Facilities – Explanatory Notes

      The Standard

Explanatory Notes

1. Legislative Requirements for Buildings

Responsibility for the school’s adherence to the Acts of Parliament that govern the school’s facilities rests with the school.  The Board is required to determine whether the school has executed its responsibilities under the appropriate Acts.  To achieve this, the school’s governing authority will need to certify that it has taken note of all of the Acts that apply to its operation and that it is operating in accordance with those Acts.  Thus prior to the first registration of a new school or prior to a re-registration review, the school must furnish to the Board a completed and signed School Statement of Compliance. At the time of its visit the Board may also require confirmatory evidence supporting this certificate to be provided, and will expect to be able to talk to school officers conversant with the contents of the appropriate Acts.

The relevant Acts and Regulations include:

1.    Building Act 2000,

2.    Building Regulations 2004,

3.    Public Health Act 1997, and

4.    Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Anti- Discrimination Act 1998

Further information can be found at http://www.workcover.tas.gov.au/WSTPublish/resource/bsrbldgmaint.htm

1.1 Annual Maintenance Schedule and Statement

A Maintenance Schedule, generally referred to as ‘form 46’ under the Building Regulations 2004 must be made available during the Board’s visit. The Maintenance Schedule must have been drawn up by an appropriately qualified person – an engineer, building surveyor or maintenance specialist. 

The Schedule should specify the essential safety and health features and provide information on who undertakes the required inspections and maintenance tasks.

From 14^th July 2006 the building owner must publicly display an annual statement that the features and measures have been assessed by an appropriately qualified person and are performing to a standard to which they were originally designed.  A copy of this statement should be provided to the Board before the visit. 

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1.2 Place of Assembly

Buildings, or areas within buildings which are used as places of public assembly, such as for the entertainment of members of the public for social and recreational purposes, will require a place of assembly licence through the relevant local council. In determining an application, a council will consider the suitability of the premises for the proposed use, access to amenities such as toilets, compliance with building regulations including the maintenance provisions, impact on neighbours and the protection of public health.

Buildings built and approved before 1994 are required to obtain an Occupancy Permit (also known as ‘form 13’) if they are to be used as places of assembly.  Buildings built or altered since then should have been issued with an Occupancy Permit at the completion of the works.  Where a school does not have such a permit for one or more of its recent buildings, the school must provide evidence to the Board that its local council is either issuing or reissuing a permit or that the council’s deeming provisions apply. 

Note: Buildings lawfully constructed prior to 1994 and not intended to be used as a ‘Place of Assembly’ are not required to have an Occupancy Permit.

2. Some Legislative Requirements for the Operation of Schools 

2.1 Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (ADA)

A school should be able to demonstrate that it is complying with the objects of the DDA and the ADA, as set out in the Building Code of Australia in relation to access to and use of buildings. Work is currently underway to develop a Disability Standard which will reflect access requirements in a proposed new Building Code of Australia. Schools should also be aware of the Education Standard relating to the DDA as this may have implications for some school buildings.  

See www.hreoc.gov.au  .

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2.2 Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995

To ensure its safe operation, a school should have evidence that it;

• is aware of the duties of an employer under the Act,
• has appointed a responsible officer (and committees where appropriate),
• has a system for identifying and controlling workplace hazards, and
• has a serious incident notification process 

2.3 Food Act 2003

If a school operates a food preparation area (eg a canteen or a home economics facility) it should comply with the Act especially with regard to

• the handling and sale of food, and
• the Food Standards Code.

2.4 Public Health Act 1997

When a school, or buildings within the school, are used for non-school functions then a Place of Assembly Licence and an Occupancy Permit must be appropriately displayed.  The Act defines “place of assembly” as

(a)   any place or area used for the entertainment of members of the public; and

(b)   any place or area used for the assembly of members of the public for social and recreational purposes; and

(c)    any school or other place or area used for community or public purposes;

2.5 Dangerous Goods Act 1998

When a school uses and/or stores dangerous goods, it must comply with the licensing, storage and recording requirements of the Act.

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2.6 Vocational Education and Training Act 1994

Schools should be aware of the need for insurance cover for students in vocational programmes who are out of the school and on work sites.
 

3. Notional Guidelines for Area Requirements*

3.1 Building areas

6.13m² per student for primary schools

9.75m² per student for secondary schools.

Though functional spaces need only conform to global area guidelines an advisory minimum for a ‘normal’ classroom is 85m² to cater for approximately 25 students.

All covered structures (including unenclosed walkways) are to be included in the calculation of a building’s area.               

3.2 School site areas

3.2.1 Primary Schools

For enrolments of:

            Up to 100 students                 1.5 hectares

            101 to 200 students                2.4 hectares

            More than 200 students         add 0.2ha per additional 100 students

3.2.2 Secondary Schools

For enrolments:

            Up to 100 students                 3.0 hectares

            101 to 200 students                4.8 hectares

            More than 200 students         add 0.4ha per additional 100 students.

Where a site area is below that advised, the panel would need to be satisfied that the available space was sufficient for appropriate outdoor activities and leisure-time.

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3.3 Specific Facilities

The provision of facilities is naturally dependent on the curriculum offered by a school and the year levels catered for. Review panels visiting schools would expect to see appropriate facilities for

• Science,
• Technology (especially ICT. MDT and Food and Textiles),
• The Arts (especially Visual Arts, Music and Drama),
• Library, and
• Physical Education (including both indoor and outdoor activities).

These facilities could be available in specific locations or as part of a multi-purpose facility. For certain facilities it may be appropriate and sufficient that a school provides access to that facility in an off-campus location.

*NB; For DEEWR requirements, particularly for capital grants, refer to 

http://www.dest.gov.au/common_topics/programmes_funding/Programme_funding.htm

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