Show and festival concessions

Rides and amusements

Employers, persons in control of workplaces or persons controlling access to areas are required to ensure that the rides are correctly operated and monitored. In effect, this means the venue owner, lessee and operator all share this responsibility.

It is generally recognised that the initial responsibility should be to ensure that all log books are correctly monitored and up-to-date. If log books are incorrect, then the rides should not be permitted to operate.

Concession booths

A concession is any booth, display, riding device or any other single entertainment unit.

Concessions must comply with the following:

• components should be bolted or locked in place, slip joints are not accepted
• concessions should be able to be fully enclosed and waterproof
• operators should supply a certificate to verify that the structure has been installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions. This certificate must include a flammability test. Where new concessions are purchased or manufactured, certified flammability tests from a NATA laboratory should be obtained to verify the fabric flammability.

Local government may require additional information or order structures that are considered unsafe or unsuitable to be demolished.

Construction materials

Where base plates are used, they must be solid hardwood or solid masonry blocks. Small softwood scantling must not be used. Concessions must be secured to the ground with pegs or ballast and not rely upon their loaded weight for stability unless otherwise approved.

Stairs and steps should have treads no less than 280 mm wide and the riser height should be no more than 270 mm. Hand rails must be provided on both sides of stepped areas.

Except for the limited use of polystyrene in small signs, facilities must not be constructed from thin plywood, masonite, polystyrene or other similar materials.

Concessions must not obstruct access to any fire hose, fire hydrant or fixed fire extinguisher on or near their sites. Facilities must be set out so those fire hose reels may be fully extended.

Any part of any tent, including guy ropes and supports, or awning must not protrude over the boundaries of their designated site.

Electrical installations

The following requirements apply to shows and carnivals.

• Double adaptors are not permitted. Only multiway outlet, portable outlet devices (power boards) with overload protectors may be used.
• Joints wrapped in insulation tape are not acceptable.
• Extension cables must have catenary supports for spans greater than 8 metres.
• The use of radiators or heaters is prohibited.
• One power source per site.
• Exhibitors must only install power points and switches of double pole type.
• Exhibitors must ensure that a licensed electrical contractor carries out all electrical work in compliance with Australian Standards AS 3000 and AS 300.1
• Switchboards must be easily accessible at all times.
• Exhibitors must only use extension cords which carry a valid test tag.
• A validated tag must:
  • have been tested by a licensed electrical worker within the last 12 months
  • be fitted with a tag near the plug top
  • show the date of the test, the name of the person who tested it and that person’s electrical workers licence number.
• All electrical outlets must be protected with a residual current device (RCDs).
• Caravans and other mobile equipment must display a Caravan Installation Test Certificate that has been issued by a licensed electrical contractor.
• Temporary buildings should have a caravan inlet socket with a weatherproof flap located near the top of the rear wall or top rear corner of either side wall of the building so that a supply cable may be connected and removed from the outside of that building.
• Temporary buildings must have a suitable attachment point so that a flexible supply cable can be secured immediately above the inlet socket above the roof line.
• There must be no mains voltage (240 volt) bare lamps within 2.4 metres of the ground or within reach of a member of the public.
• There must be no lamps or heat sources within 150 mm of a flammable surface or structure.
• Exhibitors who require gas to be fitted must ensure that all gas fitting works are carried out by an authorised gas fitter in compliance with the. Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999.

Fire extinguishers

All extinguishers must be kept fully charged and maintained in accordance with AS 1851.1. This Standard requires extinguishers to be tested regularly and the test details clearly identified on each extinguisher.

Each extinguisher should be positioned on a hook or bracket located no more than 1200 mm above the adjacent floor and the extinguisher base should be more than 100 mm above the floor.

Gas Installations

Refer to the EnergySafety (external site) publications:

• Gas appliances in public venues
• Gas appliances checklist.

More information

• For information about organising an event, or information related to a public building, contact the relevant local government Environmental Health Services where the event or building is located. Refer to the online local government directory (external site) for contact details. Ask to speak to an Environmental Health Officer. 
• For events or public buildings located in Kings Park, Rottnest Island, or locations not within a local government district, contact the Environmental Health Directorate by emailing Public.Events@health.wa.gov.au or call 9222 2000