Is the company that services your fire equipment also signing off on it?
Every non-house building in Victoria needs an Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR). The owner can authorise an agent to complete it, often the same maintenance contractor whose work it vouches for.[3] ESM Index lists who does what, so you can choose an inspector who has no stake in the repair bill.
The problem
It's a legal document
Owners must have an AESMR prepared within 28 days before each anniversary of the occupancy permit or maintenance determination. Not doing so carries a penalty of 20 penalty units, about $4,182 in 2026–27.[1][4]
The owner signs it
The report must be signed by the owner and state that all reasonable steps were taken to keep each measure working.[1] If the contractor marks its own homework, the owner still carries the statement.
Independence is hard to see
Of the 20 Melbourne firms we checked, only 3 say on their own website that they don't maintain or repair what they audit. 12 openly service or rectify, and 5 don't say either way.
How it works
Compare
Filter Melbourne inspectors by conflict status, building type and the measures they cover. Every fact links to the page it came from.
Check the scope
Use the decision guide to compare the AESMR scope with your occupancy permit's ESM list, and to spot bundled “inspect-and-fix” quotes.
Get quotes
Request up to 3 quotes from firms that state they're audit-only. (Prototype: the form below is a mock.)
Firms that state they're independent
These firms say on their own sites that they don't maintain or repair equipment. Wording is quoted verbatim, and we haven't independently verified it.
Focus BRC (Focus Building Risk and Compliance)
1/387 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy VIC 3068
"We do not maintain, repair, or replace safety equipment. That is your contractor's role."
Price: From $133/quarter (Compliance Certification or Compliance Audit); from $101/quarter (Compliance Oversight, contractor keeps AESMR)
Mabi Services
11 Havelock Rd, Bayswater VIC 3153
"Mabi completes independent Essential Safety Audits. We do not maintain any of the fire equipment installed" and "We do not however undertake defect works".
Price: Quote required
Conti Group Building Consultants
46 Ayr Street, Doncaster VIC 3108
Page headline: "Independent building compliance and Essential Safety Measure audits". Registered Building Surveyors (VBA BS-U 26220). No maintenance or repair services listed; offers advice on rectification pathways.
Price: Quote required (fee proposal on request)
Get 3 independent quotes
Tell us about the building; in the live version we'd send the brief to up to 3 firms that state they do not service or repair the equipment they audit.
List your firm
Free basic listing. Firms claiming “independent” status would need to confirm in writing that they don't service, repair or supply the measures they sign off.