Specification 19 Fire control centres
S19C1
Scope
2019: Spec E1.8: 1
S19C2
Application
2019: Spec E1.8: 1
S19C3
Purpose and content of fire control centre
2019: Spec E1.8: 2
A fire control centre must—
- provide an area from which fire-fighting operations or other emergency procedures can be directed or controlled; and
- contain controls, panels, telephones, furniture, equipment and the like associated with the required fire services in the building; and
- not be used for any purpose other than the control of—
- fire-fighting activities; and
- other measures concerning the occupant safety or security.
S19C4
Location of fire control centre
2019: Spec E1.8: 3
A fire control centre must be so located in a building that egress from any part of its floor, to a road or open space, does not involve changes in level which in aggregate exceed 300 mm.
S19C5
Equipment not permitted within a fire control centre
2019: Spec E1.8: 4
An internal combustion engine, pumps, sprinkler control valves, pipes and pipe fittings must not be located in a fire control centre, but may be located in rooms accessed through the fire control centre.
S19C6
Ambient sound level for a fire control centre
2019: Spec E1.8: 5
S19C7
Construction of a fire control room
2019: Spec E1.8: 6
A fire control centre in a building more than 50 m in effective height must be in a separate room where—
- the enclosing construction is of concrete, masonry or the like, sufficiently impact resistant to withstand the impact of any likely falling debris, and with an FRL of not less than 120/120/120; and
- any material used as a finish, surface, lining or the like within the room complies with the requirements of Specification 7; and
- services, pipes, ducts and the like that are not directly required for the proper functioning of the fire control room do not pass through it; and
- openings in the walls, floors or ceiling which separate the room from the interior of the building are confined to doorways, ventilation and other openings for services necessary for the proper functioning of the facility.
S19C8
Protection of openings in a fire control room
2019: Spec E1.8: 7
Openings permitted by S19C7 must be protected as follows:
- Openings for windows, doorways, ventilation, service pipes, conduits and the like, in an external wall of the building that faces a road or open space, must be protected in accordance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part C4.
- Openings in the floors, ceilings and internal walls enclosing a fire control room must, except for doorways, be protected in accordance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part C4.
- A door opening in the internal walls enclosing a fire-control room, must be fitted with a self-closing –/120/30 smoke sealed fire door.
- Openings associated with natural or mechanical ventilation must—
- not be made in any ceiling or floor immediately above or below the fire control room; and
- be protected by a –/120/– fire damper if the opening is for a duct through a wall required to have an FRL, other than an external wall.
S19C9
Doors to a fire control room
2019: Spec E1.8: 8
- one from the front entrance of the building; and
- one direct from a public place or fire-isolated passageway which leads to a public place and has a door with an FRL of not less than –/120/30.
S19C10
Size and contents of a fire control room
2019: Spec E1.8: 9
- a Fire Indicator Panel and necessary control switches and visual status indication for all required fire pumps, smoke control fans and other required fire safety equipment installed in the building; and
- a telephone directly connected to an external telephone exchange; and
- a blackboard or whiteboard not less than 1200 mm wide x 1000 mm high; and
- a pin-up board not less than 1200 mm wide x 1000 mm high; and
- a raked plan layout table of a size suitable for laying out the plans provided under (f); and
- colour-coded, durable, tactical fire plans.
- master emergency control panels, lift annunciator panels, remote switching controls for gas or electrical supplies and emergency generator backup; and
- building security, surveillance and management systems if they are completely segregated from all other systems.
- have a floor area of not less than 10 m2 and the length of any internal side must be not less than 2.5 m; and
- if only the minimum prescribed equipment is installed — have a net floor area of not less than 8 m2 with a clear space of not less than 1.5 m2 in front of the Fire Indicator Panel; and
- if additional equipment is installed — have an additional area of not less than 2 m2 net floor area for each additional facility and a clear space of not less than 1.5 m2 in front of each additional control or indicator panel; and
- be constructed such that the area required for any path of travel through the room to other areas is provided in addition to the requirements (b) and (c).
S19C11
Ventilation and power supply for a fire control room
2019: Spec E1.8: 10
- natural ventilation from a window or doorway in an external wall of the building which opens directly into the fire control room from a road or open space; or
- a pressurisation system that only serves the fire control room, and—
- is installed in accordance with AS 1668.1 as though the room is a fire-isolated stairway; and
- is activated automatically by operation of the fire alarm, or sprinkler system complying with Specification 17, installed in the building and manually by an over-riding control in the room; and
- provides a flow of fresh air through the room of not less than 30 air changes per hour when the system is operating and any door to the room is open; and
- has fans, motors and ductwork that form part of the system but not contained within the fire control room protected by enclosing construction with an FRL of not less than 120/120/120; and
- has any electrical supply to the fire control room or equipment necessary for its operation connected to the supply side of the main disconnection switch for the building.
S19C12
Sign for a fire control room
2019: Spec E1.8: 11
The external face of the door to the fire control room must have a sign with the words—
in letters not less than 50 mm high and of a colour which contrasts with that of the background.
S19C13
Lighting for a fire control room
2019: Spec E1.8: 12
Emergency lighting in accordance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part E4 must be provided in a fire control room, except that an illumination level of not less than 400 lux must be maintained at the surface of the plan table.