NCC 2016 Volume Two
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Part 2.3 Fire Safety

Part 2.3 Fire Safety

Explanatory information

Explanatory information:

OBJECTIVE

O2.3

The Objective is to—

  1. safeguard the occupants from illness or injury—
    1. by alerting them of a fire in the building so that they may safely evacuate; and
    2. caused by fire from heating appliances installed within the building; and
    3. in alpine areas, from an emergency while evacuating the building; and
  2. avoid the spread of fire; and
  3. protect a building from the effects of a bushfire; and
  4. reduce the likelihood of fatalities arising from occupants of a Class 1a dwelling not evacuating a property prior to exposure from a bushfire event.

Application:

O2.3(d) only applies to a Class 10c building.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENTS

F2.3.1 Protection from the spread of fire

A Class 1 building is to be protected from the spread of fire.

F2.3.2 Fire detection and early warning

A Class 1 building is to be provided with safeguards so that occupants are warned of a fire in the building so that they may safely evacuate.

F2.3.3 Heating appliances

Heating appliances using controlled combustion located in a building are to be installed in a way which reduces the likelihood of—

  1. fire spreading beyond the appliance; and
  2. smoke from the appliance entering the building.

F2.3.4 Bushfire areas

A Class 1 building or a Class 10a building or deck associated with a Class 1 building constructed in a designated bushfire prone area is to provide resistance to bushfires in order to reduce the danger to life and reduce the risk of the loss of the building.

F2.3.5 Private bushfire shelters

A structure designed for emergency occupation during a bushfire event must provide shelter to occupants from direct and indirect actions of a bushfire.

Application:

F2.3.5 only applies to a Class 10c building.

F2.3.6 Alpine areas

A building in an alpine area is to be provided with additional measures in view of the increased difficulties in fighting fire and maintaining access and means of egress in snow conditions.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

P2.3.1 Protection from the spread of fire

(a)

A Class 1 building must be protected from the spread of fire from—

(i)

another building other than an associated Class 10 building; and

(ii)

the allotment boundary, other than a boundary adjoining a road or public space.

(see Figure 2.3.1)

(b)

A Class 10a building must not significantly increase the risk of fire spread between Class 2 to 9 buildings.

STATE AND TERRITORY VARIATIONS

STATE AND TERRITORY VARIATIONS

In South Australia after P2.3.1(a)(i) delete P2.3.1(a)(ii) and insert SA P2.3.1(a)(ii) and (iii) as follows:

(ii)

the allotment boundary, other than a boundary adjoining a road or public space; and

(iii)

a Class 10b brush fence.

Figure 2.3.1

TYPICAL AREAS OF POTENTIAL FIRE SPREAD

v2_Fig231_2005.svg

Note: This diagram indicates areas of potential fire spread. This situation will differ for corner allotments etc.

P2.3.2 Fire detection and early warning

In a Class 1 building, occupants must be provided with automatic warning on the detection of smoke so that they may evacuate in the event of a fire to a place of safety.

P2.3.3 Heating appliances

A heating appliance and its associated components within a building, including an open fire-place, chimney, or the like, must be installed—

(a)

to withstand the temperatures likely to be generated by the appliance; and

(b)

so that it does not raise the temperature of any building element to a level that would adversely affect the element’s physical or mechanical properties or function; and

(c)

so that hot products of combustion will not—

(i)

escape through the walls of the associated components; and

(ii)

discharge in a position that will cause fire to spread to nearby combustible materials or allow smoke to penetrate through nearby windows, ventilation inlets, or the like in the building containing the heating appliance.

STATE AND TERRITORY VARIATIONS

STATE AND TERRITORY VARIATIONS

P2.3.3(c) has been replaced in Tasmania as follows:

P2.3.3(c)

  1. so that hot products of combustion will not—
    1. escape through the walls of the associated components; and
    2. discharge in a position that will cause fire to spread to nearby combustible materials or allow smoke to penetrate through nearby windows, ventilation inlets, or the like in the building containing the heating appliance; and
    3. in the case of solid-fuel burning appliances, be discharged above appropriate emission limits.

P2.3.4 Bushfire areas

A Class 1 building or a Class 10a building or deck associated with a Class 1 building that is constructed in a designated bushfire prone area must, to the degree necessary, be designed and constructed to reduce the risk of ignition from a bushfire, appropriate to the—

(a)

potential for ignition caused by burning embers, radiant heat or flame generated by a bushfire; and

(b)

intensity of the bushfire attack on the building.

STATE AND TERRITORY VARIATIONS

STATE AND TERRITORY VARIATIONS

P2.3.4 has been replaced in Tasmania as follows:

P2.3.4

A Class 1 building or a Class 10a building or deck associated with a Class 1 building that is constructed in a designated bushfire prone area must, to the degree necessary, be—

(a)

designed and constructed to reduce the risk of ignition from a bushfire, appropriate to the—

(i)

potential for ignition caused by burning embers, radiant heat or flame generated by a bushfire; and

(ii)

intensity of the bushfire attack on the building; and

(b)

provided with vehicular access to the site to assist fire fighting and emergency personnel defend the building or evacuate occupants; and

(c)

provided with access at all times to a sufficient supply of water for fire fighting purposes on the site.

P2.3.5 Private bushfire shelters

A private bushfire shelter must be designed and constructed to provide a tenable environment for occupants during the passage of untenable conditions arising from a bushfire event, appropriate to the—

(a)

location of the private bushfire shelter relative to fire hazards including—

(i)

predominant vegetation; and

(ii)

adjacent buildings and structures; and

(iii)

allotment boundaries; and

(iv)

other combustible materials; and

(b)

occupancy of the private bushfire shelter; and

(c)

bushfire intensity having regard for the bushfire attack level; and

(d)

fire intensity from adjacent buildings and structures, allotment boundaries and other combustible materials; and

(e)

ready access to the private bushfire shelter from the associated dwelling and occupant egress after the fire; and

(f)

tenability within the private bushfire shelter for the estimated maximum period of occupancy; and

(g)

generation of smoke, heat and toxic gases from materials used to construct the private bushfire shelter; and

(h)

structural and fire loads and actions to which it may reasonably be subjected, appropriate to—

(i)

the topography between the private bushfire shelter and the predominant vegetation or other fire hazards; and

(ii)

the distance between the private bushfire shelter and the predominant vegetation or other fire hazards; and

(iii)

the size of the potential fire source and fire intensity; and

(iv)

wind loading; and

(v)

potential impact from debris such as falling tree limbs; and

(i)

degree of external signage identifying the location of the private bushfire shelter; and

(j)

degree of internal signage identifying the design capacity and maximum period of occupancy; and

(k)

degree of occupant awareness of outside environmental conditions; and

(l)

degree of essential maintenance.

Application

Application:

only applies to a Class 10c building.

Note

Note:

The Housing Provisions do not contain any Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for this Performance Requirement, however the ABCB Performance Standard for Private Bushfire Shelters contains guidance for this Performance Requirement.

P2.3.6 Alpine areas

(a)

An external doorway from a building in an alpine area must be installed so that opening the door is not obstructed by snow or ice.

(b)

A building in an alpine area containing external trafficable structures forming part of the means of egress must be constructed so that they remain, as far as practicable, useable under snow conditions.

(c)

A building in an alpine area must be constructed so that snow or ice is not shed from the building onto the allotment, any adjoining allotment, road or public space in a location or manner that will—

(i)

obstruct a means of egress from any building to a road or open space; or

(ii)

otherwise endanger people.