Everything you need to know about transportable building regulations

Even though transportable buildings are not permanent fixtures, their construction and use are still regulated. Australia classifies transportable buildings as temporary structures. They are covered by the Temporary Structures Standard of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

This standard serves as a reference document for local regulatory authorities. The local State or Territory authorities set and enforce the requirements for temporary structures in their region.

Larnec is a family-owned supplier of doors for transportable buildings. Our doors meet all the requirements of Australian building regulations as well as all the relevant safety standards. Plus we can supply doors from our factory in Melbourne to any destination in Australia. Read on to find out more about our modular transportable buildings.

Transportable building regulations for foundations and tie-downs

Securing portable buildings is vital to their stability. Earthquakes, wind, and impacts can move a portable building. This puts occupants and bystanders at risk. Every jurisdiction is able to write its own specific regulations, but to give you some idea, the features of foundations and tie-downs required by the State of New South Wales dictate that:

• Construction materials should be steel and re-enforced concrete
• A competent person should assess the foundation design and load requirements
• Site drainage and stormwater runoff shall be managed to prevent damage to foundations

Transportable building regulations for fire safety

Fire has the potential to destroy prefabricated buildings and endanger people. Portable buildings are subject to strict fire safety regulations because the site layout can influence the spread of a fire and the emergency evacuation routes available in the case of a fire.

Transportable buildings should comply with fire hazard specifications, including flammability index, the spread of flame index, and smoke-developed index. These parameters help ensure that occupants have sufficient time to escape a building before it becomes unsafe.

Site layout for multiple portable buildings should allow for enough separation to prevent a fire from spreading quickly from one building to another. Sufficient fire fighting equipment should be available, and personnel should be trained in its use.

Site risk assessments and audits should prevent flammable materials from being stored under or around portable buildings. Preventing a fire is always the first line of defence and is much better than fighting a fire that has already started.

Transportable building regulations for ancillary provisions

The building standard does not cover ancillary provisions like electricity, gas, or plumbing and drainage. However, other regulations cover these ancillaries, which are just as important. Electricity and gas incidents can cause substantial property damage and injury, while water and sanitation are directly related to health.

Any portable building installation must adhere to the relevant local authority standards. Most buildings are constructed offsite with those standards in mind. However, it is vital to obtain certification for these ancillaries to ensure compliance and prevent incidents.

Permits and council approval for transportable buildings

Portable buildings do not require the same permit processes as permanent structures. This is one of the advantages of using transportable facilities; the approval process is simple, and deployment is quick.

Typical approval for a portable building installation includes a Development Application and an Activity Approval from the local council. Each local council follows a process for applications. Some require applications to be furnished in stages, while others allow all applications to be submitted simultaneously.

It is critical to find out your own local council's requirements to prevent any fines or delays due to incomplete approvals.

Wind resistance ratings for transportable buildings

Australian regulations take strong winds into account. Portable buildings must have a wind resistance rating, and this applies to their windows and doors, too. Australia is divided into four regions designated A, B, C, and D. Each area has an expected wind level, with Region A having light winds and Region D having cyclones.

Wind rated doors must be tested and certified using AS/NZ 1170.2.2011 and AS 4055-2012. These standards set the requirements for ultimate design wind pressure.

Larnec compliant doors for transportable buildings

Larnec has been operating in Australia for more than 20 years. We have developed our products along with changing regulations over the decades. All our portable access doors for transportable buildings are compliant with current legislation and suitable for the harsh Australian environment.

The following list gives a breakdown of portable access doors for transportable buildings:

1. Sentry 200.PB: Personal access door for portable buildings
2. Sentry 200.BF: Box frame container door
3. Sentry 200.CD: Container door