NSW Part H101 Entertainment venues other than temporary structures and drive-in theatres

the whole of the entertainment venue; or

the part containing the stage, backstage area and auditorium,

exhibiting films; or

conducting live stage productions,

If the foyer serves not more than 2 auditoriums; that foyer must be separated from any adjoining foyer by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.

If the foyer serves more than 2 auditoriums, a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5 must be installed—

must have installed directly above the stage a suitable sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5; and

must have the proscenium opening protected by a safety curtain that complies with NSW H101.10; and

must have a line of open drenchers or open sprinklers provided above the proscenium opening on the stage side and in such a position as to be able to discharge over the inside face of the safety curtain; and

must have 2 or more means of egress from the stage and backstage area provided otherwise than through the proscenium wall.

a conventional stage or non-conventional stage—

in the case of a conventional stage, the following additional requirements apply:

at least 50 mm high; and

on a contrasting background.

be made of non-combustible material; and

be so fitted that, when it is closed, it forms an efficient smoke seal between the stage and the auditorium; and

be capable of withstanding a pressure differential of 0.5 kPa over its entire surface area; and

be run on steel guides located on each side of the proscenium opening; and

remain engaged in its guides if the guides, together with their fittings and attachments and that part of the curtain engaged in the guides, are subjected to a pressure differential of 1 kPa; and

be of sufficiently robust construction to withstand damage by scenery, stage properties and falling debris; and

be capable of closing the proscenium opening within 30 seconds, either by gravity slide or by motor assisted mechanisms; and

have manual controls, located on each side of the stage, for the closing of the curtains; and

have a notice displayed adjacent to the operating controls, in clear and legible letters and symbols of adequate size, indicating its use and operation; and

when operated, actuate a distinctive warning alarm audible to persons on the stage and must not be reliant for its operation solely on the primary electricity supply; and

have the words “Safety Curtain” exhibited on the curtain in clear and legible letters of adequate size to enable them to be read from all parts of the auditorium.

be vertically hung from steel cables;

be framed with structural steel that complies with AS 4100;

be sheeted and finished on both faces with sheet steel or other non-combustible material of such gauge, and so fastened to its frame, as to ensure that its frame is capable of withstanding distortion arising from heat; and

when closed, overlap the proscenium opening by not less than 300 mm at each side and by not less than 600 mm at the top.

8 where there is an aisle at one end only of the row; or

16 where there are aisles on both ends of the row.

where they have arms, be at least 500 mm from centre to centre; and

where they do not have arms, be at least 450 mm from centre to centre; and

have a minimum lateral clearance of at least 300 mm between—

have a distance of at least 950 mm between the back of each chair and the back of the chair in front.

securely fastened to the floor; or

secured together in groups of not less than 4 and not more than 16.

the number of seats in each row between 2 aisles must not exceed 24; and

each seat must—

the rows may be curved or straight.

each aisle must have a width of at least 1000 mm and each cross-over must have a width of at least 1500 mm; and

the floor of each aisle must not have a grade of more than 1 in 8 at any part; and

if there is a step from a row to an aisle or from a landing to an aisle, the step must not project into the aisle.

the platforms and steps must extend for the full width of the aisle; and

if there are no intervening steps between levels of platforms, the height of the platform riser must not be more than 200 mm; and

if there are one or more intervening steps between levels of platforms—

goings which are more than 450 mm deep at platform level must not have a grade of more than 1 in 50; and

at the entrance from the aisle to each row there must be a clear level floor space, extending the full width of the aisle, of at least 300 mm, measured from the back of the row in front; and

any going projecting in front of a seat adjacent to an aisle must be protected by a guardrail.

each platform must be at least 700 mm deep; and

each seating space must be at least 450 mm wide, measured along the front of the platform or bench seat; and

each seating space must be numbered consecutively; and

at the entrance from the aisle to each row there must be a clear level floor space, extending the full width of the aisle, of at least 300 mm, measured from the back of the row in front; and

any going projecting in front of a seat adjacent to an aisle must be protected by a guardrail; and

in the case of stepped platforms with bench seats, there must be at least 300 mm between the back of each seat and the front of the platform behind, or the front of the bench seat behind, whichever is the closer.

must be provided at each end of every fifth row, excluding the first 2 rows and the last 2 rows in the auditorium if those rows each contain no more than 16 seats; and

must lead—

must be provided with exit signs if the egress doorways are not sufficiently conspicuous.

must be provided from each end of each row to an egress doorway in the wall of the auditorium; and

must have a width of at least—

if it contains platforms or steps, must comply with NSW H101.11.7(a), (b), (c), (d) and (f).

along the fascia of each balcony or box;

if there is a stepped floor, along the front edge of each cross-over; and

where NSW H101.13.2 and NSW H101.13.3 apply.

fixed seat backs of the next lower level project at least 500 mm above the level of the stepped platform; and

there is only one riser between the platform and the next lower cross-over.

there is more than one intervening step in an aisle between levels of platforms, a guardrail must be provided (at a vertical height of at least 660 mm measured above the nosing of each tread and of the upper platform) to the sides of the aisle adjacent to those steps; and

there is more than one intervening step in an aisle between levels of platforms, and that aisle is along a wall, a continuous guardrail must be affixed to that wall at a height of at least 865 mm above the nosing of each tread; and

the end of a platform or the back of the highest platform does not abut a wall that extends at least 660 mm above the floor level of the platform, a guard rail not less than 660 mm high must be provided—

there is an inclined floor, the raised section of which is not bounded by walls at least 660 mm high, a guard rail must be provided that extends around the perimeter of the raised section at a height of at least 660 mm above the inclined floor level; and

seating at tables is provided on a stepped platform, a guardrail at least 500 mm high must be provided along the front edge of the platform.

the distance between the back of each chair in that row, and the guardrail must be not less than the distance specified in Column 2 of Table H101.12 for the number of chairs in that row;

the minimum lateral clearance between the front of each chair in that row and the guardrail must be not less than the clearance specified in Column 3 of Table H101.12 for the number of chairs in that row.

if it is located at the foot of a stepped aisle, must have its top surface at least 900 mm above the floor of the balcony or box; and

if it is not located at the foot of a stepped aisle, must have its top surface at least 750 mm above the floor; and

if it has a ledge more than 70 mm wide, must have the top surface of the ledge sloping downwards towards the floor of the balcony or box at an angle of at least 30 degrees from the horizontal; and

must have an unperforated kerb or toe guard extending for at least 300 mm above the floor.

must be at least 750 mm high; and

must extend for the full distance between aisles, or between a wall and an aisle, or for such other distance as considered necessary.

be separated from other parts of the building by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60;

have at least 2 means of egress as remote from each other as possible, one of which must discharge—

This clause applies to projection suites.

A projection suite must be provided in an entertainment venue intended to be used for the showing of films.

a projection room and sanitary accommodation comprising at least 1 closet pan and 1 washbasin, where the projection suite is continually staffed; or

a projection room fitted with the following equipment—

a metal shutter not less than 1.5 mm thick may be fitted thereto instead of the protection required under NSW C3.11;
and

any metal shutter or protection system provided must be equipped with a device to permit the closing of the shutter or protection system from easily accessible operating positions adjacent to each egress doorway from the projection room.

all required exits from the basement must be enclosed in non-combustible construction, with the exception of the main entry or exit ; and

any auditorium and other public areas in the basement must be equipped with an air-handling system that complies with AS 1668.2.

the construction must be of at least Type B; and

all required exits from the basement must be enclosed in a fire-resisting shaft having an FRL as required by the relevant Type of construction; and

the building must be equipped with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5.

be located in a position that is readily accessible to authorised persons, and to the fire brigade in the case of an emergency; and

be enclosed by construction having an FRL not less than 60/60/60.

the entertainment venue must be served by a separate and independent sub-main from the main switchboard; and

each such sub-main, the consumer's main and the supply authority's conductors within the building must be protected against fire by means of—

Any switch controlling the lighting system must not be accessible.

Where, during normal use, general lighting may be dimmed or switched off, an override switch to switch on all the general lighting instantaneously must be installed in the auditorium in a position accessible to management.

a time delay or other suitable means must be provided to maintain the emergency lighting for a period not less than that necessary to allow the general lighting lamps to restrike; or

lamps of a type that will provide immediate lighting must be installed and—

is capable of being automatically energised in the event of failure of the primary lighting electricity supply; and

complies with the provisions applying to emergency lighting.

be capable of automatic operation by the inclusion of a heat sensing device designed to activate the system at a temperature of not more than 71°C; and

be capable of being released manually from positions at each side of the stage and of being fully activated from either position; and

have a notice, prominently displayed at each position referred to in (b), clearly indicating the method of activation; and

have an openable area of not less than 1/10 of the total area of the stage.

exhibiting films; or

conducting live theatre productions.

must be located not less than 3 m from any window, door, vent or other opening; and

if located 3 m or more from a building must—

if located less than 3 m from a building must—