Part C3 Compartmentation and separation
Introduction to this Part
This Part contains Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for Part C1. It covers compartmentation to limit fire size and spread, separation to limit fire spread between fire compartments, parts with different classifications, stairways, lift shafts, equipment, electricity supplies and public corridors. It also contains construction requirements to facilitate fire brigade intervention.
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
C3D1
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
2019: C2.0
C3D2
Application of Part
2019: C2.1
C3D3
General floor area and volume limitations
2019: C2.2
Classification | Type A construction | Type B construction | Type C construction |
---|---|---|---|
5, 9b or 9c | Max floor area—8 000 m2 | Max floor area—5 500 m2 | Max floor area—3 000 m2 |
Max volume—48 000 m3 | Max volume—33 000 m3 | max volume—18 000 m3 | |
6, 7, 8 or 9a (except for patient care areas) | Max floor area—5 000 m2 | Max floor area—3 500 m2 | Max floor area—2 000 m2 |
Max volume—30 000 m3 | Max volume—21 000 m3 | Max volume—12 000 m3 |
Table Notes
See C3D6 for maximum size of compartments in patient care areas in Class 9a health-care buildings.
C3D4
Large isolated buildings
2019 C2.3
The size of a fire compartment in a building may exceed that specified in Table C3D3 where—
- the building does not exceed 18 000 m2 in floor area nor exceed 108 000 m3 in volume, if—
- the building is Class 7 or 8 and—
- the building is Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and is—
- protected throughout with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17; and
- provided with a perimeter vehicular access complying with C3D5(2); or
- the building is Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and exceeds 18 000 m2 in floor area or 108 000 m3 in volume, if it is—
- protected throughout with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17; and
- provided with a perimeter vehicular access complying with C3D5(2); or
- there is more than one building on the allotment and—
- each building complies with (a) or (b); or
- if the buildings are closer than 6 m to each other they are regarded as one building and collectively comply with (a) or (b).
C3D5
Requirements for open spaces and vehicular access
2019: C2.4
- be wholly within the allotment except that any road, river, or public place adjoining the allotment, but not the farthest 6 m of it may be included; and
- include vehicular access in accordance with (2); and
- not be used for the storage or processing of materials; and
- not be built upon, except for guard houses and service structures (such as electricity substations and pump houses) which may encroach upon the width of the space if they do not unduly impede fire-fighting at any part of the perimeter of the allotment or unduly add to the risk of spread of fire to any building on an adjoining allotment.
- must be capable of providing continuous access for emergency vehicles to enable travel in a forward direction from a public road around the entire building; and
- must have a minimum unobstructed width of 6 m with no part of its furthest boundary more than 18 m from the building and in no part of the 6 m width be built upon or used for any purpose other than vehicular or pedestrian movement; and
- must provide reasonable pedestrian access from the vehicular access to the building; and
- must have a load bearing capacity and unobstructed height to permit the operation and passage of fire brigade vehicles; and
- must be wholly within the allotment except that a public road complying with (a), (b), (c) and (d) may serve as the vehicular access or part thereof.
C3D6
Class 9 buildings
2019: C2.5
- patient care areas must be divided into fire compartments not exceeding 2000 m2.
- A fire compartment must be separated from the remainder of the building by fire walls and—
- in Type A construction—floors and roof or ceiling as required in Specification 5; and
- in Type B construction—floors with an FRL of not less than 120/120/120 and with the openings in external walls bounding patient care areas being vertically separated in accordance with the requirements of C3D7 as if the building were of Type A construction.
-
Ward areas—
- where the floor area exceeds 1000 m2, must be divided into floor areas not more than 1000 m2 by walls with an FRL of not less than 60/60/60; and
- where the floor area exceeds 500 m2, must be divided into floor areas not more than 500 m2 by smoke-proof walls complying with Specification 11; and
- where the floor area is not more than 500 m2, must be separated from the remainder of the patient care area by smoke-proof walls complying with Specification 11; and
- where division of ward areas by fire-resisting walls under (a) or (c)(i) is not required, any smoke-proof wall required under (c)(ii) or (iii) must have an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.
-
Treatment areas—
- where the floor area exceeds 1000 m2, must be divided into floor areas not more than 1000 m2 by smoke-proof walls complying with Specification 11; and
- where the floor area is not more than 1000 m2, must be separated from the remainder of the patient care area by smoke-proof walls complying with Specification 11.
- Ancillary use areas located within a patient care area and containing equipment or materials that are a high potential fire hazard, must be separated from the remainder of the patient care area by walls with an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.
- The ancillary use areas referred to in (e) include, but are not limited to, the following:
- A kitchen and related food preparation areas having a combined floor area of more than 30 m2.
- A room containing a hyperbaric facility (pressure chamber).
- A room used predominantly for the storage of medical records having a floor area of more than 10 m2.
- A laundry, where items of equipment are of the type that are potential fire sources (e.g. gas fire dryers).
- A wall required by (e) to separate ancillary use areas from the remainder of the building must extend to the underside of—
- the floor above; or
- a non-combustible roof covering; or
- a ceiling having a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself of not less than 60 minutes.
- Openings in walls required by (c) and (e) to have an FRL must be protected as follows:
- Doorways—self-closing or automatic closing –/60/30 fire doors.
- Windows—automatic or permanently fixed closed –/60/– fire windows or –/60/– automatic fire shutters.
- Other openings—construction having an FRL not less than –/60/–.
- unless the Class 9b early childhood centre is the only use in the building, it must be separated from the remainder of the building by walls and/or floors with an FRL not less than that required for a fire wall; and
- each storey within the Class 9b early childhood centre must contain not less than 2 fire compartments.
- A building must be divided into areas not more than 500 m2 by smoke-proof walls complying with Specification 11.
- A fire compartment must be separated from the remainder of the building by fire walls and, notwithstanding C3D8 and Specification 5, floors with an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.
- Internal walls (other than those bounding lift and stair shafts) supported by floors provided in accordance with (b) need not comply with Specification 5 if they have an FRL not less than 60/–/–.
- 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 11.
- The ancillary use areas referred to in (d) include, but are not limited to, the following:
- A kitchen and related food preparation areas having a combined floor area of more than 30 m2.
- A laundry, where items of equipment are of the type that are potential fire sources (e.g. gas fired dryers).
- Storage rooms greater than 10 m2 used predominantly for the storage of administrative records.
- Openings in fire walls must be protected as follows:
- Doorways —self-closing or automatic closing –/60/30 fire doors.
- Windows —automatic or permanently fixed closed –/60/– fire windows or –/60/– automatic fire shutters.
- Other openings — construction having an FRL not less than –/60/–.
NSW C3D6 Class 9 buildings2019: C2.5
- A building must be divided into areas not more than 500 m2 by smoke proof walls complying with Specification 11.
- A fire compartment must be separated from the remainder of the building by fire walls and notwithstanding C3D8 and Specification 5, floors with an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.
- Except for walls provided in accordance with (3)(a) and (b), 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:
- 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
- if provided with cavity insulation, contain only non-combustible insulation; and
- extend to the underside of—
- the floor next above; or
- a ceiling lined with standard grade plasterboard not less than 13 mm thick or an equivalent non-combustible material; or
- a non-combustible roof covering; and
- not incorporate any penetrations above door head height unless the penetrations are adequately stopped to prevent the free passage of smoke; and
- 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.
- Loadbearinginternal walls must comply with the requirements of Specification 5 and (c)(ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above.
- 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 11.
- The ancillary use areas referred to in (e) include, but are not limited to, the following:
- A kitchen and related food preparation areas having a combined floor area of more than 30 m2.
- A laundry, where items of equipment are of the type that are potential fire sources (e.g. gas fire dryers).
- Storage rooms greater than 10 m2 used predominantly for the storage of administrative records.
- Openings in fire walls must be protected as follows:
- Doorways — self-closing or automatic closing –/60/30 fire doors.
- Windows — automatic or permanently fixed closed –/60/– fire windows or –/60/– automatic fire shutters.
- Other openings — construction having an FRL not less than –/60/–.
Exemptions
C3D6(2) does not apply to a Class 9b early childhood centre—
- wholly within a storey that provides direct egress to a road or open space; or
- with a rise in storeys of not more than 2, where the Class 9b early childhood centre is the only use in the building.
C3D7
Vertical separation of openings in external walls
2019: C2.6
- a spandrel which—
- is not less than 900 mm in height; and
- extends not less than 600 mm above the upper surface of the intervening floor; and
- is of non-combustible material having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60; or
- part of a curtain wall or panel wall that complies with (a); or
- construction that complies with (a) behind a curtain wall or panel wall and has any gaps packed with a non-combustible material that will withstand thermal expansion and structural movement of the walling without the loss of seal against fire and smoke; or
- a slab or other horizontal construction that—
- projects outwards from the external face of the wall not less than 1100 mm; and
- extends along the wall not less than 450 mm beyond the openings concerned; and
- is non-combustible and has an FRL of not less than 60/60/60.
- an open-deck carpark; or
- an open spectator stand; or
- a building which has a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 installed throughout; or
- openings within the same stairway; or
- openings in external walls where the floor separating the storeys does not require an FRL with respect to integrity and insulation.
C3D8
Separation by fire walls
2019: C2.7
- The fire wall has the relevant FRL prescribed by Specification 5 for each of the adjoining parts, and if these are different, the greater FRL, except where S5C19(3)(c)(i), S5C22(3)(c)(i) and S5C25(3)(c)(i) permit a lower FRL on the carpark side.
- Any openings in a fire wall must not reduce the FRL required by Specification 5 for the fire wall, except where permitted by the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part C4.
- Building elements, other than roof battens with dimensions of 75 mm x 50 mm or less or sarking-type material, must not pass through or cross the fire wall unless the required fire-resisting performance of the fire wall is maintained.
- The fire wall extends through all storeys and spaces in the nature of storeys that are common to that part and any adjoining part of the building.
- The fire wall is carried through to the underside of the roof covering.
- Where the roof of one of the adjoining parts is lower than the roof of the other part, the fire wall extends to the underside of—
- the covering of the higher roof, or not less than 6 m above the covering of the lower roof; or
- the lower roof if it has an FRL not less than that of the fire wall and no openings closer than 3 m to any wall above the lower roof; or
- the lower roof if its covering is non-combustible and the lower part has a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17.
C3D9
Separation of classifications in the same storey
2019: C2.8
- each building element in that storey must have the higher FRL prescribed in Specification 5 for that element for the classifications concerned; or
- the parts must be separated in that storey by a fire wall.
- the higher FRL prescribed in Table S5C11d or S5C21d; or
- the FRL prescribed in Table S5C24c.
C3D10
Separation of classifications in different storeys
2019: C2.9
If parts of different classification are situated one above the other in adjoining storeys they must be separated as follows:
- Type A construction — The floor between the adjoining parts must have an FRL of not less than that prescribed in Specification 5 for the classification of the lower storey.
- Type B or C construction — If one of the adjoining parts is of Class 2, 3 or 4, the floor separating the part from the storey below must—
- be a floor/ceiling system incorporating a ceiling which has a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself of not less than 60 minutes; or
- have an FRL of at least 30/30/30; or
- have a fire-protective covering on the underside of the floor, including beams incorporated in it, if the floor is combustible or of metal.
C3D11
Separation of lift shafts
2019: C2.10
- in a building required to be of Type A construction — the walls have the relevant FRL prescribed by Specification 5; and
- in a building required to be of Type B construction — the walls—
- if loadbearing, have the relevant FRL prescribed by Table S5C21e; or
- if non-loadbearing, be of non-combustible construction.
- in a building of Type A or B construction — 120/120/120; or
- in a building of Type C construction — 60/60/60.
C3D12
Stairways and lifts in one shaft
2019: C2.11
A stairway and lift must not be in the same shaft if either the stairway or the lift is required to be in a fire-resisting shaft.
C3D13
Separation of equipment
2019: C2.12
- lift motors and lift control panels; or
- emergency generators used to sustain emergency equipment operating in the emergency mode; or
- central smoke control plant; or
- boilers; or
- a battery system installed in the building that has a total voltage of 12 volts or more and a storage capacity of 200 kWh or more.
- smoke control exhaust fans located in the air stream which are constructed for high temperature operation in accordance with Specification 21; or
- stair pressurising equipment installed in compliance with the relevant provisions of AS 1668.1; or
- a lift installation without a machine-room; or
- equipment otherwise adequately separated from the remainder of the building.
- except as provided by (b)—
- an FRL as required by Specification 5, but not less than 120/120/120; and
- any doorway protected with a self-closing fire door having an FRL of not less than –/120/30; or
- when separating a lift shaft and lift motor room, an FRL not less than 120/–/–.
C3D14
Electricity supply system
2019: C2.13
- be separated from any other part of the building by construction having an FRL of not less than 120/120/120; and
- have any doorway in that construction protected with a self-closing fire door having an FRL of not less than –/120/30.
- be separated from any other part of the building by construction having an FRL of not less than 120/120/120; and
- have any doorway in that construction protected with a self-closing fire door having an FRL of not less than –/120/30.
- have a classification in accordance with AS/NZS 3013 of not less than—
- if located in a position that could be subject to damage by motor vehicles — WS53W; or
- otherwise — WS52W; or
- be enclosed or otherwise protected by construction having an FRL of not less than 120/120/120.
- a substation located within the building which supplies a main switchboard covered by (2); or
- a main switchboard covered by (2).
- Fire hydrant booster pumps.
- Pumps for automatic sprinkler systems, water spray, chemical fluid suppression systems or the like.
- Pumps for fire hose reels where such pumps and fire hose reels form the sole means of fire protection in the building.
- Air handling systems designed to exhaust and control the spread of fire and smoke.
- Emergency lifts.
- Control and indicating equipment.
- Emergency warning and intercom systems.
C3D15
Public corridors in Class 2 and 3 buildings
2019: C2.14
In a Class 2 or 3 building, a public corridor, if more than 40 m in length, must be divided at intervals of not more than 40 m with smoke-proof walls complying with S11C2.
Where the distance between the external wall of a Class 2 building and a brush fence is less than 3 m, the Class 2 building must comply with the following:
- An external wall or part of an external wall exposed to the brush fence must be fire-resisting and extend to the underside of a non-combustible roof covering or a non-combustible eaves lining or to a point at which exposure to the brush fence no longer exists and must—
- have a FRL of at least 60/60/60 when tested from the outside; or
- be of masonry veneer construction in which the external masonry veneer is not less than 90 mm thick; or
- be of masonry construction not less than 90 mm thick; and
- have any exposed openings protected in accordance with C4D5.
- Where an external wall is required by (a) to be fire-resisting, only that part of the wall, including openings within the specified distance, need to be constructed in that manner.
- The requirements of (a) do not apply to subfloor vents, roof vents, weepholes, control joints, construction joints and penetrations for pipes, conduits and the like.
- The following are permitted to encroach within 3 m of a brush fence—
- non-combustible fascias, gutters, downpipes; and
- eaves with non-combustible roof cladding and non-combustible lining; and
- flues, chimneys, pipes, domestic fuel tanks, cooling or heating appliances or other services; and
- light fittings, electricity or gas meters, aerials or antennas; and
- pergolas, sun blinds or water tanks; and
- unroofed terraces, landings, steps and ramps, not more than 1 m in height.
- The distance from any point on an external wall of a building to a brush fence is measured in any direction from the external wall.
Class 2 external walls exposed to brush fences
Underground passageways in a bulk grain storage facility must be separated from other parts of the building by smoke-proof walls and smoke-proof doors complying with Specification 11.
Bulk grain storage facilities