NCC 2022 Volume One - Building Code of Australia Class 2 to 9 buildings

7

Specification 7 Fire hazard properties

Specification 7 Fire hazard properties

This Specification sets out requirements in relation to the fire hazard properties of linings, materials and assemblies in Class 2 to 9 buildings as set out in Table S7C2.

Linings, materials and assemblies must comply with the appropriate requirement described in Table S7C2.

Table S7C2 Fire hazard property requirements
Lining, material or assembly Requirement
Floor linings and floor coverings S7C3
Wall linings and ceiling linings S7C4
Air-handling ductwork S7C5
Lift cars S7C6
In fire control rooms subject to Specification 6 and fire isolated exits S7C7
In Class 9b buildings used as a theatre, public hall or the like — fixed seating in the audience area or auditorium; and a proscenium curtain required by Specification 32 S7C7
Escalators, moving walkways and non-required non-fire-isolated stairways or pedestrian ramps subject to Specification 14 S7C7
Sarking-type material S7C7
Attachments to internal floors, walls and ceilings S7C7
Other materials including insulation S7C7

A floor lining or floor covering must have—

  1. a critical radiant flux not less than that listed in Table S7C3; and
  2. in a building not protected by a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17, a maximum smoke development rate of 750 percent-minutes; and
  3. a group number complying with S7C6(b), for any portion of the floor covering that is continued more than 150 mm up a wall.
Table S7C3 Critical radiant flux (CHF in kW/m2) of floor linings and floor coverings
Class of building Building not fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 Building fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 Fire-isolated exits and fire control rooms
Class 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b, excluding Class 3 accommodation for the aged and Class 9b as specified below 2.2 kW/m2 1.2 kW/m2 2.2 kW/m2
Class 3 accommodation for the aged 4.5 kW/m2 2.2 kW/m2 4.5 kW/m2
Class 9a patient care areas 4.5 kW/m2 2.2 kW/m2 4.5 kW/m2
Class 9a areas other than patient care areas 2.2 kW/m2 1.2 kW/m2 4.5 kW/m2
Class 9b auditorium or audience seating area used mainly for indoor swimming or ice skating 1.2 kW/m2 1.2 kW/m2 2.2 kW/m2
Class 9b auditorium or audience seating area used mainly for other sports or multi-purpose functions 2.2 kW/m2 1.2 kW/m2 2.2 kW/m2
Class 9c resident use area N/A 2.2 kW/m2 4.5 kW/m2
Class 9c areas other than resident use areas N/A 1.2 kW/m2 4.5 kW/m2

(1) A wall or ceiling lining system must comply with the group number specified in Table S7C4 and for buildings not fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 have—

  1. a smoke growth rate index not more than 100; or
  2. an average specific extinction area less than 250 m2/kg.

(2) A group number of a wall or ceiling lining and the smoke growth rate index or average specific extinction area must be determined in accordance with AS 5637.1.

Table S7C4 Wall and ceiling lining materials (material groups permitted)
Class of building Fire-isolated exits and fire control rooms Public corridors Specific areas Other areas
Class 2 or 3, unsprinklered, excluding accommodation for the aged, people with disabilities and children Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Class 2 or 3, sprinklered, excluding accommodation for the aged, people with disabilities and children Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Class 3 or 9a, unsprinklered, accommodation for the aged, people with a disability, children and health-care buildings Walls: 1 Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Class 3 or 9a, sprinklered, accommodation for the aged, people with a disability, children and health-care buildings Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b schools, unsprinklered Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b schools, sprinklered Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1 ,2, 3
Class 9b other than schools, unsprinklered Walls: 1 Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Class 9b other than schools, sprinklered Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Class 9c, sprinklered Walls: 1 Walls: 1, 2 Walls: 1, 2, 3 Walls: 1, 2, 3
Ceilings: 1 Ceilings: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3
Table Notes
  1. ”Sprinklered” means a building fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17.
  2. ”Specific areas” means within—
    1. for Class 2 and 3 buildings, a sole-occupancy unit; and
    2. for Class 5 buildings, open plan offices with a minimum floor dimension/floor to ceiling height ratio > 5; and
    3. for Class 6 buildings, shops or other building with a minimum floor dimension/floor to ceiling height ratio > 5; and
    4. for Class 9a health-care buildings, patient care areas; and
    5. for Class 9b theatres and halls, etc, an auditorium; and
    6. for Class 9b schools, a classroom; and
    7. for Class 9c buildings, resident use area.

Rigid and flexible ductwork in a Class 2 to 9 building must comply with the fire hazard properties set out in AS 4254.1 and AS 4254.2.

Materials used as—

  1. floor linings and floor coverings must have a critical radiant flux not less than 2.2; and
  2. wall and ceiling linings must be a Group 1 material or a Group 2 material in accordance with AS 5637.1.

Materials and assemblies not included in S7C3, S7C4, S7C5 or S7C6 must not exceed the indices set out in Table S7C7.

Table S7C7 Other materials
Material or assembly location Flammability Index Spread-of-Flame Index Smoke-Developed Index
Fire control rooms subject to Specification 19 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 N/A 0 2
Class 9b buildings used as a theatre, public hall or the like: Any part of fixed seating in the audience area or auditorium. N/A 0 5
Class 9b buildings used as a theatre, public hall or the like: A proscenium curtain required by Specification 32. N/A 0 3
Escalators, moving walkways or non-required non fire-isolated stairway or pedestrian ramps subject to Specification 14. N/A 0 5
Sarking-type materials: In a fire control room subject to Specification 19 or a fire-isolated exit or fire control room used in the form of an exposed wall or ceiling. 0 N/A N/A
Sarking-type materials: In other locations. Note 2 5 N/A N/A
Other materials or locations and insulation materials other than sarking-type material. Notes 2 and 3 N/A 9 8 if the Spread-of-Flame Index is more than 5
Table 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 3, has Spread-of-Flame Index and 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.
Delete table (S7C7) and insert NSW table (S7C7) as follows:
NSW Table S7C7: Other materials
Material or assembly location Flammability Index Spread-of-Flame Index Smoke-Developed Index
Fire control rooms subject to Specification 19 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 N/A 0 2
Class 9b buildings used as an entertainment venue, a material used to cover closed back upholstered seats in any part available to the public—where smoking is permitted; or flame is exposed in connection with the preparation of meals Note 4 N/A 6 5
Class 9b buildings used as an entertainment venue, a material used as a curtain, blind or similar decor in any part available to the public. Notes 4 and 5 6 N/A N/A
Class 9b buildings used as an entertainment venue, a material used to form a cinematograph screen. Notes 4, 5 and 6 12 0 7
Class 9b buildings used as a public hall or the like: A proscenium curtain required by Specification 32. N/A 0 3
Escalators, moving walkways or non-required non fire-isolated stairways or pedestrian ramps subject to Specification 14. N/A 0 5
Sarking-type materials: In a fire control room subject to Specification 19 or a fire-isolated exit used in the form of an exposed wall or ceiling. 0 N/A N/A
Sarking-type materials other than in a fire control room subject to Specification 19 or a fire-isolated exit used in the form of an exposed wall or ceiling. Note 2 5 N/A N/A
Other materials or locations and insulation materials other than Sarking-type materials. Notes 2 and 3 N/A 9 8 if the Spread-of-Flame Index is more than 5
Note
  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 3, has a Spread-of-Flame Index and 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 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 non-phosphate ECE reference detergent A (without optical brightener); and
    2. the applicator as having been carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification.
  5. Materials used in an entertainment venue 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.