Is your high-rise building safe and secure?

For residents living in Melbourne’s CBD high-rise apartments, the building you call home is far more than four walls and a roof.

It is a complex system of safety measures, security protocols and legal obligations, all working together to protect you, your family and your neighbours.

But how confident are you that your building is truly meeting those standards? There are three key aspects to consider: safety, security and compliance.

Building safety is everyone’s business

Safety in a residential tower is not just a matter for management, it affects every person who lives there. Modern buildings are expected to meet rigorous standards across several key areas, including structural integrity, fire safety, air quality and ventilation.

Think about your building. Just a few questions that come to mind:

• Are fire safety door-closing mechanisms operational?
• What is the status of handrails and safety strips on stairs?
• Do fire and ambulance services have current building access keys?
• What are the arrangements for emergency exit for disabled persons when lifts cannot be used?
• What happens during a major power outage, and are backup systems regularly tested?

When these systems are properly maintained, the result is a building that protects residents and reduces the risk of costly or dangerous incidents.

Security has changed – is your building keeping up?

Today’s high-rise buildings are expected to integrate layered, intelligent security systems designed to deter threats before they occur and respond quickly when they do.

Again, think about your building:

• How are swipe cards or FOBs controlled when residents move out?
• Do you have number plate recognition for vehicles entering the car park?
• Is the CCTV system up to date, and can footage be retrieved effectively when needed?

Modern security systems now typically include access control technology, surveillance and monitoring, cyber-physical protection and emergency response coordination. With concerns around theft, vandalism and building-related cyberattacks on the rise, security is no longer an afterthought.

Compliance is not a one-off task

Meeting regulatory requirements is one of the most misunderstood aspects of building management. Many residents assume that once a building receives its occupancy permit, compliance is handled. In reality, it is an ongoing commitment.

A few questions that may apply to your building:

• Do the intercom systems align with governance standards?
• When was the last building evacuation test in case of fire?
• Regular audits, documented inspections and timely updates are all essential to keeping a building legally sound.

The three pillars need to work together

Safety, security and compliance are not separate checklists, they are deeply interconnected. A building cannot be truly safe if it is not secure. It cannot be compliant if it fails to meet safety or security standards. And it cannot earn the trust of its residents if it does not demonstrate all three consistently.

Maybe it is time for a building audit?

Residents 3000 has partnered with sponsor CBD Facilities Management, which assisted with this article, to set up a raffle at our monthly event. For the next three months, the winner will receive a free comprehensive building audit. The winning building may then like to feed back to members what they learned for our mutual benefit.

Next Forum 3000: Special Event – Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Thursday June 4, 6pm to 7.30pm

Residents 3000 has joined with the East Melbourne Group to view the new exhibition The Hoddle Grid: the Great Land Grab and hear from curator Dr Liz Rushen. The event will be followed by a brief history of the Society’s home, a 1930s Art Deco Drill Hall, and plans for its future, presented by RHSV president Bob Pascoe.

Further details can be found at: residents3000.org.au •