Western Australia. 1974 ‘Specifications for Storage Cabinets or Containers.’ Firearms Regulations 1974 (Version 07-d0-01, as at 22 July 2015); Schedule 4. Perth: State Law Publisher. 1 July

Relevant contents

Schedule 4 - Specifications for storage cabinets or containers

1. Construction
(1) The cabinet or container is to be constructed of mild steel that is 2 mm thick.
(2) A joint between 2 faces that is butt welded is to have a continuous weld along the full length of the joint.
(3) A joint where the edge of one face is folded over the edge of another face is to be stitch welded, with welds of at least 20 mm in length at intervals of not more than 100 mm between welds.
(4) Spot welding is not to be used on the joints between faces.
(5) The cabinet or container is to be so designed that no firearm or ammunition within it can be removed from it while it is locked.
(6) In this clause —
face means a side, the top, or the bottom, of the cabinet or container.

2. Doors
(1) Doors are to be recessed into the surrounding frame with margins of not more than 4 mm.
(2) Each edge of the door and door frame is to be internally supported and have a return of at least 10 mm.
(3) The cabinet or container is to have an internal stop of at least 10 mm against which each edge of the door, other than the hinged edge, closes.
(4) The supports and stops required by subclauses (2) and (3) are to be welded at the corners.

3. Hinging mechanisms
(1) Hinge protection is to be provided in such a way that, if the hinges are removed, the door of the cabinet or container remains in place and locked.
(2) If the hinged edge of the door is not longer than 1 m, 2 hinges are required on it, and if it is longer than 1 m, an additional hinge is required for each additional 500 mm or part thereof.
(3) If 2 hinges are required, the distance between them is to be not less than one-third of the length of the hinged edge.
(4) If more than 2 hinges are required the distance between adjacent hinges is to be the same and that is also to be the distance from each of the outermost hinges to the nearest end of the hinged edge.
(5) If a spindle is used instead of hinges, it is to extend the full length of the hinged edge of the door and is to be attached to the door by welds the number and placement of which comply with the requirements of subclauses (2), (3), and (4) for the number and placement of hinges.
(6) If, instead of using hinges, the door swings on a spindle or on pivots not extending the full length of the hinged edge of the door, the cabinet or container is to incorporate a return protecting the hinged edge, along its full length, against the use of a jemmy.

4. Locks and locking points
(1) If the swinging edge of the door is not longer than 500 mm, one lock is required with a locking point half way along that edge.
(2) If the swinging edge is longer than 500 mm but not longer than 1.5 m —
(a) 2 locks are required each with a separate locking point along the swinging edge; and
(b) the distance between the 2 locking points is to be not less than one-third of the length of the swinging edge.
(3) If the swinging edge is longer than 1.5 m —
(a) for each additional 500 mm or part thereof there is to be an additional lock with a separate locking point along the swinging edge; and
(b) the distance between adjacent locking points is to be the same and that is also to be the distance from each of the outermost locking points to the nearest end of the swinging edge.
(4) It is sufficient compliance with subclause (2) if, when the swinging edge is longer than 500 mm but not longer than 1.5 m, there is one lock with at least 3 separate locking points.
(5) Each lock is to have a 5 pin mechanism that deadlocks the bolt in the locked position until it is properly unlocked.
(6) If the locking bolt is designed to be released by a handle or lever, the design is to be such that, if the handle or lever is forcibly removed while the door is locked, the bolt remains in the locked position.
(7) The cabinet or container is to be fitted with a protective structure to guard against the forcible removal of any lock.
(8) In this clause —
locking point means the point at which the bolt locks the door to the cabinet or container, preventing the door from opening;
swinging edge means the edge of the door opposite the hinged edge.

5. Anchoring
(1) The cabinet or container is to be securely anchored from the inside at 2 points on each of 2 separate surfaces to 2 immovable structural surfaces by means of 8 mm x 75 mm masonry fixing bolts or coach screws, as is appropriate.
(2) At each anchor point the cabinet or container is to be reinforced with a 40 mm x 40 mm x 2 mm metal plate, or a 40 mm x 2 mm metal washer, fitted between the surface of the cabinet or container and the head of the bolt or coach screw.

[The Act referred to in this Regulation is the Firearms Act 1973]

Last accessed at:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/fr1974211/