What happens if an owner or occupier does not comply?

• A general manager of a council can issue a building order to the owner of a building if the essential health and safety features of the building are not maintained in accordance with the Building Regulations 2004.
• A general manager of a council or the Director of Building Control can also issue an infringement notice for failure to maintain the essential health and safety features and measures.
• Non-compliance may also result in prosecution and a fine of up to $12,000 for individuals or $60,000 for companies. 
• More importantly non-compliance could place not only building occupants’ lives at risk, but also those in adjoining buildings and passers-by. Adequate maintenance is the best means of ensuring that safety systems will operate reliably if an emergency arises.