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Remember to check our website ...www.hobartsynagogue.org regularly for calendar updates, interesting info, etc. etc.
Remember that you can get your kosher foods at Coles Sandy Bay in Hobart
Page 15
FIRE SAFETY REPORT by Daniel Albert
At the last AGM members asked the Board to investigate the issue of fire safety. In response to this, the Board
commissioned a report from the Tasmania Fire Service. Below are the recommendations in the report and the
Board’s response to the recommendations.
Recommendation: Fire extinguishers are to be serviced each six months and pressure-tested each 6 years by a
suitably qualified service provider. A qualified service provider is one who holds a permit to carry out work on fire
extinguishers issued by the Tasmania Fire Service.
Board’s Response: Arrangements have been made to have fire extinguishers inspected and tested every six months.
The first inspection has been undertaken.
Recommendation: As this building has limited means of escape in the event of a fire, the following additional safety
measures, although not legislative requirements, are strongly recommended:
a) To protect the path of egress of the occupants of the building, additional smoke alarms should be installed on the
ceiling of the main entrance and also on the ceiling above the stairs leading to the Mezzanine floor level.
b) To protect those items of historical value contained in the Boardroom, it is recommended that one additional
smoke alarm be installed in the Boardroom.
Board’s Response: The additional smoke alarms have been installed.
Recommendation: To clearly indicate the path of exit should loss of power occur during a fire, emergency lighting
with provision for battery back-up should be installed in the following locations;
a) Over the stairs leading to the mezzanine floor level, and
b) In the main entrance
Board’s Response: The emergency lighting has been installed.
Recommendation: Emergency Procedures. To allow for the safe evacuation of the building in the event of fire,
emergency procedures detailing what actions should be taken in the event of a fire should be prepared.
Board’s Response: An emergency procedure is being developed. Drafts have been discussed at the last two Board
meetings. It is hoped that the Board will sign-off on an emergency procedure at the June meeting. Copies of the
procedure will be put up in the Shule and made available to members.
Recommendation: The doors forming the path of travel to the exit, should be readily openable without a key from
the side that faces a person seeking egress, by a single hand downward action. A lever type handles is acceptable
for this application. The latching device may be lockable from the outside but not on the inside, meaning that
persons wishing to escape the building may exit but persons trying to enter the building can not.
Board’s Response: The lock on the front door has been changed to meet the specifications detailed in this
recommendation.
The report dealt with the building. There is still the issue of what happens if the building catches fire and someone
is at the back of the building and unable to walk down the side of the building to get out.
There is, at present, a gate at the back leading to the police property which could be used to escape a fire. The gate
is however kept locked (for security reasons). To allow the gate to be used if there is a fire, an emergency key
holder, containing a key, will be installed next to the gate. As these are not available in Hobart, one has been
ordered and will be installed when received.
Daniel Albert
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