Residential care buildings (RCBs) accommodate six or more residents where 10 per cent or more of residents need physical assistance to conduct their daily activities and to evacuate the building during an emergency. The requirement for physical assistance could be the result of a physical, sensory, psychological or intellectual impairment. An RCB is generally an aged care facility or nursing home, but is not a hospital.

New residential care buildings

Since 1 June 2007, new RCBs have been required to comply with QDC MP 2.2 – Fire Safety in Residential Care Buildings ( 71 KB). The QDC requires the installation of life safety sprinklers and building-wide smoke detection systems. It also requires maintenance of a minimum carer to resident support ratio across smoke compartments and effective evacuation procedures.

The code requirements can be found in QDC MP 2.2 ( 71 KB).

Existing residential care buildings

Since 1 September 2011, existing RCBs (approved or built before 1 June 2007) are required to comply with QDC MP 2.3 - Fire Safety in Existing Residential Care Buildings (pre-1 June 2007). The QDC mandates fire safety upgrades, which - depending on the type of construction and number of storeys – can include sprinklers, fire safety management plans, a minimum support ratio of one carer to five residents or a combination of fire safety management practices.

The code requirements can be found in QDC MP 2.3 ( 167 KB).

Compliance

Owners and operators of new RCBs must comply with QDC MP 2.2 – Fire Safety in Residential Care Buildings.

Owners and operators of RCBs approved or built before 1 June 2007 must have their building assessed against QDC MP 2.3 – Fire Safety in Existing Residential Care Buildings ( 167 KB) by 1 March 2012. The assessment will identify:

• the category of the RCB
• whether the RCB complies with the QDC and if it does not comply, the way in which it does not comply.

RCB categories are based on the number of stories, types of construction and smoke management in a residential care building.

• Category 1 - multi-storey buildings with non-fire resistant building fabric.
• Category 2 - single storey buildings and buildings with fire resistant construction materials.

RCB owners and operators must ensure that their building meets to fire safety standards in QDC MP 2.3 within the following timeframe:

• category 1 buildings – by 1 September 2014
• category 2 buildings – by 1 September 2016.

Assistance

The Queensland Government is offering a free inspection service to help owners and operators of RCBs comply with the requirement to obtain an assessment report. To access a free assessment, please contact Building Codes Queensland.

Alternatively, RCB owners and operators may engage a local government or private building certifier to assess their building. RCB owners and operators must provide the Department of Local Government and Planning with the building certifier’s assessment report (using the approved RCB assessment report template by 1 March 2012.

Maintenance of fire safety installations

On 1 January 2009, building fire safety maintenance standards were transferred from the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 into QDC MP 6.1 – Maintenance of fire safety installations.

The code applies to all buildings (including existing buildings) other than class 1a (houses and townhouses) and class 10a (e.g. garage) buildings.

QDC MP 6.1 was developed to set appropriate maintenance standards for prescribed fire safety installations under the Building Act 1975, such as sprinklers, fire hydrants, emergency lifts, and fire detection and alarm systems. The code also specifies the requirements to keep appropriate maintenance records of these installations, to ensure occupiers, local government or the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service can check compliance with the QDC.

For further information, view:

• QDC MP 6.1 ( 42).
• MP 6.1 factsheet ( 77 KB)
• MP 6.1 guideline ( 174 KB)