Case Study
AESMR, Essential Services & Building Compliance Audit – CLLIX Australia 108 Apartments, Southbank VIC
Located at 70 Southbank Boulevard in Melbourne’s Southbank precinct, CLLIX Australia 108 Apartments is one of the city’s most recognisable residential towers. With its scale, height, and the number of occupants moving through the building each day, maintaining strict building compliance and ensuring all essential safety systems are properly documented and maintained is critical.
EBC Group was engaged to carry out a comprehensive Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR), Essential Services review, and Building Compliance Audit for the property. The goal was to provide a clear picture of the building’s current compliance position, identify any areas requiring attention, and support the ongoing management of the building’s safety systems.
Supporting Compliance in a High-Rise Residential Tower
Large residential towers like Australia 108 present unique compliance challenges. With multiple essential safety systems, shared common areas, and a high occupancy rate, building managers must ensure that every safety measure is correctly maintained and documented in accordance with Victorian building regulations.
EBC Group’s role was to conduct a thorough review of the building’s essential safety measures and associated documentation, ensuring the property management team had the information they needed to meet their obligations under the Building Regulations 2018 (VIC).
Our work focused on three key areas:
- Preparation and review of the Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR)
- Inspection and documentation of essential safety services
- A detailed building compliance audit to identify potential compliance gaps
This structured approach allows building owners and managers to clearly understand their compliance responsibilities and ensure systems designed to protect occupants are operating as intended.
Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR)
The AESMR is a critical document for any commercial or residential building in Victoria. It confirms that all nominated essential safety measures within the building have been inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the relevant standards. For the Australia 108 Apartments, EBC Group reviewed the building’s essential safety systems and supporting records to verify that inspection, testing, and maintenance activities were being carried out appropriately.
Our team carefully assessed documentation relating to systems such as:
- Fire detection and alarm systems
- Fire hydrants and hose reels
- Emergency lighting and exit signage
- Fire doors and passive fire elements
- Mechanical ventilation and smoke control systems
- Paths of travel to exits
Where required, we worked with the building management team to ensure records were complete and aligned with the requirements of the AESMR process. This ensures that the final report provides an accurate reflection of the building’s compliance status.
Review of Essential Safety Services
Essential safety services form the backbone of any building’s emergency response capability. These systems are designed to assist occupants during an emergency, and help emergency services respond quickly and effectively. As part of the project, EBC Group conducted a structured review of the building’s essential safety services, focusing on both system functionality and documentation.
Our team examined service records, maintenance schedules, and compliance documentation to confirm that safety systems were being regularly inspected and maintained in accordance with Australian Standards and Victorian regulatory requirements. Where opportunities for improvement were identified, we provided practical recommendations to help the building’s management team maintain a clear and consistent compliance framework moving forward.
Comprehensive Building Compliance Audit
On top of the AESMR and essential services review, EBC Group completed a detailed building compliance audit for the Australia 108 Apartments. A compliance audit provides a broader assessment of how the building aligns with relevant regulatory requirements and safety obligations. This process looks beyond individual safety systems to examine the overall compliance framework supporting the building.
During the audit, our team reviewed:
- Building compliance documentation and records
- Maintenance and testing schedules
- Contractor service reports
- Existing compliance management processes
The purpose of this audit was to identify any gaps in documentation, processes, or reporting that could impact ongoing compliance. By highlighting these areas early, building managers are able to address them proactively and maintain a strong compliance position. For large residential developments like Australia 108, this type of proactive review can be invaluable in ensuring compliance obligations are clearly understood and consistently managed.
Helping Building Managers Stay Ahead of Compliance
Projects like Australia 108 Apartments demonstrate the importance of a structured and knowledgeable approach to building compliance. High-rise residential properties involve multiple stakeholders, complex safety systems, and evolving regulatory requirements – having a clear understanding of essential safety measures and maintaining accurate compliance documentation helps ensure the building remains safe for occupants while reducing risk for owners and managers.
By delivering a clear AESMR, reviewing essential services, and conducting a detailed compliance audit, EBC Group helped the management team at CLLIX Australia 108 Apartments gain greater clarity around their building’s compliance status.
Partner with EBC Group for building compliance support
Managing building compliance can be complex, particularly for large residential or mixed-use developments. EBC Group works closely with building owners, facility managers, and property teams to simplify this process and provide practical, reliable compliance support. From Annual Essential Safety Measures Reports and building compliance audits through to evacuation diagrams and safety documentation, our team helps ensure buildings meet their regulatory obligations while maintaining safe environments for occupants.
If you’re responsible for managing a building and want confidence that your essential safety measures and compliance documentation are in order, EBC Group can help guide you through the process with clear, practical advice and proven expertise.