NCC 2016 Volume One
Search the National Construction Code editions
Classification
Building class 1a Building class 1b Building class 2 Building class 3 Building class 4 Building class 5 Building class 6 Building class 7a Building class 7b Building class 8 Building class 9a Building class 9b Building class 9c Building class 10a Building class 10b Building class 10c

Filter

Classification
Building class 1a Building class 1b Building class 2 Building class 3 Building class 4 Building class 5 Building class 6 Building class 7a Building class 7b Building class 8 Building class 9a Building class 9b Building class 9c Building class 10a Building class 10b Building class 10c
Section C Fire Resistance

Section C Fire Resistance

Part C1 Fire Resistance and Stability

Delete C1.10(a)(v), C1.10(b) and C1.10(c)(xiii) and insert NSW C1.10(a)(v), NSW C1.10(b) and NSW C1.10(c)(xiii) as follows:

NSW C1.10 Fire hazard properties

(a)

The fire hazard properties of the following internal linings, materials and assemblies in a Class 2 to 9 building must comply with Specification C1.10:

(v)

In Class 9b buildings used as—

(A)

an entertainment venue, a material used to cover closed back upholstered seats; and

(B)

a public hall or the like, a proscenium curtain required by Specification H1.3.

(b)

Paint or fire-retardant coatings must not be used in order to make a material comply with a requiredfire hazard property, except in respect of a material referred to in NSW Specification C1.10, NSW Table 4 and to which Notes 4 and 5 are applicable.

(c)

The requirements of (a) do not apply to a material or assembly if it is—

(xiii)

an attached non-building fixture and fitting such as—

(A)

a curtain, blind, or similar decor, other than—

(aa)

a proscenium curtain required by Specification H1.3; or

(bb)

in a Class 9b building used as an entertainment venue, a material that is regulated under NSW Table 4; and

(B)

a whiteboard, window treatment or the like; or

Part C2 Compartmentation and Separation

Delete C2.5(b) and insert NSW C2.5(b) as follows:

NSW C2.5 Class 9a and 9c buildings

(b)

A Class 9c building must comply with the following:

(i)

A building must be divided into areas not more than 500 m2 by smoke proof walls complying with Specification C2.5.

(ii)

A fire compartment must be separated from the remainder of the building by fire walls and notwithstanding C2.7 and Specification C1.1, floors with an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.

(iii)

Except for walls provided in accordance with (b)(i) and (ii), non-loadbearing internal walls, and if a building is of Type C construction — all internal walls, between and bounding sole-occupancy-units and bounding a public corridor in a resident use area must:

(A)

be lined on each side with standard grade plasterboard not less than 13 mm thick or a material with at least an equivalent level of fire protection; and

(B)

if provided with cavity insulation, contain only non-combustible insulation; and

(C)

extend to the underside of—

(aa)

the floor next above; or

(bb)

a ceiling lined with standard grade plasterboard not less than 13 mm thick or an equivalent non-combustible material; or

(cc)

a non-combustible roof covering; and

(D)

not incorporate any penetrations above door head height unless the penetrations are adequately stopped to prevent the free passage of smoke; and

(E)

be smoke sealed with intumescent putty or other suitable material at any construction joint, space or the like between the top of the wall and the floor, ceiling or roof.

(iv)

Loadbearinginternal walls must comply with the requirements of Specification C1.1 and paragraphs (iii)(B), (C), (D) and (E) above.

(v)

Ancillary use areas containing equipment or materials that are a high potential fire hazard, must be separated from the sole-occupancy-units by smoke proof walls complying with Specification C2.5.

(vi)

The ancillary use areas referred to in (v) include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A)

A kitchen and related food preparation areas having a combined floor area of more than 30 m2.

(B)

A laundry, where items of equipment are of the type that are potential fire sources (e.g. gas fire dryers).

(C)

Storage rooms greater than 10 m2 used predominantly for the storage of administrative records.

(vii)

Openings in fire walls must be protected as follows:

(A)

Doorways — self-closing or automatic closing –/60/30 fire doors.

(B)

Windows — automatic or permanently fixed closed –/60/– fire windows or –/60/– automatic fire shutters.

(C)

Other openings — construction having an FRL not less than –/60/–.

Part C3 Protection of Openings

Delete C3.11(d) and insert NSW C3.11(d) as follows:

NSW C3.11 Bounding construction: Class 2, 3, 4 and 9b buildings

(d)

Protection for a doorway required under (a), (b) or (c) must be at least—

(i)

in a building of Type A construction — a self-closing –/60/30 fire door; and

(ii)

in a building of Type B or C construction — a self-closing, tight fitting, solid core door not less than 35 mm thick,

except—

(iii)

in a Class 3 building used as a residential aged care building protected with a sprinkler system complying with Specification E1.5, a tight fitting solid core door not less than 35 mm thick that is—

(A)

self-closing; or

(B)

fitted with a free-arm action closing device which closes the door or causes the door to remain closed (without preventing manual re-opening), upon the detection of smoke by a detector located within the room.

Insert NSW C3.11(h) as follows:

(h)

In a Class 9b building used as an entertainment venue, openings in construction required to separate one space from another must be protected in accordance with C3.4.

NSW Specification C1.10 Fire Hazard Properties

Delete Clause 7 and Table 4 and insert NSW Clause 7 and Table 4

NSW 7 Other Materials

Materials and assemblies in a Class 2 to 9 building not included in Clauses 3, 4, 5 or 6 must not exceed the indices set out in NSW Table 4.

NSW Table 4 OTHER MATERIALS

Material or assembly location Flammability Index Spread-of-Flame Index Smoke-Developed Index
Fire control rooms subject to Specification E1.8 and fire-isolated exits, other than a sarking-type material used in a ceiling or used as an attachment or part of an attachment to a building element. Note 1 — 0 2

Class 9b buildings used as an entertainment venue:Note 4

  1. A material used to cover closed back upholstered seats in any part available to the public where—
    1. smoking is permitted; or
    2. flame is exposed in connection with the preparation of meals.
  2. A material used as a curtain, blind or similar decor in any part available to the public.Note
  3. A material used to form a cinematograph screen Note 5 and 6

—
—

6

12


6
 6

—

0

5
 5

—

7
Class 9b buildings used as a public hall or the like, a proscenium curtain required by Specification H1.3 — 0 3
Escalators, moving walkways or non-required non-fire-isolated stairways or pedestrian ramps subject to Specification D1.12. — 0 5

Sarking-type material:

  1. In a fire control room subject to Specification E1.8 or a fire-isolated exit used in the form of an exposed wall or ceiling.
  2. In other locations. Note 2

0

5

—

—

—

—
Other materials or locations and insulation materials other than sarking-type materials. Notes 2 and 3 — 9 8 if the Spread-of-Flame Index is more than 5

Notes:

  1. In a fire control room or fire-isolated stairway, a material used as an attachment or part of an attachment to a building element must, if combustible, be attached directly to a non-combustible substrate and not exceed 1 mm finished thickness.
  2. A material, other than one located within a fire-isolated exit or fire control room, may be covered on all faces by concrete or masonry not less than 50 mm thick, as an alternative to meeting the specified indices.
  3. In the case of a composite member or assembly, the member or assembly must be constructed so that when assembled as proposed in a building—
    1. any material which does not comply with this Table is protected on all sides and edges from exposure to the air; and
    2. the member or assembly, when tested in accordance with Specification A2.4, has a Spread-of-Flame Index and a Smoke-Developed Index not exceeding those prescribed in this Table; and
    3. the member or assembly retains the protection in position so that it prevents ignition of the material and continues to screen it from access to free air for a period of not less than 10 minutes.
  4. Any fire-retardant coating used in an entertainment venue to make a material subject to (a), (b) or (c) comply with a required Flammability Index, Spread-of-Flame Index or Smoke-Developed Index must be certified by—
    1. its manufacturer or distributor—
      1. as approved for use with the fabric to achieve the required indices; and
      2. to retain its retardancy effect after a minimum of 5 commercial dry cleaning or laundering operations carried out in accordance with AS 2001.5.4, Procedure 7A, using ECE reference detergent; and
    2. the applicator as having been carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification.
  5. Materials subject to (b) or (c) must have a label affixed to a representative sample of each different material indicating, in legible characters—
    1. name of manufacturer; and
    2. trade name and description of material's composition; and
    3. retardant treatment (if any), name of applicator and date of application; and
    4. AS 1530 Part 2 and/or AS/NZS 1530 Part 3 test number and its Flammability Index, Spread-of-Flame Index and Smoke-Developed Index; and
    5. approved methods of cleaning.
  6. A cinematograph screen must have a supporting frame of metal construction.
fire-isolated stairways