NSW Part I4 Entertainment venues other than temporary structures and drive-in theatres

This Part applies to every entertainment venue as described in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021.

If an entertainment venue forms part only of a building, then—

1. the whole of the entertainment venue; or
2. the part containing the stage, backstage area and auditorium,

must be separated from the other parts of the building by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.

Where an entertainment venue is used principally for the purpose of—

1. exhibiting films; or
2. conducting live stage productions,

foyer space (excluding stairways and concession areas) must be provided on the basis of at least 0.25 m² for each person that the auditorium accommodates.

In an entertainment venue, where multiple auditoriums have a foyer in common, the following applies:

1. If the foyer serves not more than 2 auditoriums, that foyer must be separated from any adjoining foyer by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.
2. If the foyer serves more than 2 auditoriums, a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 must be installed—
   1. throughout the storey containing the foyer; and
   2. throughout each storey in the building below that storey.

NSW I4D6 to NSW I4D9 apply to a conventional stage, that is, a stage which is separated from the auditorium by a proscenium wall incorporating a proscenium opening.

If a room or area is not separated from the remainder of a conventional stage by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60, the room or area is, for the purposes of this Part, to be taken to form part of the stage.

A stage which is more than 50 m² but not more than 150 m² in area must have 2 or more means of egress from the stage and backstage area provided otherwise than through the proscenium wall.

A stage which is more than 150 m² in area—

1. must have installed directly above the stage a suitable sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17; and
2. must have the proscenium opening protected by a safety curtain that complies with NSW I4D15 and NSW I4D16; and
3. must have a line of open drenchers or open sprinklers provided above the proscenium opening on the stage side and in such a position as to be able to discharge over the inside face of the safety curtain; and
4. must have 2 or more means of egress from the stage and backstage area provided otherwise than through the proscenium wall.

A stage which is more than 50 m² in area, and all areas below such a stage, must (with the exception of the proscenium opening) be separated from the backstage and the remainder of the building by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.

NSW I4D11 and NSW I4D12 apply to a stage that is not a conventional stage within the meaning of NSW I4D5.

A stage which is more than 50 m² but not more than 150 m² in area must have at least 2 means of egress from the backstage area.

A stage which is more than 150 m² in area must have at least 2 means of egress from the backstage area.

(1) Where there is a grid or other means of flying scenery over a conventional stage or non-conventional stage—

1. the stage must be provided with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17; and
2. a fly gallery, bridge grid, rigging loft, tie gallery or electric light perch must—
   1. comply with AS 1657; and
   2. be of non-combustible construction; and
3. a fly gallery must be provided with at least 2 means of egress, one on each side of the stage; and
4. a grid or rigging loft must be provided with at least 2 means of egress; and
5. if exposed steel is used in the construction of a roof, fly or tie gallery, the roof, fly or tie gallery must be so designed that, in the event of its structural failure due to fire, the wall structure of the building will not be affected; and
6. structural steel supporting the stage tower must be enclosed by masonry or concrete and have an FRL of not less than 120/120/120.

(2) In addition to (1), in the case of a conventional stage, the following additional requirements apply:

1. The proscenium wall must—
   1. have an FRL of not less than 120/120/120; and
   2. have the proscenium opening protected by a rigid safety curtain in accordance with NSW I4D16.
2. The walls forming the stage area, and the area beneath the stage, must be constructed of masonry or concrete and have an FRL of not less than 120/120/120.

(1) A notice indicating the actual distributed and concentrated load for which the stage floor has been designed must be conspicuously and permanently displayed in a position adjacent to the stage floor.

(2) The notice must be in legible letters and figures—

1. at least 50 mm high; and
2. on a contrasting background.

A safety curtain required by NSW I4D8 must—

1. be made of non-combustible material; and
2. be so fitted that, when it is closed, it forms an efficient smoke seal between the stage and the auditorium; and
3. be capable of withstanding a pressure differential of 0.5 kPa over its entire surface area; and
4. be run on steel guides located on each side of the proscenium opening; and
5. remain engaged in its guides if the guides, together with their fittings and attachments and that part of the curtain engaged in the guides, are subjected to a pressure differential of 1 kPa; and
6. be of sufficiently robust construction to withstand damage by scenery, stage properties and falling debris; and
7. be capable of closing the proscenium opening within 30 seconds, either by gravity slide or by motor assisted mechanisms; and
8. have manual controls, located on each side of the stage, for the closing of the curtains; and
9. have a notice displayed adjacent to the operating controls, in clear and legible letters and symbols of adequate size, indicating its use and operation; and
10. when operated, actuate a distinctive warning alarm audible to persons on the stage and must not be reliant for its operation solely on the primary electricity supply; and
11. have the words “Safety Curtain” exhibited on the curtain in clear and legible letters of adequate size to enable them to be read from all parts of the auditorium.

A rigid safety curtain required by NSW I4D13 must comply with the requirements of NSW I4D15 and it must—

1. be vertically hung from steel cables; and
2. be framed with structural steel that complies with AS 4100; and
3. be sheeted and finished on both sides with sheet steel or other non-combustible material of such gauge, and so fastened to its frame, as to ensure that its frame is capable of withstanding distortion arising from heat; and
4. when closed, overlap the proscenium opening by not less than 300 mm at each side and by not less than 600 mm at the top.

NSW I4D18 to NSW I4D25 do not apply to continental seating or seating at tables.

Subject to NSW I4D22, where seating is arranged in rows, the maximum number of seats in each row must not exceed—

1. 8 where there is an aisle at one end only of the row; or
2. 16 where there are aisles on both ends of the row.

Chairs used for seating must—

1. where they have arms, be at least 500 mm from centre to centre; and
2. where they do not have arms, be at least 450 mm from centre to centre; and
3. have a minimum lateral clearance of at least 300 mm between—
   1. the front of each chair and the back of the chair in front; or
   2. if a guardrail is provided in front of the chairs, between the front of each chair and the guardrail; and
4. have a distance of at least 950 mm between the back of the chair and the back of the chair in front.

Chairs in an auditorium that has a level floor must be—

1. securely fastened to the floor; or
2. secured together in groups of not less than 4 and not more than 16.

Chairs in an auditorium having a sloping floor, or having stepped or inclined platforms, must be securely fastened to the floor or platform.

Where seating is securely fastened to the floor and arranged in rows of concentric circles, semi-circles or segments of circles, with radiating aisles—

1. the number of seats in each row between 2 aisles must not exceed 24; and
2. each seat must—
   1. have a minimum lateral clearance of at least 325 mm between the front of the seat and the back of the seat in front; and
   2. have a distance of at least 975 mm between the back of the seat and the back of the seat in front; and
3. the rows may be curved or straight.

Where aisles and cross-overs are provided—

1. each aisle must have a width of at least 1000 mm and each cross-over must have a width of at least 1500 mm; and
2. the floor of each aisle must not have a grade of more than 1 in 8 at any part; and
3. if there is a step from a row to an aisle or from a landing to an aisle, the step must not project into the aisle.

Where an aisle contains platforms or steps—

1. the platforms and steps must extend for the full width of the aisle; and
2. if there are no intervening steps between levels of platforms, the height of the platform riser must not be more than 200 mm; and
3. if there are one or more intervening steps between the levels of platforms—
   1. each riser must be at least 100 mm but not more than 200 mm high; and
   2. each going must be at least 250 mm deep; and
   3. risers and goings must be uniform; and
4. goings which are more than 450 mm deep at platform level must have a grade of not more than 1 in 50; and
5. at the entrance from the aisle to each row there must be a clear level floor space, extending the full width of the aisle, of at least 300 mm, measured from the back of the row in front; and
6. any going projecting in front of a seat adjacent to an aisle must be protected by a guardrail.

Where stepped platforms without chairs or stepped platforms with bench seats, are used for seating—

1. each platform must be at least 700 mm deep; and
2. each seating space must be at least 450 mm wide, measured along the front of the platform or bench seat; and
3. each seating space must be numbered consecutively; and
4. at the entrance from the aisle to each row there must be a clear level floor space, extending the full width of the aisle, of at least 300 mm, measured from the back of the row in front; and
5. any going projecting in front of a seat adjacent to an aisle must be protected by a guardrail; and
6. in the case of stepped platforms with bench seats, there must be at least 300 mm between the back of each seat and the front of the platform behind, or the front of the bench seat behind, whichever is the closer.

NSW I4D27 to NSW I4D35 apply to continental seating.

Seating must be securely fastened to the floor.

The number of seats in a row must not exceed 120.

The depth of each row of seating (that is, the distance between the back of the row in front or, if there is a guardrail in front, between the back of the row and the guardrail) must, in respect of a row containing a number of seats specified in Column 1 of NSW Table I4D29, be not less than the distance specified in Column 2 of that Table in respect of that number of seats.

The minimum lateral clearance between each row of seating must, in respect of a row containing a number of seats specified in Column 1 of NSW Table I4D29 be not less than the clearance specified in Column 3 of that Table in respect of that number of seats.

Chairs used for seating must comply with NSW I4D19(a) and (b).

Egress doorways through the walls of the auditorium—

1. must have an aggregate width of at least twice the sum of the clearances specified in Column 3 of NSW Table I4D29 for each row of the auditorium to be served by those doorways; and
2. must be provided at each end of every fifth row, excluding the first 2 rows and the last 2 rows in the auditorium if those rows each contain no more than 16 seats; and
3. must lead—
   1. directly to a road or open space; or
   2. into a foyer or other area giving access to a road or open space; and
4. must be provided with exit signs if the egress doorways are not sufficiently conspicuous.

A clear area—

1. must be provided from each end of each row to an egress doorway in the wall of the auditorium; and
2. must have a width of at least the greater of—
   1. the sum of the clearances specified in Column 3 of NSW Table I4D29 for each row; or
   2. 500 mm; and
3. if it contains platforms or steps, must comply with NSW I4D24(a), (b), (c), (d) and (f).

At the entrance from a row to a clear area, there must be a clear level floor space having a width of at least the clearance specified for the row in Column 3 of NSW Table I4D29.

A door fitted to the egress doorway in the wall of an auditorium must comply with NSW D3D16 and NSW D3D24(2).

Guardrails must be provided—

1. along the fascia of each balcony or box; and
2. if there is a stepped floor, along the front edge of each cross-over; and
3. where NSW I4D37 and NSW I4D38 apply.

If seats with fixed backs are provided, guardrails that extend for the full width of the seating, must be provided at least 500 mm above the platform unless—

1. fixed back seats of the next lower level project at least 500 mm above the level of the stepped platform; and
2. there is only one riser between the platform and next lower cross-over.

If—

1. there is more than one intervening step in an aisle between levels of platforms, a guardrail must be provided (at a vertical height of at least 660 mm measured above the nosing of each tread and of the upper platform) to the sides of the aisle adjacent to those steps; and
2. there is more than one intervening step in an aisle between levels of platforms, and that aisle is along a wall, a continuous guardrail must be affixed to that wall at a height of at least 865 mm above the nosing of each tread; and
3. the end of the platform or the back of the highest platform does not abut a wall that extends at least 660 mm above the floor level of the platform, a guardrail not less than 660 mm high must be provided—
   1. at the ends of the platform, extending from the front of the first riser to the back of the highest platform; and
   2. at the back of the highest platform, extending the full width of the platform; and
4. there is an inclined floor, the raised section of which is not bounded by walls at least 660 mm high, a guardrail must be provided that extends around the perimeter of the raised section at a height of at least 660 mm above the inclined floor level; and
5. seating at tables is provided on a stepped platform, a guardrail at least 500 mm high must be provided along the front edge of the platform.

NSW I4D40 to NSW I4D42 apply to seating areas.

Where a guardrail is provided in front of a row of chairs—

1. the distance between the back of each chair in that row, and the guardrail must be not less than the distance specified in Column 2 of NSW Table I4D29 for the number of chairs in that row; and
2. the minimum lateral clearance between the front of each chair in that row and the guardrail must be not less than the clearance specified in Column 3 of NSW Table I4D29 for the number of chairs in that row.

A guardrail provided along the fascia of a balcony or box—

1. if it is located at the foot of a stepped aisle, must have its top surface at least 900 mm above the floor of the balcony or box; and
2. if it is not located at the foot of a stepped aisle, must have its top surface at least 750 mm above the floor; and
3. if it has a ledge more than 70 mm wide, must have the top surface of the ledge sloping downwards towards the floor of the balcony or box at an angle of at least 30 degrees from the horizontal; and
4. must have an unperforated kerb or toe guard extending for at least 300 mm above the floor.

A guardrail provided along the front edge of a cross-over on a stepped floor—

1. must be at least 750 mm high; and
2. must extend the full distance between aisles, or between a wall and an aisle, or for such other distance as considered necessary.

A dressing room or two or more adjoining dressing rooms, having a total floor area of more than 50 m², must—

1. be separated from other parts of the building by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60; and
2. have at least 2 means of egress as remote from each other as possible, one of which must discharge—
   1. directly to a road or open space; or
   2. through a fire-isolated exit to a road or open space.

A storeroom must be separated from other parts of the building by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.

(1) NSW I4D45 to NSW I4D48 apply to projection suites.

(2) A projection suite must be provided in an entertainment venue intended to be used for the showing of films.

A projection suite in accordance with the staffing requirements of Schedule 72 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 must contain either—

1. a projection room and sanitary accommodation comprising at least 1 closet pan and 1 washbasin, where the projection suite is continually staffed; or
2. a projection room fitted with the following equipment—
   1. an automatic fire suppression system in accordance with SSL Appraisal Specification FAS 102 or a sprinkler system complying with AS 2118; and
   2. a smoke detection system which will—
      1. comply with AS 1670.1; and
      2. be connected to a fire station or other approved monitoring service where arrangements are in place to initiate fire brigade response; and
      3. close down all shutters fitted to projection or observation ports; and
      4. activate sufficient general lighting to provide a minimum of 40 lux measured at floor level in any auditorium affected; and
      5. operate a public address system to automatically announce a suitable message from the management of the premises; and
      6. activate an audible alarm to immediately indicate to management the presence of smoke in the projection room.

A projection suite must be separated from all other internal parts of the building in which it is located by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.

If a projection or observation port is not more than 0.1 m² in area—

1. a metal shutter not less than 1.5 mm thick may be fitted thereto instead of the protection required under NSW C4D12; and
2. any metal shutter or protection system must be equipped with a device to permit the closing of the shutter or the protection system from easily accessible operating positions adjacent to each egress doorway from the projection room.

Where an entertainment venue includes not more than 2 basement storeys—

1. all required exits from the basement must be enclosed in non-combustible construction, with the exception of the main entry or exit; and
2. any auditorium and other public areas in the basement must be equipped with an air-handling system that complies with AS 1668.2.

If the entertainment venue includes more than 2 basement storeys—

1. the construction must be of at least Type B; and
2. all required exits from the basement must be enclosed in a fire-resisting shaft having an FRL as required by the relevant Type of construction; and
3. the building must be equipped with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17.

The switchboard containing the main isolation switch must—

1. be located in a position that is readily accessible to authorised persons, and to the fire brigade in the case of an emergency; and
2. be enclosed by construction having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.

Protection of the final sub-circuit originating at a switchboard or distribution board must be by means of circuit breakers.

Where an entertainment venue has its mains supply in common with that of another building or where it is a part of a building—

1. the entertainment venue must be served by a separate and independent sub-main from the main switchboard; and
2. each sub-main, the consumer’s main and the supply authority’s conductors within the building must be protected against fire by means of—
   1. mineral-insulated metal-sheathed cables or other cables that provide at least 2 hours’ fire protection; or
   2. heavy-duty PVC conduit or metallic pipe, concrete encased in walls or slabs with a minimum of 50 mm cover; or
   3. heavy-duty PVC conduit or metallic pipe, buried at least 500 mm below ground level, for underground cabling.

(1) Any switch controlling the lighting system must not be accessible.

(2) Where, during normal use, general lighting may be dimmed or switched off, an override switch to switch on all of the general lighting instantaneously must be installed in the auditorium in a position accessible to management.

Where the lamps utilised in the general lighting are of a type that will not relight immediately after the restoration of the primary electricity supply to those lamps—

1. a time delay or other suitable means must be provided to maintain the emergency lighting for a period not less than that necessary to allow the general lighting lamps to restrike; or
2. lamps of a type that will provide immediate lighting must be installed and—
   1. arranged in such a manner as to ensure visual conditions not inferior to those required to be provided by the emergency lighting; and
   2. capable of being switched in common with the general lighting and of being controlled also by the override switch required by NSW I4D54(2).

Where general lighting is to be either dimmed or extinguished when the public is in attendance and where the floor is stepped or at an inclination greater than 1 in 12, aisle lights must be provided to illuminate the length of each aisle and the tread of each step therein.

Where an aisle light is installed in a seat frame, it must be supplied at a voltage of not more than 32 volts AC or 115 volts DC.

Aisle lighting must be provided with an alternative electricity supply that—

1. is capable of being automatically energised in the event of failure of the primary lighting electricity supply; and
2. complies with the provisions applying to emergency lighting.

An automatic smoke-and-heat vent system required by NSW E2D16(c) for stages and backstages must—

1. be capable of automatic operation by the inclusion of a heat sensing device designed to activate the system at a temperature of not more than 71°C; and
2. be capable of being released manually from positions at either side of the stage and of being fully activated from either position; and
3. have a notice, prominently displayed at each position referred to in (b), clearly indicating the method of activation; and
4. have an openable area of not less than 10 percent of the total area of the stage.

Solid fuel burning stoves and open fire places must not be installed in premises designed for the purpose of—

1. exhibiting films; or
2. conducting live theatre productions.

Fuel gas cylinders must—

1. be housed in an enclosure that is located outside the building; and
2. comply with the ventilation requirements of AS/NZS 1596.

An enclosure referred to in NSW I4D61—

1. must be located not less than 3 m from any window, door, vent or other opening; and
2. if located 3 m or more from a building must—
   1. have a concrete base; and
   2. be constructed from heavy-gauge chain-wire mesh or other suitable material; and
   3. be at least 1.8 m high; and
   4. be so designed as to securely contain the gas cylinders in a single line; and
   5. be so designed as to allow cross ventilation; and
3. if located less than 3 m from a building must—
   1. have a concrete base; and
   2. have 3 sides constructed from concrete or masonry; and
   3. have a concrete roof; and
   4. be so designed as to securely contain the gas cylinders in a single line; and
   5. have a hinged, heavy-gauge chain-wire door capable of being secured against unauthorised entry; and
   6. have its roof at least 600 mm above the uppermost fitting of any fuel gas cylinder housed therein.