A public building is defined by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911 as a building, place, or part of a building or place where people can assemble for civic, theatrical, social, educational, business, recreational, sporting, political, religious or entertainment purposes.
 
These buildings have minimum operating standards for fire and electrical safety, emergency exits and how many people can be accommodated. 
 
Common examples of public buildings include:  
 

• Sporting clubrooms
• Gyms and fitness centres
• Indoor sports centres and stadiums 
• Private educational facilities
• Training facilities
• Entertainment facilities such as ten pin bowling, go karting or indoor rock climbing
• Conference and seminar rooms within hotels
• Bars and clubs

Public buildings also include any building, structure, tent, gallery, enclosure, platform or other place (or part of these) in or on which numbers of people assemble on a regular or occasional basis.

Public buildings in the City of Belmont

Public buildings in the City of Belmont are approved and regularly inspected by the City’s Health Services team.
 
The construction, operation and maintenance of public buildings are subject to the requirements of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911, the Health (Public Buildings) Regulations 1992 and the National Construction Code. 

Before the construction of a new public building

If you are constructing a new public building or making changes to existing public building premises, you will need to:
 

• Apply for any relevant Building and Planning approvals;
• Complete and submit a Form 1: Application to Construct Extend or Alter a Public Building to the City’s Health Services team.

You will also need to submit detailed plans to the City’s Health Services team for review. In some cases, there are conflicting requirements between the National Construction Code and the requirements of the Health (Public Building) Regulations 1992 (which take precedence).

After the construction of a new public building

Once constructed, a public building needs a Certificate of Approval from the City’s Health Services team before it can be used. This Certificate of Approval specifies the maximum number of people permitted at any one time, depending on the use and the nature of the activities involved.
 
An Environmental Health Officer will need to undertake an inspection of the Public Building prior to the issuing of the Certificate of Approval.

Application forms you may need include:

• Form 2:  Application for Certificate of Approval – This will need to be submitted before the inspection can take place;
• Form 5: Certificate of Electrical Compliance – This needs to be submitted to the City’s Health Services team after any electrical works have been completed, before a new or amended Certificate of Approval can be issued.

Changing a building

If the use of a building is changed and it becomes a public building, the same forms will need to be completed as for the construction of a new public building. The building will also need to be inspected before a Certificate of Approval can be issued.

Where an existing public building is altered or amended in any way, you will need:

• Form 3: Application for Variation of Certificate of Approval – This needs to be submitted to the City’s Health Services team.

For more information, visit the Western Australian Department of Health Events and Public Buildings website.