NCC 2016 Volume One
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Part E1 Fire Fighting Equipment (Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions)
Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements to are satisfied by complying with—
in a building in an alpine area, Part G4; and
for additional requirements for Class 9b buildings, Part H1; and
for farm buildings and farm sheds, Part H3.
Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A0.7.
To clarify that the requirements of to will be satisfied if compliance is achieved with to in the case of all buildings, in the case of buildings with an atrium, in the case of buildings in alpine areas, in the case of theatres, stages and public halls and for farm buildings and farm sheds.
This clause has deliberately been left blank.
In BCA 1990 this clause contained provisions relating to Class 1 and Class 10. Provisions for Class 1 and Class 10 buildings are now covered in Volume Two. has been left blank rather than renumber subsequent clauses.
This clause has deliberately been left blank.
In BCA 1990 this clause contained requirements for fire mains and water-supply services. These provisions are now covered by the referenced Standard AS 2419.1. has been left blank rather than renumber subsequent clauses.
A fire hydrant system must be provided to serve a building—
having a total floor area greater than 500 m2; and
where a fire brigade is available to attend a building fire.
The fire hydrant system—
must be installed in accordance with AS 2419.1, except a Class 8 electricity network substation need not comply with clause 4.2 of AS 2419.1 if—
it cannot be connected to town main supply; and
one hour water storage is provided for firefighting; and
where internal fire hydrants are provided, they must serve only the storey on which they are located except that a sole-occupancy unit—
in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building may be served by a single fire hydrant located at the level of egress from that sole-occupancy unit; or
of not more than 2 storeys in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building may be served by a single fire hydrant located at the level of egress from that sole-occupancy unit provided the fire hydrant can provide coverage to the whole of the sole-occupancy unit.
To require the installation of suitable fire hydrant systems to facilitate the fire brigade’s firefighting operations.
Fire hydrants are needed to prevent the spread of fire between buildings and fire compartments. They are basically needed for fire brigade use and are not intended for use by occupants. Properly trained people and special equipment are needed for effective firefighting using a fire hydrant system.
The floor area of 500 m2 referred to in represents the level of hazard which justifies the installation of a fire hydrant system.
If the building is in a remote area not serviced by a fire brigade, allows it to be constructed without a fire hydrant system. The reason for this is that the fire hydrants are intended for use only by a fire brigade.
AS 2419.1—Under , the installation of a fire hydrant system, including the associated water supply, pipe work, pumps, and so on, must be in accordance with AS 2419.1.
Clause 4.2 of AS 2419.1 requires a four hour water storage capacity for firefighting purposes. This clause does not apply to Class 8 electricity network substations where town main water supply cannot be connected and where at least 1 hour storage capacity of water for fire fighting purposes is provided. The reduced capacity is in recognition of the inherent fire mitigation measures such as boundary separation, vegetation removal programs, and perimeter access road protection associated with remotely located Class 8 electricity network substations. The nature of the initial fire response will also always require substation staff involvement prior to any fire brigade response. This removes the need for large water storage capacities usually associated with early intervention by the fire brigade.
If any conflict exists between AS 2419.1 and the BCA, then the BCA takes precedence. Additional information can be obtained by reference to the Standard, including an informative Appendix titled “Guide to the Use of this Standard”.
AS 2419.1 provides the details for determining the number of fire hydrants required and where they should be located.
Location—E1.3(b)External fire hydrants are to be located in accordance with the requirements of AS 2419.1. Multiple buildings may be served by a single fire hydrant providing the proximity requirements of AS 2419.1 are met.
For internal fire hydrants, generally requires the installation of internal fire hydrants on the storey they are to service. The reason for this is to eliminate running a fire hydrant hose up or down a stairway. Also, if the sole-occupancy units are in different ownership or leasehold, access between them may be difficult.
grants a concession when a sole-occupancy unit occupies more than one storey. The concession is conditional on the fire hydrant being located at the level of egress from the sole-occupancy unit.
In the case of a Class 2 or Class 3 building or a Class 4 part, there is no limitation on the size or number of storeys within the sole-occupancy unit which can be served by the fire hydrant.
For Class 5 to Class 9 buildings the concession is limited to sole-occupancy units with only two storeys, where the fire hydrant at the entrance level provides total hose coverage. AS 2419.1 provides details of the required coverage.
PumpsetsRequirements for pumpsets, including the location of pumprooms, etc., is contained in AS 2419.1.
Water source, pressures and flowsThe requirements for the water supply and source, and the required flows and pressure for the fire hydrant system to operate effectively are contained in AS 2419.1.
E1.4 does not apply to—
a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building; or
a Class 8 electricity network substation; or
a Class 9c building; or
classrooms and associated corridors in a primary or secondary school.
A fire hose reel system must be provided—
to serve the whole building where one or more internal fire hydrants are installed; or
where internal fire hydrants are not installed, to serve any fire compartment with a floor area greater than 500 m2.
The fire hose reel system must—
have fire hose reels installed in accordance with AS 2441; and
provide fire hose reels to serve only the storey at which they are located, except a sole-occupancy unit of not more than 2 storeys in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building may be served by a single fire hose reel located at the level of egress from that sole-occupancy unit provided the fire hose reel can provide coverage to the whole of the sole-occupancy unit.
Fire hose reels must be located internally, externally or in combination, to achieve the system coverage specified in AS 2441.
In achieving system coverage, one or a combination of the following criteria for individual internally located fire hose reels must be met in determining the layout of any fire hose reel system:
Fire hose reels must be located adjacent to an internal fire hydrant (other than one within a fire-isolated exit), except that a fire hose reel need not be located adjacent to every fire hydrant, provided system coverage can be achieved.
Fire hose reels must be located so that the fire hose will not need to pass through doorways fitted with fire or smoke doors, except—
doorways in walls referred to in C2.5(a)(v) in a Class 9a building and C2.5(b)(iv) in a Class 9c building, separating ancillary use areas of high potential fire hazard; and
To require the installation of suitable fire hose reel systems to enable, where appropriate, a building’s occupants to undertake initial attack on a fire.
Refer to for the reasons why the BCA requires the installation of fire hose reels in buildings.
provides an exemption to the installation of fire hose reels in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building. However, it should be noted that portable fire extinguishers must be installed to cover Class A fire risks in accordance with .
provides an exemption to the installation of fire hose reels in Class 8 electricity network substations. The use of water as an extinguishing medium in electricity network substations can cause extensive damage to the electricity assets and create increased hazards for firefighters. The initial staff response to fire will always be through the more appropriate usage of portable fire extinguishers followed by evacuation.
does not require the installation of fire hose reels in a Class 9c building. It is recognised that occupants close to the point of ignition often provide the most effective means of extinguishing a small fire before it grows. In this case staff and visitors, if not some residents, can be effective in performing this function. To do so, they require appropriate means of extinguishment.
It is considered that the provision of portable extinguishers in an aged care building provides adequate means for staff and visitors to attack the fire. The additional level of fire safety associated with the provision of fire hose reels is not considered necessary.
It is not expected that the number of staff available in an aged care building will be adequate to both fight a growing fire with fire hose reels and evacuate residents. This is particularly the case when it is noted that the BCA provisions for aged care buildings are based on minimum staffing levels. When a fire becomes too large to be attacked with portable extinguishers, staff will be fully involved in closing doors and evacuating residents rather than fighting the fire.
does not require the installation of fire hose reels in classrooms and associated corridors of primary and secondary schools. However, it should be noted that where fire hose reels are not installed in these buildings, portable fire extinguishers must be installed in accordance with .
The concession not requiring the installation of fire hose reels in classrooms, etc is based on normal school use when teachers or school staff could be expected to be in control of students for the purpose of evacuation. Fire hose reels are required in other areas of the school such as halls, gymnasiums, etc where activities take place outside normal school hours and with outside organisations that are not under the control of teachers or school staff.
requires the installation of fire hose reels where internal fire hydrants are provided.
The 500 m2 floor area referred to in represents the level of hazard which justifies the installation of fire hose reels to allow occupants the opportunity to attempt an initial attack on a fire.
System design—E1.4(c)generally requires the installation of fire hose reels on the storey they are to service. This eliminates the need to run a fire hose up or down a stairway. Also, if the sole-occupancy units are in different ownership or leasehold, access between them may be difficult. It means that anyone using the fire hose will be able to get away quickly if the fire gets out of control.
grants a concession when a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 5–9 building occupies two storeys provided the fire hose reel can provide total hose coverage. The fire hose reel must also be located at the level of egress from the sole-occupancy unit.
, and relates to the positioning of fire hose reels to help occupants attack a fire in its early stages. These provisions emphasise the importance of the location of fire hose reels to ensure safety.
ensures that fire hose reels are located to achieve the system coverage required by AS 2441. The fire hose reels can be located internally, externally or in any combination to achieve this coverage as set out in .
Fire hose reels are not permitted to be installed within a fire-isolated exit, thereby avoiding having the hose pass through the door to access the fire. Such an arrangement would require the exit to be open, and therefore cause a significant risk of smoke entering.
The same concerns do not apply to the other Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions listed in . In the cases listed below, the door may remain open for the hose to pass through.
is applicable to individual fire hose reels, such that the choices offered in , or are applied to the location of each hose reel in turn, to assure that coverage is achieved. However is only applicable when the application of or does not achieve coverage.
The individual application means that when each hose reel is located adjacent to a hydrant or an exit, a check for coverage should be done before the next location is chosen.
Once coverage has been achieved, it is not necessary to install any more hose reels, even if additional exits or hydrants are provided for the storey.
Alternatively, if hose reels have been located adjacent to all relevant hydrants or exits without achieving coverage, permits the additional hose reels needed to achieve coverage to be located in a path of travel to an exit.
A sprinkler system must—
be installed in a building or part of a building when required by Table E1.5; and
comply with Specification E1.5.
Occupancy | When sprinklers are required | ||
---|---|---|---|
All classes—
|
Throughout the whole building if any part of the building has an effective height of more than 25 m. | ||
Class 3 building used as a residential aged care building | Throughout the building and in any fire compartment containing a Class 3 part used for residential aged care. | ||
Class 6 |
In fire compartments where either of the following apply:
|
||
Class 7a, other thanopen-deck carparks | In fire compartments where more than 40 vehicles are accommodated. | ||
Class 9a health care building used as a residential aged care building | Throughout the building and in any fire compartment containing a Class 9a part used for residential aged care. | ||
Class 9c building | Throughout the building and any fire compartment containing a Class 9c part. | ||
Class 9b |
see Part H1 |
||
Atrium construction | see Part G3 | ||
Large isolated buildings | see Clause C2.3 | ||
Occupancies of excessive hazard (see Note 3) |
In fire compartments where either of the following apply:
|
||
Notes:
|
To require the installation of suitable fire sprinkler systems where necessary to address specific hazards.
Refer to the comment on for the reasons why the BCA requires the installation of sprinkler systems in buildings.
sets out when sprinklers are required in a building, while sets out the type of sprinkler required and other technical details. The notes to also contain useful information on other Parts of the BCA requiring the installation of sprinklers within a building.
allows the use of a residential sprinkler system in certain Class 2, 3, 9a and 9c buildings.
specifies when sprinklers are required in a building and which parts of the building must be sprinkler protected. Unless a fire wall or other construction with the appropriate FRLs separates parts of a building required to have sprinklers from a part of a building not required to have sprinklers, then the sprinkler requirements must be applied to the whole building.
requires all buildings with an effective height of more than 25 metres, except those which only contain an open-deck carpark, to be sprinkler protected. An exemption is also granted to smaller Class 8 electricity network substations within a multi-classified building as they are provided with additional fire protection measures to compensate for the removal of sprinklers. The provision regarding an effective height of 25 metres recognises the effective operating height for fire brigade ladders and other firefighting and rescue equipment.
The reference in to a Class 9a health care building used as a residential aged care building makes it clear that where a Class 9a building is used as a residential aged care building as defined in Part A1, it must be fitted with a sprinkler system installed in accordance with AS 2118.1 or AS 2118.4.
To provide further clarification, a Class 9a health care building used as a residential aged care building must meet the BCA provisions that apply for a Class 9a health care building.
The definition of a health care building means a building whose occupants or patients undergoing medical treatment need physical assistance to evacuate the building during an emergency and includes a nursing home or similar facility for sick or disabled persons needing full-time care. Therefore, a health care building could include a residential aged care building in which occupants are provided with some level of medication, and need assistance to evacuate.
Notes 1, 2 and 3 to contain useful references to other BCA provisions that may require the installation of a sprinkler system.
Portable fire extinguishers must be—
provided as listed in Table E1.6; and
for a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building, provided—
to serve the whole Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building where one or more internal fire hydrants are installed; or
where internal fire hydrants are not installed, to serve any fire compartment with a floor area greater than 500 m2, and for the purposes of this clause, a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building is considered to be a fire compartment; and
Portable fire extinguishers provided in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building must be—
an ABE type fire extinguisher; and
a minimum size of 2.5 kg; and
distributed outside a sole-occupancy unit—
to serve only the storey at which they are located; and
so that the travel distance from the entrance doorway of any sole-occupancy unit to the nearest fire extinguisher is not more than 10 m.
To require the installation of suitable portable fire extinguishers, where necessary, to address specific hazards.
Refer to the comment on for the reasons why the BCA requires the installation of portable fire extinguishers in buildings.
requires portable fire extinguishers to be provided as listed in .
For a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building, requires portable fire extinguishers to only be provided—
Subject to , requires portable fire extinguishers to be installed in accordance with Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of AS 2444. The other sections of AS 2444 deal with “Selection and distribution of portable fire extinguishers in vehicles and small craft” and “Selection and location of fire blankets”, neither of which are applicable to the BCA. If any conflict exists between AS 2444 and the BCA, then the BCA takes precedence. Additional information can be obtained by reference to the Standard.
details specific requirements about the type, size and installation of portable fire extinguishers provided in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building.
sets out when portable fire extinguishers are required in a building and the class of extinguisher to be used.
It should be noted that requires the installation of fire extinguishers in classrooms and associated corridors in primary and secondary schools not provided with fire hose reels. The reason for this requirement is that does not require the installation of fire hose reels in these buildings, even if the floor area of a fire compartment exceeds 500 m2.
This clause has deliberately been left blank.
This clause originally contained provisions relating to fire alarms. These provisions are now covered in Part E2. has been left blank rather than renumber subsequent clauses.
A fire control centre facility in accordance with Specification E1.8 must be provided for—
a building with an effective height of more than 25 m; and
a Class 6, 7, 8 or 9 building with a total floor area of more than 18 000 m2.
To require the provision of suitable fire control centres to facilitate fire brigade operations.
Refer to the comment on for the reasons why the BCA requires the installation of fire control centres in buildings.
requires all buildings with an effective height of more than 25 metres to be provided with a fire control centre. Because of their height these buildings require special co-ordination of fire brigade operations. The reference to an effective height of 25 metres recognises the operating height for fire brigade ladders and other firefighting and rescue equipment.
requires a fire control centre for Class 6–9 buildings with a total floor area of more than 18 000 m2.
The measurement concerned is of the total building floor area, not the area of an individual sole-occupancy unit or fire compartment.
Class 6 and Class 9 buildings have been included because of their high potential fire load, and the likelihood of large populations unfamiliar with their layout or evacuation procedures.
Class 7 and Class 8 buildings have been included because of the potential size and severity of fires in such buildings.
sets out the construction details of such a centre and the facilities it must contain.
In a building under construction—
not less than one fire extinguisher to suit Class A, B and C fires and electrical fires must be provided at all times on each storey adjacent to each required exit or temporary stairway or exit; and
after the building has reached an effective height of 12 m—
the required fire hydrants and fire hose reels must be operational in at least every storey that is covered by the roof or the floor structure above, except the 2 uppermost storeys; and
any required booster connections must be installed.
Occupancy class | Risk class (as defined in AS 2444) |
---|---|
General provisions—Class 2 to 9 buildings (except within sole-occupancy units of a Class 9c building) |
|
Specific provisions (in addition to general provisions)— | To cover Class A and E fire risks. (Note 2) |
|
|
Notes
|
To require adequate firefighting equipment within a building during its construction.
Refer to the comment on for the reasons why the BCA requires the installation of firefighting equipment in buildings during their construction.
requires the installation of suitable fire extinguishers in all buildings under construction. They are to be placed adjacent to exits on each storey so that they can be easily found by workers if a fire occurs.
Once a building reaches a height of about 12 metres, firefighting in a building under construction becomes increasingly difficult. The installation of fire hydrants, fire hose reels and booster connections (required under ) assist in overcoming such difficulties.
The fire hydrants and fire hose reels are not required on the two upper floors because services such as water supply may not be installed. Also, if a fire occurred on these floors, it could be fought from the floors below.
Suitable additional provision must be made if special problems of fighting fire could arise because of—
the nature or quantity of materials stored, displayed or used in a building or on the allotment; or
the location of the building in relation to a water supply for fire-fighting purposes.
Part B4 of NCC Volume Three sets out the requirements for access for maintenance to fire-fighting water services.
To require the installation of additional fire safety measures where special hazards exist.
The other Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part E1 set out the required firefighting equipment and co-ordination facilities required in a building to deal with “expected” or “usual” hazards. However, it is not possible to take account of every possible hazard. may even require additional provision for special hazards where Part E1 does not otherwise apply.
Additional provision for special hazards must be made to allow for effective firefighting operations taking into consideration:
Special fire hazards may exist for hazards under in a warehouse used to store highly volatile or combustible materials, and also, at a site where highly combustible chemicals are manufactured.
Hazards under may include sites where little or no water is available for firefighting.
The BCA Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions do not specify what the special provisions must be. Each case must be assessed on its own merits.