Free annual essential safety measures report (aesmr)
Jump to download form ↓Enter your email below to download this annual essential safety measures report (aesmr) as a ready-to-use PDF.
Free AESMR template for VIC and NSW commercial buildings. Fire, egress, emergency lighting compliance per Building Regulations 2018. Download free.
Commercial Director
How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.
- ✓PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
- ✓Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
- ✓Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails
Download free PDF template
Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Preview the template
See the first part of the annual essential safety measures report (aesmr) below. Download the full version above.
What is a annual essential safety measures report (aesmr)?
An Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) is a mandatory compliance document that must be prepared for all commercial buildings in Victoria (Building Regulations 2018) and NSW (Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021). The report confirms that all essential safety measures in the building have been inspected, tested and maintained to the required standard throughout the preceding 12 months. Essential safety measures include fire detection and alarm systems, sprinkler systems, hydrant systems, emergency lighting, exit signage, passive fire protection (fire doors, fire-rated walls, penetration seals), mechanical ventilation and smoke control, and egress paths.
The AESMR must be completed within 28 days of the building occupancy permit anniversary date and signed by the building owner or their authorised representative. It must be accompanied by maintenance determination records showing that each essential safety measure has been maintained in accordance with the applicable Australian Standard throughout the year. Penalties for failing to display a current AESMR can reach $50,000 for body corporates in Victoria, and municipal building surveyors and certifiers conduct audits targeting non-compliant buildings. The report must be kept at the building for inspection by the relevant building authority at any time.
Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this annual essential safety measures report (aesmr)
- Legal compliance: meets the mandatory annual reporting obligation under Building Regulations 2018 (VIC) and EP&A Regulation 2021 (NSW), avoiding fines up to $50,000.
- Life safety assurance: confirms that all fire protection, emergency lighting and egress systems are functional and maintained, protecting building occupants in an emergency.
- Insurance requirement: most commercial building insurance policies require a current AESMR as a condition of coverage for fire-related claims.
- Due diligence record: provides building owners with documentary evidence that they have met their duty of care for essential safety measures.
- Maintenance accountability: requires the building owner to confirm that each safety measure has been maintained per the applicable Australian Standard throughout the entire reporting period.
- Audit readiness: a properly completed AESMR with supporting maintenance records satisfies municipal building surveyor audits without additional documentation requests.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move your forms from paper to MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Set recurring audit schedules with automatic reminders and escalation.
- Produce regulator-ready PDF compliance packs in one click.
- Track corrective actions from finding to close-out with full audit trail.
Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles forms.
Try MapTrack free for 30 days
Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.
- No credit card required
- 30 days free trial
- Cancel anytime
What to include in a annual essential safety measures report (aesmr)
This annual essential safety measures report (aesmr) covers 10 key areas:
- Building details: address, building class (BCA classification), occupancy permit number, anniversary date, building owner name and contact details.
- Essential safety measures schedule: complete list of all essential safety measures required by the occupancy permit or building approval, cross-referenced to the applicable maintenance standard.
- Maintenance confirmation: for each safety measure, confirmation that maintenance has been carried out in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard for the full 12-month period.
- Fire detection and alarm: maintenance per AS 1851 Section 2 (fire detection and alarm systems), including monthly, quarterly and annual test records.
- Sprinkler and hydrant systems: maintenance per AS 1851 Section 3 (automatic sprinkler systems) and Section 4 (hydrant systems).
- Emergency lighting: maintenance per AS 2293.2 (emergency lighting maintenance), including 6-monthly duration discharge tests.
- Passive fire protection: fire door inspections per AS 1851 Section 14, fire-rated wall and penetration seal inspections.
- Egress: confirmation that all exit paths, stairwells and discharge points are clear and compliant.
- Owner declaration: signed statement that all essential safety measures have been maintained as required, with date and owner signature.
- Display requirements: confirmation that the AESMR is displayed in a prominent location within the building.
How to use this annual essential safety measures report (aesmr)
- Compile the essential safety measures schedule from the building occupancy permit.: Review the original occupancy permit (or determination from a building surveyor) to identify every essential safety measure required for the building. This forms the master list against which maintenance must be confirmed. If the schedule has never been formally documented, engage a building surveyor to prepare one.
- Collect and verify 12 months of maintenance records for each safety measure.: Gather maintenance logbooks, service reports and test certificates for each essential safety measure covering the full 12-month reporting period. Verify that maintenance has been performed at the frequencies specified in the applicable standard (for example, AS 1851 specifies monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual tests for fire systems).
- Identify any gaps in maintenance compliance and arrange rectification.: If any safety measure has not been maintained at the required frequency during the reporting period, this must be disclosed. Arrange immediate rectification of any identified deficiencies. Note that the AESMR cannot truthfully certify compliance if maintenance gaps exist, and false certification carries separate penalties.
- Complete the AESMR form with the owner declaration and signature.: Complete the annual report form confirming that each essential safety measure listed on the schedule has been maintained in accordance with the applicable Australian Standard. The building owner (or authorised agent with documented authority) must sign the declaration. Date the report within 28 days of the occupancy permit anniversary.
- Display the completed AESMR in the building and retain records for audit.: Display the current AESMR in a prominent location within the building, typically near the main entrance or fire indicator panel. Retain copies of the AESMR and all supporting maintenance records for at least 10 years. Make these available for inspection by the municipal building surveyor or relevant building authority at any time.
In MapTrack, you can automate compliance tracking and audit trails. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
Get the free template
Enter your email above to download the full annual essential safety measures report (aesmr) as a PDF.
Back to download formHow often should you complete this form?
The AESMR must be completed annually, within 28 days of the building occupancy permit anniversary date. This is a hard regulatory deadline with no provision for extension. The underlying maintenance that supports the AESMR is ongoing throughout the year at frequencies specified by the relevant Australian Standards (monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual intervals). In MapTrack, you can track all essential safety measure maintenance schedules against their required frequencies, generate compliance status reports at any time, and receive automated reminders when the AESMR preparation window opens 60 days before the anniversary date.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- Building Regulations 2018 (VIC), Part 12 - Maintenance of essential safety measures
- Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (NSW), Part 8
- National Construction Code (NCC/BCA) - Essential safety measures provisions
- AS 1851 Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
- AS 2293.2 Emergency lighting - Inspection and maintenance
Need to automate compliance tracking and audit trails?
Register every asset in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.
Compliance and inspections · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo