
just some of the requirements of the emergency planning obligations under AS 3745-2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities. When a building undergoes alterations, some or all of these requirements can be impacted by the changes in the building, and building owners need to give due consideration to ensuring their emergency planning remains effective, up to date and AS 3745 – 2010 compliant in order to provide a safe work environment for staff, building occupants and visitors alike. While the basic intent of the BCA is to ensure the provision of safe buildings for occupancy that provide a level of amenity commensurate with community expectations, the application of the BCA can be open to interpretation. Building Surveyors are quite often called upon to provide expert advice or witness, and to provide sound planning advice in maximising your building asset. Where possible, ensure you receive sound and professional advice before calling in the builders.
About the HENDRY Group Derek Hendry is the Managing Director of the HENDRY Group of consulting companies that Include HENDRY Building Surveying Consultants, HENDRY Disability Access Consultants, Essential Property Services and Emergency Plan. HENDRY pioneered the private certification system of building approvals in Australia, and the consultancy assists clients nationally in all facets of building control and disability access compliance, essential safety measures audits and emergency planning requirements. HENDRY publish a monthly e-newsletter entitled ‘Essential Matters” as a free subscription service, to keep property and building managers, facility managers and hospital engineers up to date with the latest developments in building compliance and building control. http://www.hendrygroup.com.au