New Essential Safety Measures Maintenance Manual

Since 1997 the Building Commission's Essential Services Manual has been an essential guide for building owners and facility managers. Currently in its third edition, the manual provides guidance on the maintenance requirements for services in buildings.

Now with the changes to the Building Regulations, the Victorian Building Commission is in the process of producing a new and enhanced version of the ''Essential Safety Measures Maintenance Manual'' is currently being prepared for printing and will be released soon. The new manual will be available in CD format, the Building Commission website and in hard copy form.

As per previous editions, the updated manual will include easy to read sections for each safety measure reference to BCA provisions and Australian Standards. Specifically the manual will include recommended maintenance for items and reference AS 1851-2005 where appropriate, include the following sections:

: Part 0 - BCA - Use of alternative solutions and their associated maintenance requirements
: Part 1 - Applies to buildings built since 1 May 2004
: Part 2 - Applies to buildings built between 1 July 1994 and 1 May 2004
: Part 3 - Applies to buildings built prior to 1 July 1994

The updated manual has been renamed the Essential Safety Measures Maintenance Manual, to bring it into line with terminology included in the regulations and the BCA.

== How Maintenance Essentials can help ==

Maintenance Essentials provides regular inspection and testing of fire safety systems and equipment in accordance with [[http://www.testedgroup.com/AS1851_Maintenance_of_fire_protection_systems_and_equipment|Australian Standard AS1851]]. We provide reliable and accurate inspection and testing of your fire safety assets in accordance with the fire protection industry's ''Code of Conduct''. We are also able to provide reports at various levels of complexity depending on the compliance requirements.

For more information on how the new Australian Standard AS1851:2005 may affect you and your building contact Maintenance Essentials on 1300 30 88 22.