Part I1 Class 9b buildings

(1) The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part apply to every enclosed Class 9b building or part of a building which—

1. is a school assembly, church or community hall with a stage and any backstage area with a total floor area of more than 300 m²; or
2. otherwise, has a stage and any backstage area with a total floor area of more than 200 m²; or
3. has a stage with an associated rigging loft.

(2) Notwithstanding (1)—

1. I1D4 applies to every open or enclosed Class 9b building; and
2. I1D7 applies to every enclosed Class 9b building.

A theatre, public hall or the like must—

1. have a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17; or
2. have the stage, backstage area and accessible under stage area separated from the audience by a proscenium wall in accordance with I1D3.

A proscenium wall must comply with Specification 32.

In a seating area—

1. the gradient of the floor surface must not be steeper than 1 in 8, or the floor must be stepped so that—
   1. a line joining the nosings of consecutive steps does not exceed an angle of 30° to the horizontal; and
   2. the height of each step in the stepped floor is not more than 600 mm; and
   3. the height of any opening in such a step is not more than 125 mm; and
2. if an aisle divides the stepped floor and the difference in level between any 2 consecutive steps—
   1. exceeds 230 mm but not 400 mm — an intermediate step must be provided in the aisle; and
   2. exceeds 400 mm — 2 equally spaced intermediate steps must be provided in the aisle; and
   3. the going of intermediate steps must be not less than 270 mm and such as to provide as nearly as practicable equal treads throughout the length of the aisle; and
3. the clearance between rows of fixed seats used for viewing performing arts, sport or recreational activities must be not less than—
   1. 300 mm if the distance to an aisle is not more than 3.5 m; or
   2. 500 mm if the distance to an aisle is more than 3.5 m.

(1) The path of travel to an exit from a stage or performing area must not pass through the proscenium wall if the stage area is separated from the audience area with a proscenium wall.

(2) Requiredexits from backstage and under-stage areas must be independent of those provided for the audience area.

A stairway that provides access to a service platform, rigging loft, or the like, must comply with AS 1657.

In every enclosed Class 9b building, where in any part of the auditorium, the general lighting is dimmed or extinguished during public occupation and the floor is stepped or is inclined at a slope steeper than 1 in 12, aisle lights must be provided to illuminate the full length of the aisle and tread of each step.