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HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015
EVENTS in FOCUS
The meeting was attended by over 120
people, covering all sectors of the events
industry including engineers, event
organisers, temporary structure builders,
marquee manufacturers and suppliers.
The VBA team, led by Jarrod Edwards,
Director of Technical and Regulation,
presented on a range of topics. Jarrod
provided information on key objectives
of the VBA and the approach they have
adopted to be consistent, efficient
and transparent. Jarrod stressed
the importance of the industry also
supporting the VBA. Jarrod said the VBA
will be carrying out an increased number
of inspections in the future with the aim
of providing safer and greater outcomes.
According to Peter Zagorski, Team
Leader – Technical and Regulation, the
standard contains separate sections
dealing with areas such as structural, fire
safety etc. Peter said there are significant
regulations regarding fire safety and
separation of structures, these provisions
should be noted when planning an event
as placement of structures will be critical.
There are sections on egress provisions
as well as access that all need to be taken
into account when planning large events,
as well as notes on safety management.
The standard is a document that has
taken over 10 years to produce and is
adopted by the VBA as part of policy.
According to Christian Williams,
Technical Advisor – Technical and
Regulation who discussed Engineering
– Structural Provisions, the Building
Commission assessed the Occupancy
Permit (OP) applications previously
based on engineering first principals
under Australian Standard AS1170.2.
That changed with the arrival of the VBA
and now the applications are assessed
based on the National Construction Code
(NCC). This is because the way legislation
is written the Building Codes Australia
(BCA) has hierarchy over the standard.
Christian said the structural provisions
Part 3.1 to part 3.4 are normative
(mandatory) and must be complied with
unless an alternate method is developed
and approved by the relevant authority
(in this case the VBA) as per clause 3.1.
Wayne Clarke, Technical Advisor
– Technical and Regulation, said
requirements for a successful application
are all set out on the check list, however
provided useful information on what
the VBA require. The VBA will require
payment specific to the application being
made, detailed drawings, the application
filled out with the practitioner’s details,
event details if the application is site
specific and a fire test certificate should
all accompany the other items on the
check list for a successful application.
Drawings should be A3 with all
dimensions clearly shown: heights, length
and widths. Wayne said the drawings
ideally should be on one page and
show a fully dimensioned plan, as well
as all elevations all fully dimensioned.
The plans should detail exit or aisle
widths, connection details, all hold down
provisions as well as bracing and if there
is to be a handrail or stairs. The plans
should also be sufficient for installers to
work from the drawings as well as end
users, checking engineers or council to
use as a check document.
The certificate of compliance (CoC) must
be certified by a registered structural
engineer, must be correctly addressed
and also clearly reference the current
standards, not out-dated standards
or regulations. A full list of all design
documents should also be referenced
on the CoC, together with the drawing
number revision reference and the date.
The CoC should clearly describe the
structure and this description should
match the design documents.
Wayne said the VBA will strictly enforce:
• 9–12 weeks for all new applications;
• 6 weeks for all renewals.
Wayne said any application received two
weeks prior to the event date cannot be
guaranteed approval and applications
that fail to comply with the above time
frames will be refused. There will also
be a time frame on applications in the
system when the VBA has requested
further information and there has been
no response; a reminder letter specific to
the application being made will be sent
10 days later and if there is no response
within five days the application will be
refused.
The VBA has a new web page, which
contains details of the new time frames
and all of the application forms, etc.
Katherine Kolar, Senior Technical Advisor
– Technical and Regulation, provided
information on how the VBA policy and
procedures have been developed and
outlined the main points.
NewTemporary Structures Standard – the VBA explains
In September, representatives from the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) made a
presentation to the Victorian HRIA meeting on the new Temporary Structures Standard.