Page 2853 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 September 1994
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If the same sized premises is on the first floor, still under occupancy loading, under D1.13, 100 people per 100 square metres, but the only way out of this premises is by a narrow staircase, the signage is not as good as it could be, there could be a quite large distance to get to the stairs - all of those sorts of things - we find that the exit capacity is 80. Currently that means that the occupancy loading will be 80. So, on one side you have a situation of going to the lowest; but, on the other side, which is very appropriate because only 80 people can get out of that premises - a very appropriate occupancy loading - it is still only the lowest. We get only 80 on the first floor; but on the ground floor, where 150 can get out, we have still only 100 because there is no flexibility. All this amendment does is give the Fire Commissioner a capacity to have flexibility when it is thought appropriate under the Building Code. It is not stepping outside the Building Code.
Mr Berry made comments that all over Australia this happens, and what would happen if we stepped outside that and all that sort of stuff. The fact is that everywhere in Australia - in New South Wales, in Tasmania, in South Australia, in Victoria and so on - what is actually taken into account is exit capacity, as well as things like standing areas for bars, which can have a lower capacity such as 0.75 and so on. None of those things we have touched on in these amendments. We have not attempted actually to bring down the number of people per square metre. All we have attempted to do is provide flexibility, and I think that is just commonsense.
Question put:
That the amendments (Mrs Carnell's) be agreed to.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 7 NOES, 6
Mrs Carnell Mr Berry
Mr Cornwell Mr Connolly
Mr Humphries Ms Ellis
Mr Moore Ms Follett
Mr Stefaniak Mrs Grassby
Mr Stevenson Mr Wood
Ms Szuty
Question so resolved in the affirmative.
Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
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