Victorian Door Regulations: Your Industrial & Commercial Compliance Guide

As a business owner or property manager in Victoria, it's important to be aware of the door regulations, standards and legislation that apply to your commercial and industrial doors. If you plan to install or replace a commercial or industrial door in your workplace, you must comply with the relevant codes of practice. Failure to do so may result in prosecution or other enforcement action.

The Larnec team understands the importance of using high-quality, durable doors in commercial and industrial settings. We’ve led the market for personal access doors for over 30 years and are highly knowledgeable about the various national and Victorian door standards and legislative requirements.

Read on to unravel some of the complicated regulatory requirements and get handy links where you can find out more. We’ll cover:

• Shed & Garage Door Regulations
• Commercial Door Regulations
• Industrial Door Regulations
• Container Door Regulations
• Transportable Door Regulations
  

In Victoria, there are multiple sources of legislation that apply to commercial and industrial doors:

• The Building Code of Australia (BCA)
• The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations)
• National Construction Code (NCC)
• Work Health Safety Act 2011
• Victorian Building Authority (VBA)
  

The BCA contains the minimum standards that must be met for the construction of buildings in Victoria. These standards are developed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and provide guidance on a range of topics, including fire safety, structural stability, accessibility and energy efficiency.

The OHS Regulations set out the requirements for designing, manufacturing, installing, and maintaining workplace plant and equipment. These requirements are designed to protect workers from injuries or harm arising from the use of plant and equipment.

In addition to the BCA and OHS Regulations, several Australian Standards apply to commercial and industrial doors. These standards provide guidance on the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of doors and cover topics such as door hardware, glazing, security and fire resistance.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is the statutory authority responsible for administering the building laws in Victoria and can be contacted directly if required. The VBA has published a range of resources to assist building practitioners with the design, construction and compliance of commercial and industrial doors.

The Complexity Of Compliance

All commercial and industrial doors in Australia must comply with strict safety regulations. These regulations are in place to protect both workers and the general public from injuries caused by doorways.

Australian Standards that cover doors used in commercial and industrial settings include:

• AS 1428.1:2021: Design for access and mobility - Part 1: General requirements for access - New building work
• AS 1636.1-1998: Industrial type swing doors - Installation
• AS 4100:2020: Steel structures
• AS 1657:2018 Steel Structures
• AS 2124-1992 Australian Standard for the Uniform Building Control
  

All commercial and industrial doors in Victoria must comply with the relevant Australian standards. In addition, several other pieces of legislation apply to doors in this state.

Open the doors to easy compliance in Victoria with our detailed door regulation guide

Compliance can be complex, but getting it right is crucial to keeping you and your workers safe — and your doors open. Here we discuss the relevant regulations governing door design, installation and maintenance. Remember that regulations and legislation are often updated and superseded by new codes of practice, so staying abreast of these changes is paramount to regulatory adherence.

In commercial and industrial buildings, doors are one of the most important safety features. Personal access doors and other commercial access systems provide security to your buildings and their contents, help control the flow of people and can be used to contain fires and other hazards.

Some of the key requirements that apply to all access doors in Victorian workplaces include:

• Doors must be designed and manufactured in accordance with the relevant codes of practice
• Doors must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
• Doors must be maintained in good working order, and any defects must be rectified promptly-Doors must be inspected regularly to ensure they are fit for purpose
  

Victorian Shed & Garage Door Regulations

As a business owner, it's your responsibility to ensure your property complies with all the relevant regulations, laws and standards. This includes any shed or garage doors on your premises.

In Victoria, several codes of practice govern commercial and industrial shed doors and garage doors, including their specifications, installation and maintenance.

Here's a brief overview of what you need to know to ensure your property is compliant.

Shed and garage doors are classified as 'dangerous goods' under the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations 2017. This means that they must be used, handled and stored in accordance with the regulations.

Dangerous goods include any substance or article likely to cause death, serious injury or illness if it is not used, handled or stored correctly.

Shed and garage doors must also be designed and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

To comply with the OHS Act and WHS Regulations, at a minimum, you must:

• Ensure your shed or garage door is used, handled and stored in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
• Make sure your shed or garage door is regularly serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
• Keep your shed or garage door in good working order
• Report any damage or defects to your shed or garage door to the manufacturer or supplier

Victorian Commercial Door Regulations

Commercial door regulations are designed to ensure the safety of workers and customers in:

• Factories
• Warehouses
• Shopping centres
• Processing facilities
• Other commercial settings
  

These regulations cover the manufacture and installation of commercial doors, maintenance, and repair.

Victorian door regulations stipulate that commercial doors must be made from strong, durable materials that meet the relevant fire safety standards. They must also be fitted with hardware appropriate for the door's intended use.

Commercial doors must be installed by a qualified installer, who must ensure that the door is properly secured to the building. The door must also be tested before it is used to ensure that it is safe and fit for purpose.

Once a commercial door is installed, it must be regularly maintained and inspected. Any defects or damage must be repaired immediately.

Victorian Industrial Door Regulations

In Victoria, industrial doors must also comply with BCA, VBA and Australian Standards requirements and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 (OHS Regulations).

The OHS Regulations require that all industrial doors are designed and installed to minimise the risk of injury to people using them.

Industrial doors must be:

• Equipped with an emergency release mechanism that allows the door to be opened manually in the event of a power failure
• Regularly maintained and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to ensure their continued safe operation
• Made from strong and durable materials, such as steel or aluminium
• Fitted with hardware designed for use on industrial doors, such as heavy-duty hinges and locks

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Victorian Container Door Regulations

Shipping container doors are defined as doors intended for installation on a shipping container.

In Victoria, there are several regulations, laws and standards that apply to shipping container doors, which are summarised below.

Building Code of Australia (BCA)

The BCA sets out the minimum requirements for the design and construction of buildings. Minimum requirements pertaining to shipping containers include:

• 1. Container Door Modifications: Shipping container doors may be modified for several reasons, including improving security, increasing ventilation, or adding windows.
• 2. Container Door Conversions: In Victoria, any door conversion (from one type of door to another) must also comply with the BCA. For example, if you are converting a sliding door to a hinged one, you must ensure that the new door complies with the relevant fire and acoustic requirements.
• 3. Container Door Additions: Any additions to shipping container doors (such as locks or handles) must also comply with the BCA.
  

Australian Standard AS 1428.1-2005 sets out the requirements for steel door sets, including shipping container doors, while OHS Regulations set out the health and safety requirements that must be met by businesses operating in Victoria.

Some of the key requirements that apply to shipping container doors include:

• Ensuring that doors are kept in good repair and are fit for purpose
• Ensuring that doors do not pose a risk to health and safety
• Providing adequate ventilation if shipping containers are used for storage
  

Victorian Transportable Door Regulations

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) outlines requirements for the construction of transportable building doors that include the following:

• The door must be able to be opened and closed easily
• The door must be able to be secured in the open position
• The door must be weatherproof and suitable for the environment in which it will be used
  

The Australian Standards and Victorian Building Authority outline the requirements for designing and manufacturing portable buildings. It includes provisions for transportable building doors, including:

• The door must be made from materials that are resistant to fire, insects, and vermin
• The door must be weatherproof and able to withstand wind loads
• The door must be designed and constructed to resist forced entry
  

Handy Links for Commercial and Industrial Door Compliance Across Australia

• Door Regulations in New South Wales
• Door Regulations in Queensland
• Door Regulations in Western Australia
  

Confused? Get your foot in the door with help from Larnec Doors.

As a business or property owner in Victoria, it is your responsibility to ensure that any commercial or industrial doors on your premises comply with the relevant regulations.

But this is easier said than done.

Compliance is a complex, ever-changing responsibility and vital to running a business. Get it wrong, and you risk hefty fines, penalties and potential harm to your employees in the event of an emergency.

To ensure that your doors are compliant (and stay open for business), you need to have them installed by a licensed door installer and maintain them in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. You will also need to keep up to date with any changes to the relevant standards and codes of practice.

If you need help with door installation or maintenance, get in touch with Larnec.

Australian-Owned, Family-Run Larnec Doors Can Help

Larnec is a leading provider of commercial and industrial doors in Australia. We offer a wide range of doors, from a simple retrofit external door solution for shipping container modifications to pre-cast tilt panel doors. We can also customise our doors to meet your specific requirements.

With over 30 years of experience designing and supplying high-quality doors for businesses across Victoria, Larnec can help make door compliance simple and straightforward.