Specification 20 Smoke detection and alarm systems
S20C1
Scope
2019: Spec E2.2a: 1
This Specification describes the installation and operation of automatic smoke detection and alarm systems.
S20C2
Type of system
2019: Spec E2.2a: 2
A required automatic smoke detection and alarm system must be provided in accordance with the following:
- Class 2 buildings and Class 4 parts of a building—
- Class 3 buildings—
- with a Class 3 part located more than 2 storeys above ground level — a smoke detection system complying with S20C4; or
- which accommodate more than 20 residents and are the residential part of a school, accommodation for the aged, children or people with a disability — a smoke detection system complying with S20C4; or
- all other Class 3 buildings—
- Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9b and 9c buildings — a smoke detection system complying with S20C4
- Class 9a health-care buildings—
S20C3
Smoke alarm system
2019: Spec E2.2a: 3
- A smoke alarm system must—
- consist of smoke alarms complying with AS 3786; and
- be powered from the consumer mains source.
- In kitchens and other areas where the use of the area is likely to result in smoke alarms causing spurious signals, subject to (c)—
- any other alarm deemed suitable in accordance with AS 1670.1 may be installed provided that smoke alarms are installed elsewhere in the sole-occupancy unit in accordance with (2)(a) and (2)(b); or
- an alarm acknowledgement facility may be installed.
- Where a kitchen or other area referred to in (b) is in a building protected with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17 (other than a FPAA101D system), alarms need not be installed in the kitchen or other area likely to result in spurious signals.
- Alarms must be installed within each sole-occupancy unit, and located on or near the ceiling in any storey—
- containing bedrooms—
- between each part of the sole-occupancy unit containing bedrooms and the remainder of the sole-occupancy unit; and
- where bedrooms are served by a hallway, in that hallway; and
- not containing any bedrooms, in egress paths.
- containing bedrooms—
- Where there is more than one alarm installed within a sole-occupancy unit, alarms must be interconnected within that sole-occupancy unit.
- Subject to (d), alarms must be—
- installed in public corridors and other internal public spaces, located in accordance with the requirements for smoke detectors in AS 1670.1; and
- connected to activate a building occupant warning system in accordance with S20C7.
- In a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building protected with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17 (other than a FPAA101D system), alarms are not required in public corridors and other internal public spaces.
- installed in every room, public corridor and other internal public space; and
- located in accordance with the requirements for smoke detectors in AS 1670.1; and
- interconnected to provide a common alarm; and
- have manual call points installed in evacuation routes so that no point on a floor is more than 30 m from a manual call point.
S20C4
Smoke detection system
2019: Spec E2.2a: 4
- A smoke detection system must—
- subject to (2), (3) and (4), comply with AS 1670.1; and
- activate a building occupant warning system in accordance with S20C7.
- In kitchens and other areas where the use of the area is likely to result in smoke detectors causing spurious signals, subject to (c)—
- any other detector deemed suitable in accordance with AS 1670.1 may be installed provided that smoke detectors are installed elsewhere in the sole-occupancy unit in accordance with the requirements for alarms in S20C3(2)(a) and (2)(b); or
- an alarm acknowledgement facility may be installed.
- Where a kitchen or other area referred to in (b) is in a building protected with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17 (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system), detectors need not be installed in the kitchen or other areas likely to result in spurious signals.
- Smoke detectors must be installed—
- within each sole-occupancy unit, in accordance with the requirements for alarms in S20C3(2)(a) and (2)(b); and
- subject to (b), in public corridors and other internal public spaces.
- In a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building protected with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17 (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system), smoke detectors are not required in public corridors and other internal public spaces.
- Except as provided in (b)—
- photoelectric type smoke detectors must be installed in patient care areas and in paths of travel to exits from patient care areas; and
- in areas other than patient care areas and paths of travel to exits from patient care areas, where the use of the area is likely to result in smoke detectors causing spurious signals, any other detector deemed suitable in accordance with AS 1670.1 may be installed in lieu of smoke detectors.
- The requirements of (a) do not apply where an area is protected with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17, smoke detectors need not be installed where the use of the area is likely to result in spurious signals.
- Manual call points must be installed in evacuation routes so that no point on a floor is more than 30 m from a manual call point.
- remote automatic indication of each zone must be given in each smoke compartment by means of—
- mimic panels with an illuminated display; or
- annunciator panels with alpha numeric display; and
- if the building accommodates more than 20 residents, manual call points must be installed in paths of travel so that no point on a floor is more than 30 m from a manual call point.
VIC S20C4 Smoke detection system2019: Spec E2.2a: 4
- if the building accommodates more than 20 residents, manual call points must be installed in paths of travel so that no point on a floor is more than 30 m from a manual call point; and
- indication of the zone where the smoke detection system has actuated must be achieved by one of the following:
- Option 1—
- remote automatic indication of each zone must be given in each smoke compartment; and
- indication of (A) must be indicated on remote annunciator panels with alpha-numeric displays with a minimum of 20 characters of 9 mm minimum height.
- Option 2—
- indication of the zone where the smoke detection system has actuated must be communicated via a suitable interface with the fire indicator panel to a portable remote communication device; and
- at least one such portable remote communication device per smoke compartment must be provided to staff nominated by the owner or operator and properly instructed as to the duties and responsibilities involved; and
- the portable remote communication device may be a pager with alpha-numeric display or portable telephone handset with capability of receiving alpha-numeric display.
- Option 1—
S20C5
Combined smoke alarm and smoke detection system
2019: Spec E2.2a: 5
- be provided with a smoke alarm system complying with S20C3 within sole-occupancy units; and
- subject to (2), be provided with a smoke detection system complying with S20C4 in areas not within sole-occupancy units.
S20C6
Smoke detection for smoke control systems
2019: Spec E2.2a: 6
- be installed in accordance with AS 1670.1; and
- have additional smoke detectors installed adjacent to each bank of lift landing doors set back horizontally from the door openings by a distance of not more than 3 m.
- be spaced—
- not more than 20 m apart and not more than 10 m from any wall, bulkhead or smoke curtain; and
- in enclosed malls and walkways in a Class 6 building not more than 15 m apart and not more than 7.5 m from any wall, bulkhead or curtain; and
- have a sensitivity—
- either—
- form part of a building fire or smoke detection system complying with AS 1670.1; or
- be a separate dedicated system incorporating control and indicating equipment complying with AS 1670.1; and
- activate a building occupant warning system complying with S20C7, except that smoke detectors provided solely to initiate automatic shutdown of air-handling systems in accordance with (2)(a) need not activate a building occupant warning system.
S20C7
Building occupant warning system
2019: Spec E2.2a: 7
Subject to E4D9, a building occupant warning system provided as part of a smoke hazard management system must comply with clause 3.22 of AS 1670.1 to sound through all occupied areas except—
- in a Class 2 and 3 building or Class 4 part of a building provided with a smoke alarm system in accordance with S20C3(2)(c)—
- the sound pressure level need not be measured within a sole-occupancy unit if a level of not less than 85 dB(A) is provided at the door providing access to the sole-occupancy unit; and
- the inbuilt sounders of the smoke alarms may be used to wholly or partially meet the requirements; and
- in a Class 2 and 3 building or Class 4 part of a building provided with a smoke detection system in accordance with S20C4(2), the sound pressure level from a building occupant warning system need not be measured within a sole-occupancy unit if a level of not less than 100 dB(A) is provided at the door providing access to the sole-occupancy unit; and
- in a Class 3 building used as a residential care building, the system—
- must be arranged to provide a warning for occupants; and
- in areas used by residents, may have its alarm adjusted in volume and content to minimise trauma consistent with the type and condition of residents; and
- in a Class 9a health-care building, in a patient care area, the system—
- must be arranged to provide a warning for occupants; and
- in a ward area, may have its alarm adjusted in volume and content to minimise trauma consistent with the type and condition of the patients; and
- in a Class 9c building, the system—
- must be arranged to provide a warning for occupants; and
- must notify staff caring for the residents of the building; and
- in areas used by residents, may have its alarm adjusted in volume and content to minimise trauma consistent with the type and condition of residents.
S20C8
System monitoring
2019: Spec E2.2a: 8
The following installations must be connected to a fire alarm monitoring system connected to a fire station or fire station dispatch centre in accordance with AS 1670.3:
- A smoke detection system in a Class 3 building provided in accordance with S20C2(b)(i) or S20C2(b)(ii).
- A smoke detection system in a Class 9a health-care building, if the building accommodates more than 20 patients.
- A smoke detection system in a Class 9c building.
- Smoke detection in accordance with S20C6 provided to activate—
- a smoke exhaust system in accordance with Specification 21; or
- smoke-and-heat vents in accordance with Specification 22.
System monitoring
The following installations must be connected to a fire alarm monitoring system connected to a fire station or a fire station dispatch centre in accordance with AS 1670.3:
- A smoke detection system in a Class 3 building provided in accordance with S20C2(b)(i) or (ii).
- A smoke detection system in a Class 9a health-care building, if the building accommodates more than 20 patients, unless the building is sprinklered and the sprinkler system is permanently connected to a fire station, or other approved monitoring service with a direct data link to a fire station, in accordance with Building Practice Note FS-01.
- Smoke detection in accordance with S20C6 provided to activate—
- a smoke exhaust system in accordance with Specification 21; or
- smoke-and-heat vents in accordance with Specification 22.
- An automatic fire detection and alarm system required by E2D10 for large isolated buildings subject to C3D4.
System monitoring
The following installations must be connected to a fire alarm monitoring system connected to a fire station or fire station dispatch centre in accordance with AS 1670.3:
- A smoke detection system in a Class 3 building provided in accordance with S20C2(b)(i) or S20C2(b)(ii).
- A smoke detection system in a Class 9a health-care building, if the building accommodates more than 20 patients.
- A smoke detection system in a Class 9c building.
- Smoke detection in accordance with S20C6 provided to activate—
- a smoke exhaust system in accordance with Specification 21; or
- smoke-and-heat vents in accordance with Specification 22.
- An automatic fire detection and alarm system required by E2D10 for large isolated buildings subject to C3D4.