Your Go-To Compliance & Building Risk Resource Hub

Case Study 1: The “Self-Certified” Compliance Disaster

Issue: A Strata Manager had been relying on their fire service provider to self-certify the building’s compliance, signing off the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) each year. Everything seemed fine—until the local council conducted a surprise inspection.

Findings:
Multiple fire safety issues were uncovered, including:

• Non-maintained passive fire protection systems (which the fire service provider wasn’t even responsible for)
• Uninspected emergency lighting & paths of travel obstructions
• Aged smoke detection systems not meeting modern standards

Outcome: The Owners Corporation faced immediate compliance orders & potential fines. They engaged Focus BRC for an independent audit, which identified gaps, prioritised rectifications, and put a compliance roadmap in place.

Lesson: Self-certification by service providers creates major risks. An independent audit ensures nothing gets overlooked.

Case Study 2: The Fire Doors That Wouldn’t Open

Issue: A commercial property was undergoing a compliance review when our team discovered a serious fire door failure.

Findings:
Several fire doors had been modified with non-compliant hardware, including:

• Bolts & locks incorrectly installed on the wrong side of doors
• Seals painted over or missing, compromising smoke protection
• Doors not self-closing due to faulty hinges & latches

Outcome: In a fire, these doors would have failed completely, trapping occupants inside. Our audit flagged the issue before an emergency occurred, allowing the property manager to rectify defects before facing penalties.

Lesson: Fire doors save lives—but only if properly maintained. Regular independent inspections catch installation & maintenance failures before they lead to tragedy.

Case Study 3: The Owners Corporation That Got Their Insurance Premium Reduced

Issue: An Owners Corporation was frustrated with skyrocketing insurance premiums. Their insurer viewed the building as high-risk due to unknown fire compliance status.

Findings:

• They had no centralised compliance records for fire safety systems.
• Maintenance was being done, but there was no proof of risk management improvements.
• Passive fire systems had been inspected but not documented properly.

Outcome: Focus BRC conducted a full Building Risk Review, consolidating maintenance records, compliance history, and risk mitigation strategies into a professional report for the insurer. With documented evidence of proactive risk management, the insurer reduced the premium, saving the OC thousands annually.

Lesson: Insurers reward proactive risk management. A well-documented compliance history helps negotiate better rates & avoid unnecessary premium hikes.