WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE BUILDING CODE INTRODUCTION

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
Police Stations are used for extended periods, well beyond the requirements placed on normal office accommodation. Stations provide both a working environment for staff and a place of comfort and reassurance to the local community. The standard of Police accommodation has been of concern for some time. The Mc arrey !eport made reference to the "poor facilities and inadequate equipment" and further suggests "the pressing need now is for better facilities and equipment". #n $ebruary %&&', the Senior (xecutive of the ).*. Police +epartment sought to improve Police Station accommodation within a strategic organisational framework. This framework included a review of the organisations, future direction, resulting in the Strategic Plan %&&-.&/, and how the policing service would be undertaken, producing a Service +elivery Strategy. The building implications arising from the strategic framework were documented highlighting the need for Police Stations to be robust, expandable and functional, while allowing for ongoing modifications in light of the changing operational policing needs and the opportunities presented by adopting improved technology to deliver a better service to the Public. #n May %&&- a Steering ommittee, Task $orce and 0perational +evelopment Teams were formed to develop a set of accommodation standards for Police Stations. These standards are known as the )est *ustralian Police 1uilding ode, referred to as the ode. The ode was initially developed based on the input from the sworn offices on the 0perational +evelopment Teams. These teams represented all functional units typically accommodated in a Police Station. The first version was released in September %&&2. Subsequently versions were released incorporating feedback received from the Pro3ect ontrol 4roups and the commissioned consultants responsible for the design and construction of Police Stations funded since %&&2.

1.2 INTRODUCTION
The ode describes the operational and technical requirements for a range of Police Stations comprising5 Satellite Stations Small Satellite %./ 0fficers Medium Satellite 6.%2 0fficers 7arge Satellite %/.89 0ffices +istrict omplex 89 plus 0fficers

*s at '99', more than /9: of police stations fall into the small satellite category. #t is intend as a reference for those concerned with the provision buildings and equipment, including5 Police !egional and +istrict 0fficers and Station 0# ,s, 7and; 1uilding Management 1ranch Pro3ect 7eader<s, Pro3ect ontrol 4roup members, and entral 4overnment *gencies, including +epartment of =ousing ; )orks and Treasury. The ode provides a comprehensive but flexible, set of standards from which a building brief can be prepared. The brief describes the functional, technical, planning and activity space requirements for *rchitects and (ngineers involved in designing police accommodation. The standards are based on four key underlying principles5 $acility staff numbers> REVISIONS 2004.1
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE BUILDING CODE INTRODUCTION Service +elivery philosophy 0perational functional requirements> and orporate policy and strategic direction. * clear articulation and understanding of these principles will ensure that the building brief provides a facility that is not only functional and flexible but also value for money. *dditionally the ode provides5 a benchmark against which facilities requiring upgrading can be assessed, thus providing a quantifiable measure of shortfalls and?or additions required in the existing accommodation. This can be used to determine the economic viability of either upgrading or replacement> a framework to enhance the operational effectiveness of future police facilities by learning from previous building experiences", e.g. Post 0ccupancy (valuations> an indication of which activity spaces in a station are likely to require future expansion, enabling master planning to make such provision in the original design> a rationalisation of common facilities within a station, avoiding costly duplication> an in built expansion factor of '9: has been included in the calculations for multi.occupancy activity spaces to cater for expansion> and the basis for preparing feasibility studies and indicative cost estimates for proposed Police stations. The ode has been developed using a modular, hierarchical approach, comprising5 Ma3or 4roups, being high level groups broadly based on the current programme structure within the ).*. Police Service e.g. 4eneral 0perations etc. (ach Ma3or 4roup consists of a number of $unctional @nits> $unctional @nits are units based on specific areas of responsibility e.g. 4eneral +uties etc. (ach $unctional @nit consists of a number of *ctivity Spaces> *ctivity Spaces describes the requirements of a space to satisfy a functional requirement for the occupant to achieve their function. * proforma is used to describe such things as the environmental requirements and furniture and fittings. The relationships within a functional unit and activity spaces are described as allowing people who need to work together to be located in close proximity.
Building Code / Brie

Word Do'u+en(%

!"#or Grou$%

+ocument Sections

4eneral 0perations &un'(ion"l Uni(%

rime 0perations

4eneral +uties

ommunity Policing

A'(i)i(* S$"'e%
#ntroduction

0ffice

Store

The ode consists of the following ma3or sections5 Policy Framework . outlines the organisation,s ob3ectives. This includes the Strategic Plan, Service +elivery Strategy and ma3or 1uilding #mplications> Planning Guidelines . discusses the overall ob3ectives, main design issues and guidelines which should be considered or taken into account when designing a police station> Custodial Design Guidelines - describes the requirements of custodial facility design, in accordance with the 1lack +eaths in ustody !oyal ommission> Technical Criteria - outlines the performance requirements of systems in the building e.g. air.conditioning, security etc> Formula Legend - describes the formulae to be used to calculate usable floor area of multiple occupancy and storage activity spaces> REVISIONS 2004.1
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE BUILDING CODE INTRODUCTION Glossary - defines unique terminology used in the code> Standard Details Index - where there are specific requirements in the performance of an item i.e. examination table, which cannot be adequately described in the activity space data sheet, are drawn as Standard +etails> Project In ormation - a proforma outlining information typically required to be provided to a consultant at the commencement of brief preparation and notes to assist in preparing a pro3ect brief> Project Leader!s Guide - notes to assist Police 7and ; 1uilding Management 1ranch undertake building pro3ects> "cti#ity S$ace Data Sheets - describes the characteristics required, including lighting, security furniture etc. of the room to achieve the function intended by the occupant. The usable floor area of some activity spaces is determined by evaluating a formula. These are usually multi.occupant spaces e.g. 4eneral +uties 0ffice and *menities !oom.

1., USING T-E CODE

The code is a set of mandatory operational and technical requirements for satellite and district police stations. #n the preparation of building briefs only unique site specific information shall be added, provided it does not compromise the code requirements. This ensures a state.wide consistency of functional design and the provision of facilities based on the services requirements.

1.. LI!ITATIONS O& T-E CODE

The code shall be viewed as a mandatory set of accommodation principles and technical requirements. )hile certain sections of the ode may not be universally applicable to all police facilities, for example Property Tracing, leased office accommodation it provides the foundation for the "one off" functional briefs. 1ecause of the variety of proprietary products in the market place and the frequency with which these products change, the ode has minimised specific reference to a particular product unless the functionality provided is unique and considered operationally imperative.

1./ PRO0ECT INITIATION AND T-E CODE

0nce the Service ommand endorses a pro3ect, the following procedures are adopted. %. '. The Manager, Police 7and ; 1uilding Management 1ranch appoints a pro3ect leader, who liaises with Police !egional and +istrict 0ffice representatives and the Police (stablishments ontrol 1oard A( 1B representative, to establish staffing numbers both on occupation and a %9 year pro3ection. @pon endorsement of the staffing numbers by the +eputy ommissioner A0perationsB who is also the ( 1 hairperson, the Pro3ect 7eader establishes a Pro3ect ontrol 4roup AP 4B comprising the following stakeholders5 !epresentative from each portfolio to be located in the facility> !egional 0fficer, or a representative> +istrict 0fficer, or a representative> Ministry of Custice representative, if appropriate> +epartment of =ousing ; )orks ontract Manager> and 7and ; 1uilding Management 1ranch Pro3ect 7eader. Preparation of a functional brief by the onsultant Pro3ect Manager and 7and; 1uilding Management 1ranch Pro3ect 7eader in consultation with the P 4.

-.

1.1 !AINTAINING T-E CODE

*s the ode is a living document reflecting the changing needs and requirements of the ).*. Police Service a formal procedure has been established for alterations to ensure their implication on other parts of the ode is assessed and understood. REVISIONS 2004.1
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE BUILDING CODE INTRODUCTION *mendments and revisions of the ode will be identified and documented as a result of one or more of the following5 hanges in the Services service delivery philosophy> Post 0ccupancy (valuation . These reviews are generally conducted a minimum of %' months after occupancy of the building. This enables an assessment of the facility to be carried out to assess the briefed functionality versus that provided. This information is used to enhance the ode for future facilities> !equest from a Pro3ect ontrol 4roup, Portfolios, !egion or +istrict . This can occur at any time, based on the experiences or views of operational staff. The procedure ensures that the impact of changes can be investigated and have broad support before being included in the ode> and Police 7and; 1uilding Management 1ranch and +epartment of =ousing ; )orks *dvice . +esign considerations and technical specifications may be altered because of changing standards i.e. products used previously disappear or new products appear which are most cost efficient or effective. 4enerally, these changes will not affect the operational requirements of the facility, and as such will be made as required. To ensure that changes to the ode and hence the design of future stations reflect the services requirements all requests should be documented addressing the criteria used in the codes formulation and referred to the Manager, 7and; 1uilding Management 1ranch, )* Police Service for on forwarding to the 1uilding ode ommittee. The committee is chaired by )*PS +irector of *ssets and comprises representatives from5 0perational !epresentatives, for say each Portfolio, !egion or +istrict> )*PS 7and; 1uilding Management 1ranch> and +epartment of =ousing ; )orks. The ode is intended to be a living document reflecting the changing needs and requirements These changes will be recorded and it is anticipated that a new version of the code will be released every %' months depending on the circumstances. The diagram below represents the process by which changes can occur to the 1uilding ode once the initial draft is accepted.
&echanism for Alterin% E'istin% $uil in% Co e (tan ar s

Post Occupancy Evaluation

Request From Portfolio

Consultant / DHW Technical A vice

"an

Discussion !ith # $uil in% &ana%ement $ranch # DHW

$uil in% Co e Committee En orsement

Alteration to Co e

These requirements or standards have been arrived at after extensive consultation with operational staff. #nformation included in the ode was assessed against the following criteria to ensure that5 it provided a forward view of the Services purpose and direction. * police station will take between ' . 8 years from the "glint in the eye" to occupation> the problem is defined, and does, not perceived to, exist> REVISIONS 2004.1
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE BUILDING CODE INTRODUCTION non asset solutions are investigated> capital and recurrent costs are minimised> the requirements satisfied normal working requirements and not peaks> state.wide implications are assessed and understood> and management problems are not solved with asset solutions.

REVISIONS 2004.1

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