For this assignment, I have chosen Clause 3.7.1 of the BCA 2019 Volume Two, which references the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 Fire Safety – Part 3.7: Fire properties for materials and construction, fire separation of external walls, fire protection of separating walls and floors, fire separation of garage top dwellings and smoke alarms and evacuation lighting (National Construction Code, 2019). This clause relates to the acceptable construction methods for fire safety since it aims to safeguard the occupants from illness or injury by alerting them of a fire in the building so that they may safely evacuate and be caused by fire from heating appliances installed within the building. Besides, the clause relates as it embraces fire safety in alpine areas, from an emergency while evacuating the building; and avoids the spread of fire; as well as protects a building from the effects of a bushfire. The purpose of this clause is to ensure fire safety in commercial and residential houses is embraced and installed correctly and efficiently to protect public health and safety.
The Australian Standard AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 guides the design, installation, and maintenance of fire safety. This Standard applies to both new and existing buildings, and it sets out minimum requirements for the materials, components, and installation practices used in the construction based on key considerations.
The use of AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 as a Deemed-to-Satisfy solution in the BCA 2019 Volume Two, Clause 3.7.1, ensures acceptable construction practices like general concession-non-combustible materials and fire hazard properties. This Standard is referenced to ensure that minimum requirements for the installation of fire safety systems are met, which helps to protect public health and safety and to minimize the risk of damage to property, environment, and most importantly loss of lives from fire or any other incident related to fire (Australian Building Code Board, 2019).
However, in the following sections, I will summarize the relevant sections of AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 that are required to be followed to satisfy/adopt the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision/Part of the BCA associated with Clause 3.7.1. I will explain the key requirements of this Standard and provide examples where relevant to help readers better understand the importance of complying with these requirements.
Clause 3.7. of the BCA 2019 Volume Two requires the installation of fire systems that comply with AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 Fire Safety Part 3.7.1: Acceptable Construction Practices. To comply with AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 and satisfy Clause 3.7.1 of the BCA Volume Two, the following sections of the standard should be followed:
Section 1: Fire Properties for Materials and Construction-Acceptable Construction Practices
Non-combustible materials, in general, although flammable or containing combustible fibers, the following materials may be utilized in places where the Housing Provisions call for a non-combustible material:
(a) Sheetrock.
(b) Gypsum lath with perforations and a standard paper finish.
(c) A sheet of fibrous plaster.
(d) Sheets made of fiber-reinforced cement.
(e) Prefinished metal sheeting with a spread-of-flame index of no more than 0 and a combustible surface finish no thicker than 1 mm.
(f) Sarking-type materials with a flammability index no higher than 5 and a thickness no greater than 1 mm (Tool Market, 2022).
(g) Bonded laminated materials where (i) each lamina, including any core, is non-combustible; (ii) each adhesive layer has a thickness of no more than 1 mm, and (iii) the overall thickness of the adhesive layers is no greater than
Section 2: Fire Separation of External Walls-Acceptable Construction Practices
If a Class 1 building’s external wall or any openings in that wall are less than either of the following distances from another building on the same allotment: (a) 1.8 m from a Class 10 building connected to the Class 1 building or a detached portion of the same Class 1 building; or (b) 900 mm from an allotment boundary other than the boundary adjacent to a road alignment or other public space, the wall must comply with 3.7.2.4. Regarding measurement distances, the distance between any point on an external wall of a building and an allotment boundary or another building is the distance to that point measured along a line that forms a right angle with the allotment boundary or external wall of the other building and intersects it without being blocked by a wall that complies with 3.7.2.4. Only the portion of a wall (including any apertures) that is needed to be created by 3.7.2.4 within the prescribed distance must be built that way. The measurement must be taken from the exterior wall with the higher elevation where the distance is between two attached or detached buildings of differing heights.
(Masters Builders Association, 2021).
Section 3: Fire Protection of Separating Walls and Floors-Acceptable Construction Practices
A wall between two Class 1 buildings or a wall separating a Class 1 building from a Class 10a building that is not connected to the Class 1 building must meet the following requirements: (i) have an FRL of at least 60/60/60; (ii) be made of masonry construction; and (iii) start at the footings or ground slab, except horizontal projections to which 3.7.3.5 applies and A separating wall that complies with (a)(iii)(A) must (i) not be crossed by wood or other combustible building components, with the exception of roof battens that are 75 x 50 mm or smaller, or roof sarking, and (ii) have any gaps between the top of the wall and the underside of the roof covering filled with mineral fiber or other suitable fire-resisting material. If a building has an external wall made of masonry veneer, any space between the separating wall and the exterior wall must (i) be no larger than 50 mm; and (ii) be packed with mineral fiber or another suitable fire-resistant material, with packing arranged to maintain any weatherproofing requirements of Part 3.3.4.
(Tool Market, 2022).
Section 4: Five Protection of Separating Walls and Floors-Acceptable Construction Practice
Any service aperture in a dividing wall must be constructed with an FRL of at least -/60/60. If an electrical cable or wire pierces a dividing wall. At the penetration, the building and service elements must be identical to a prototype assembly that has passed AS 4072.1 and AS 1530.4 testing and obtained an FRL of at least -/60/60; or vary from an AS 4072.1-compliant prototype assembly of the service and building element. The service must be set up so that the opening is nicely created, cut, or drilled, and it is not 50 mm or closer to any other service.
(Masters Builders Association, 2021).
Section 5: Fire Separation of Garage Top Dwellings-Acceptable Construction Practice
Performance Requirement P2.3.1 for fire separation of garage top homes is satisfied by adherence to this approved construction practice.3.7.4.2 Walls that need to be protected. Any wall separating a Class 1a dwelling from a Class 10a private garage that is not connected to the Class 1a dwelling must (i) comply with (b); and (ii) any private garage connected to and located below the Class 1a dwelling must be separated from the private garage not connected to the Class 1a dwelling by a wall complying with Either (A) an FRL of at least 60/60/60 when tested from the private; or (B) an FRL of at least 60/60/60 when tested from the public.
However, compliance with AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 is essential for ensuring safe and efficient fire safety is ensured through the fire safety verification method. Reflecting on the Performance-based design brief in the fire safety verification method, the fire safety engineer must complete a performance-based design brief (PBDB) while employing this Verification Method. That needs to include all parties involved in the building design. The fire strategy that will be used must also be described in the PBDB. Although complete agreement on every component of the PBDB is the ideal result, it is recognized that this may not always be possible to achieve. If complete agreement cannot be reached through the PBDB, dissenting opinions must be properly documented, carried throughout the process, and taken into account as part of the proper authority’s due processes for determining compliance and granting approval. Considering whether a peer evaluation of any or all of the proposed Performance (by an impartial fire safety engineer) (Australian Building Code Board, 2019).
The creation of a PBDB is a crucial stage in the process of creating a Performance Solution. It enables all necessary parties to participate in the creation of the building’s fire safety system and design. A PBDB is a procedure with documentation that establishes the parameters of the fire engineering analysis. Its goal is to establish. Describe the foundation upon which the fire safety analysis of the proposed building and associated Performance Solutions will be conducted, as determined by the relevant stakeholders. Depending on the design, different stakeholders may be relevant. A fire safety engineer, an architect, a developer, a client, an appropriate authority (some state laws forbid appropriate authorities from participating in the design process), a fire authority, and other stakeholders are examples of important stakeholders.
Below are the Steps of Performance-based design in the Fire Safety Verification Method
| Step | Description |
| Fire Strategy | The PBDB is required to cover the building’s fire safety plan, describing the outlook and strategy that will be adopted to attain the necessary performance level. The appropriate management regimes and the evacuation strategy must be given special consideration in the fire safety plan. |
| Stakeholder Involvement | The pertinent project parties must work together to develop the PBDB for the specific project. The following parties need to participate:
• The client or the client’s agent (such as the project manager) Engineer in fire protection, Architect or designer, and several specialized consultants • Public or private fire departments • The proper authority (Authority Having Jurisdiction, as defined by state law) • If applicable, renters or tenants’ representatives for the proposed building • Management of building operations, if available. Who needs to be included in the PBDB process can be determined by performing a straightforward stakeholder analysis. This analysis must identify those stakeholders who have a strong stake in the design process and/or who are most likely to be impacted by the effects of a fire, should one break out in the structure. |
| Required Level of Safety | The proposed building design must at least be equivalent to the applicable Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for this Verification Method to ensure the level of safety expected given the absence of specific safety targets in the NCC and the qualitative nature of the NCC fire safety Performance Requirements. The NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions are widely acknowledged as offering a reliable standard because they were developed from State and Territory legislation in the beginning and are continuously updated to reflect technological advancements and experience. The NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions are acknowledged to reflect society’s standards about fire safety, which employs a defense-in-depth strategy to address personal risk, social risk, and the robustness of the design.
The majority of design scenarios call for proof that the suggested level of safety is at least similar to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions to pass the Verification Method. The PBDB process must: (a) determine the applicable Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions to be used in the equivalency process to assess whether the applicable Performance Requirements have been met; (b) take into account the specific size, complexity, and use of the building with regards to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions to be used in the equivalency process; and (c) take into account the specific occupant profile of the building. |
| Final Report | The fire safety engineer must create a final report that contains the following once they have analyzed all pertinent design scenarios for all necessary Performance Solutions:
• The PBDB, as agreed. • All analysis and modeling. Any other information necessary to unmistakably show that the building and its fire safety system satisfy the relevant Performance Requirements; analysis necessary to show that the proposed building provides a level of safety at least equivalent to the relevant Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions. Overall, compliance with AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 is essential for ensuring the safe and effective installation, operation, and maintenance of plumbing and drainage systems in buildings. Building owners, designers, and contractors must be aware of the requirements of the standard and ensure that they are followed to prevent potential health and safety hazards, as well as costly repairs and replacements (Australian Building Code Board, 2019). |
References
National Construction Code. (2019). NCC 2019 Volume Two | NCC. Ncc.abcb.gov.au. https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/editions/2019/ncc-2019-volume-two
Masters Builders Association. (2021). 2019 National Construction Code (NCC) Volume 2 | Master Builders Association. Www.mbansw.asn.au. https://www.mbansw.asn.au/store/ncc/2019-national-construction-code-ncc-volume-2
Australian Building Code Board. (2019). NCC 2019 Volume 2 Amendment 1 | my big. Www.mybig.com.au. https://www.mybig.com.au/library/NCC-2019-Volume-2-Amendment-1
Tool Market. (2022). 2019 National Construction Code – NCC Volume Two (Red). Tool Market. https://www.toolmarket.com.au/products/2019-national-construction-code-ncc-volume-two-red
write