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Australia’s aged care facilities rank among the most fire-prone businesses around. If something goes wrong, residents can’t always leave the building quickly and easily. A lot of the residents have trouble getting around, might have memory problems, or need round-the-clock assistance.
Aged care providers across Victoria need to ensure their facilities are compliant with fire safety regulations. New legislation introduced in 2024 has made it even more important. Not only must aged care facilities adhere to the Aged Care Act 2024, but they must comply with Building Regulations 2018 and AS1851 servicing requirements too.
At Alexon, we’ve been helping aged care providers across Melbourne with fire safety for over two decades. We offer peace of mind through expert installation, maintenance and reporting of fire protection services you can trust.
Fire safety strategies for aged care facilities need to differ significantly from those applicable to commercial premises.
Residents of care homes are typically non-ambulant or mobility-impaired and unable to evacuate themselves. Many aged care residents also suffer from dementia or age-related cognitive decline. This can impact on their behaviour during a fire alarm or when following evacuation instructions. Facilities are operational 24 hours a day and most fire incidents will occur during the nighttime when there are fewer staff on duty.
Additional risk factors include:
- The use of medical oxygen, which can accelerate fire spread.
- Older or heritage buildings with outdated materials or layouts.
- Greater reliance on staff to manage evacuation and emergency response.
- Overlapping compliance requirements across multiple standards and regulations.
For these reasons, fire safety in aged care facilities must be managed proactively, with systems, procedures, and maintenance in place to support both compliance and resident safety at all times.
The majority of aged care homes are Class 9a residential care buildings according to the National Construction Code and Victorian Building Regulations. Understanding how these requirements apply in practice is essential for maintaining compliance and ensuring resident safety.
Fire safety compliance requirements in Victorian aged care facilities are spread across a number of Standards and Regulations, each serving a different purpose. In Victoria, Regulation 146 mandates automatic fire sprinkler protection in all Class 9a buildings constructed prior to August 1997. Supplementing this regulation is compliance with smoke hazard management systems per NCC 2022 (which includes E2D5, E2D7, E2D8 and E2D11) and AS1851 which relates to maintaining systems and equipment to ensure tenable conditions are sustained during a fire incident.
AS3745 requires the development and maintenance of a written Emergency Response Procedure for each facility. Additionally, as of November 2025, the Aged Care Act 2024 will require providers to also implement and maintain emergency and disaster management plans.
Routine maintenance, testing and inspection schedules for fire protection equipment such as fire sprinklers are outlined in AS1851. Furthermore, aged care providers are required to annually report that all Essential Safety Measures (ESM) are in place and operating effectively.
Navigating multiple service providers to maintain compliance and adherence to these requirements can be difficult, which is why many providers choose to work with one partner they can trust to service and report back on all their systems.
Even well-managed facilities face ongoing fire risks. Many incidents arise from everyday operations rather than major faults.
In Victoria, enforcement action has been taken for something as simple (and preventable) as a fire door that was left open on a prop. One of the best ways to prevent something from happening is by identifying and mitigating these risks upfront.
Wood, paper, plastics etc.
Water, foam, wet chemical, powder (ABE), vaporising liquid
Flammable liquids
Foam, powder
Flammable gases
Powder
Metal fires
Use special purpose fire extinguishers only
Energised electrical equipment
Carbon dioxide, vaporising liquid, powder
Cooking oils and fats
Wet chemical, powder (BE) or fire blanket
A compliant aged care facility relies on a fully integrated fire protection system, not just individual pieces of equipment.At Alexon, we supply, install, test, and maintain all critical systems, including:
Smoke Alarms & Detection Systems
The early detection of fires in aged care facilities is crucial. All smoke detectors installed need to comply with AS 3786 standards and must link into a fire indicator panel which clearly directs personnel to actionable alerts.
Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire sprinklers are required in most Class 9a buildings. Fire sprinklers are the best way to contain a fire before it has spread to other areas.
Emergency Lighting & Exit Signs
Emergency lighting must comply with AS 2293 and clearly mark exit points. This is crucial should the power go out and inhabitants of the building need to evacuate, especially for people with cognitive impairment who may not understand they need to leave the building unless there are signs directing them.
Fire Extinguishers
Different areas of your facility will have different fire risks. Make sure you have the right type of fire extinguisher installed in each area, such as wet-chemical extinguishers in kitchens and CO₂ extinguishers for electrical fires.
Fire Hose Reels
Fire hose reels are installed throughout facilities to AS/NZS 1221 standards allowing instant action should the need arise by trained staff members.
Fire Doors
Fire doors prevent further spread of fire and smoke. They should be inspected regularly to ensure they will function correctly if the need arises (every 3–6 months depending on door type).
Fire Indicator Panels
When a fire occurs, responders need to be able to quickly identify the area of the premises where the fire was detected and take appropriate action. Fire indicator panels provide this ability for staff members.
We ensure every system is correctly installed, regularly tested, and fully compliant — giving you confidence in both safety and reporting.
Successful fire safety in your aged care facility starts with competent staff who know what to do in an emergency and can react quickly.
AS3745 mandates that your facility has a written Emergency Response Procedure and an established trained Emergency Control Organisation (ECO). This should include fire wardens, other trained staff for extinguishers, fire blankets and hose reels, and clearly documented responsibilities.
Fire drills should also be undertaken regularly to ensure everyone knows what to do and you don’t become complacent, especially if your facility is high-risk.
Adjusting protocols for the night shift is a necessary step. There’s likely less staff on duty, so your procedure should take this into account and allow for residents to be safely managed and assisted.
Evacuation procedures for elderly or aged care accommodation need to consider residents that will not be able to react or evacuate independently if an emergency were to occur.
Specifically, this involves residents unable to walk, those in wheelchairs, individuals needing help to move, and those with cognitive challenges. This will affect how the evacuation will be carried out and how many staff members will be needed to assist occupants.
A combination of staged evacuation and defend-in-place will normally be actioned based on the type and location of the emergency. The RACE acronym (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Evacuation) is used by staff to respond appropriately and ensure correct procedures are taking place.
Wayfinding should be considered with clear dementia-friendly signage complemented with evacuation diagrams clearly displayed. Refuge areas/shelter-in-place may be necessary where a complete evacuation cannot be actioned.
Communication with local fire authorities should be actioned to ensure they have an up-to-date understanding of the best course of action if an incident were to occur.
Fire safety in aged care facilities isn’t something you can afford to get wrong. It requires experience, consistency, and a deep understanding of both compliance and real-world risk.
At Alexon, we provide a complete, end-to-end service for Melbourne aged care providers.
- Over 20 years of experience servicing residential care facilities.
- 24/7 emergency support — because risk doesn’t stop after hours.
- Full-service offering: design, installation, maintenance, and reporting.
- Digital reporting systems for real-time compliance tracking.
- Melbourne-based team with local regulatory expertise.
- ISO-certified across quality, environmental, and safety standards.
We work as a partner, not just a provider. Helping you stay compliant, prepared, and confident.
Fire safety should be more than just meeting the minimum legal requirements. When it comes to fire safety in aged care, it’s about having peace of mind that you’re doing everything you can to keep residents safe, providing reassurance to care staff and having fire safety systems in place that will work when they’re needed.
Whether you're looking to modernise your systems, schedule routine upkeep, or simply remain compliant with the Aged Care Act 2024, our team is ready to provide support.
Contact Alexon today to talk about your aged care fire safety needs.
Contact the Premiere Fire Protection Service Melbourne Trusts
Complete the form to request a call from a friendly Alexon team member.
WHY CHOOSE US
Fire blankets work by physically smothering fires and restricting the flow of oxygen that fuels open flames. These innovative fire suppression solutions can be thrown over cooking fat or stovetop fires, or can even be used to wrap around individuals if their clothing has caught fire. As fire blankets are designed to be single use (for effectiveness), staying on top of your fire blanket servicing and maintenance requirements is paramount to ensuring that your fire blanket can be used in the event of a fire-related emergency.
Our team at Alexon have over 20 years of experience in providing servicing, testing, and maintenance for fire blankets as well as a range of other fire suppression systems such as fire alarms, fire sprinklers, fire doors and fire hose reels. Our fire blanket testing team will be able to provide you with thorough logbook and ESM reporting services, ensuring that you can include your fire blanket as an effective essential safety measure in your building or work premises.
If you’d like to book a fire blanket testing or maintenance appointment for your workplace or building today, then contact the Alexon team via our online web enquiry form, by calling us at 1300 001 004, or by emailing service@alexon.com.au.
Our experienced team of technicians are specialists in fire equipment repairs or replacements with over 20 years experience. You can count on Alexon to provide expert solutions that are backed by our unrivalled service and support.
With 24/7 service, we are here for Melbourne at any moment. As specialists in emergency fire alarm repairs and other emergency fire equipment services, Alexon has repaired and maintained countless complex fire equipment systems.
No matter where you are in Victoria, Alexon can help you. Operating across Melbourne CBD and Victoria's beautiful northern, eastern, western and southern suburbs, our team of fire technicians and fire safety experts are available at a moments notice.
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