Fire Safety
Fire safety is absolutely critical in rooming houses because of the unique risks posed by their layout, occupancy, and resident vulnerability. Here's a structured breakdown of why it matters so much:
Why Fire Safety Is Crucial in Rooming Houses
1. High Occupancy Density
- Rooming houses often accommodate multiple unrelated individuals in close quarters.
- Shared kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways increase the risk of accidental ignition and rapid fire spread.
2. Limited Escape Routes
- Older buildings converted into rooming houses may lack adequate exits, evacuation lighting, or fire-rated corridors.
- Residents may be unfamiliar with the layout or emergency procedures, especially in transient or vulnerable populations.
3. Vulnerable Residents
- Many rooming house residents include people with disabilities, mental health conditions, or limited mobility.
- Fire safety systems like interconnected smoke alarms and accessible exits are essential to protect lives.
4. Legal & Regulatory Compliance
- Fire safety is mandated under the Building Regulations 2018, National Construction Code (NCC), and Rooming House Minimum Standards.
- Non-compliance can result in fines, licence suspension, or criminal liability for operators.
5. ️ Older Building Stock
- Many rooming houses are retrofitted from older homes, which may lack:
- Fire-resistant materials
- Modern electrical systems
- Proper compartmentalisation to prevent fire spread
6. Essential Safety Measures
- Operators must install and maintain:
- Hard-wired smoke alarms in every bedroom and hallway
- Escape lighting linked to alarms
- Evacuation diagrams that comply with section 3.5 and Appendix E of AS 3745 must be prominently displayed in each resident’s room and in all shared areas.
- Fire blankets and/or extinguishers, exit signage, and clear escape paths
- Annual Essential Safety Measures checks
Bottom Line
Fire safety isn’t just a compliance box—it’s a life-saving obligation. A single lapse can endanger dozens of lives, especially in buildings where residents may not be able to respond quickly or effectively in an emergency.
RAAV have produced a handy Class 1B Rooming House Fire Safety Checklist that is available in the Resources section
Developing Evacuation plans
Rooming House Operators who are well-prepared are more likely to ensure their residents escape their rooming homes safely and without panic.
As part of your plan, all residents should know:
- The two quickest ways out of every room
- How they will exit from upstairs if your rooming house has a second storey
- An agreed-upon meeting place outside, such as the letterbox
- How they will call Triple Zero (000)
Download and print a home fire escape plan template (PDF 148.6KB) to help create your plan and make sure it is compliant with AS 3745. Alternately, download an example evacuation diagram (Word, 592KB) from the CAV website.
Fire safety information https://www.housing.vic.gov.au/fire-safety
E-learning module
Victoria’s fire services provide an online learning module to support older people and people with disabilities to plan for fire emergencies at home.
The e-learning module, Prevent, Detect, Escape – Home Fire Safety for people at higher risk, and has been created for people at increased fire risk, and for people who support or care for them.
As a rooming house owner or manager you have a responsibility to ensure the safety of your residents is maintained at all times. This e-learning module will help you understand your role in making your rooming house safe as well as providing a guide for your residents especially where you or the manager do not live on site. The training will equip you and your staff with improved understanding of fire risks in the rooming house and assist them to discuss home fire safety with your residents.
You will find it beneficial to allow your residents to also view this module.
On average, 18 people die in residential house fires in Victoria every year, and people are at higher risk if they have difficulties identifying that a fire has started, or if they’re slower or unable to escape from a fire at home.
CFA Acting Chief Officer Gavin Thompson said this module focusses on three main elements to reduce risk. “Prevention is key, and this module looks at the many ways people can reduce the chance of a fire starting,” said A/CO Thompson.
“However, if there is a fire, early detection is crucial, and the importance of working smoke alarms is a big part of this module.
“Finally, this module helps people understand how to make an escape plan that is right for their individual needs.”
Go to cfa.vic.gov.au/atrisk or frv.vic.gov.au/atrisk to start your training today!
Lithium-ion batteries
Many portable devices today are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These types of batteries pose a higher risk of fire than others, therefore consider including guidance on them in your house rules.
Hoarding
The occurrence of hoarding in rooming houses is a very real problem. It not only poses a health hazard but is a major fire risk. Below are some documents to try and assist you in dealing with this problem.