Classification of Buildings Based on Intended Use
The classification of buildings or building space is normally done based on the use in which designed for. According to the Building Code Australia, there are ten classes of building with each class further dived into sub-classes based on specific uses. Since the void area will be used for storage of archive, it is classified as class 7b. According to clause A6.7 (2), class 7b building are normally utilized for display and storage of products or goods that are either for sale or wholesale.
It is a requirement that compartmented storage spaces should have adequate fire protection facilities, adhere to environment requirements for the materials stores. It is also important that the archive space should not have windows, or roof penetrations.
According to the description, the renovated floor will be used as offices and reception area. This means that the renovated floor will be classified as class 5 building space. Clause D1.2 of Volume one of the Building Code Australia requires that all buildings must have at least one exit from every storey of the building. According to clause D1.6 (b) of the code, “unobstructed width of each exit or path of travel to an exit” must not be less than 1.0 m. However, appropriate measurements for the doorways may be adopted depending on the required movement of people and equipment in the offices.
Looking at the present floor of the building, it can be classified as class nine owing to the fact to that we have assembly rooms like the meeting room, gym and multipurpose entertainment rooms. The floor is 30m from the ground and it has three exit points through the staircases other than the lifts. We know that the staircases are to be used during fire emergencies. According to Clause D1.2 (b) (i), an additional two exit points must be provided for each storey in a building that is more than 25m effective height from the ground. The given floor has three exit points therefore satisfies clause D1.2 (b) (i) and D1.2 (d) (i).
Looking at the plan, the plant room has its own exit leading to the travel path towards the main exit points without passing unto other occupancy unit within the floor. Therefore, the plant-room satisfies the requirements by Clause D1.2 (g) (i).
Reading Matt O’Sullivan’s article “Sydney’s ‘worst’ apartment tower for defects forces industry shake-up”, a number of fire safety concerns are notable in the Auburn’s 16-storey building. First, the inspectors points out that the fire safety, waterproofing, structure and building enclosure requirements were not met by the building. A buyer notes poor finishing with holes in the roof and holes are visible in fire rating enclosures including around openings to the lift shaft. It can also be noted that a smaller lift was installed in the building due to inadequate vertical lift pathways and only one of the two installed lifts was operational. In addition, defects were found in the basement where there was water leakages and obstruction to ventilations by construction wastes. Lastly, the ventilation duct did not meet standards, as it was tool low in front of the entrance to the fire pump room.
Fire Safety Requirements for Storage Spaces
Looking at the provisions in the BCA, Clauses C3.12 requires that the point of penetration for services in, floors, walls and ceilings must not allow fire; smoke or heat to pass and a gap must not exist between the penetrating service and the wall, floor or ceiling. Clause C3.15 requires that materials with higher FRL like mineral fibre or concrete materials be used to fill the gap between the pipes, electrical cables and service shafts. In addition, non-combustible material like cast iron with high melting point should be used in service pipe with additional insulation materials provided around it. For openings in shafts and the materials must have a FRL of -/60/30 based on clause C3.13.
Fire separating wall are important in preventing the spread of fire and their penetration must be done with maximum care. When the penetration is done, the point of separating wall penetration by service must not allow smoke, fire or heat to pass through, thus a gap must not exist between the pipe or cables and the wall. The service through the wall should maintain the FRL requirements of the external or internal wall as provided in Tables 3, 3.9, 4 and 4.2 of BCA for different types of constructions including construction types A, B and C. The pipes passing the through the walls with FRL requirements must be fire resistant and non-combustible and meet the requirements of Part 4 of AS1530 and Part 1 of AS4072.
Figure 1 Penetration through a separating wall
The conditions for Deemed to Satisfy Provisions are provided in Clause C1.0. The compliance of green walls to these performance requirements depends on whether it is an internal or external wall of the building (Barnett 2021). The BCA provides requirements for internal wall lining and the need for fire hazard equipment like sprinklers and various test methods like AS 3837 which involves specimen fire exposure for a given to time and measured against 1MW. Ideally, plant configuration on the wall lacks thermal properties to pass such standards therefore cannot comply with DTS as a lining in the internal walls.
Looking at the external walls, clause C1.9 requires that materials for external walls in Types A and B construction must be non-combustible. Clause 2.4 of the BCA also states that any attachments on the FRL wall must not reduce the fire resistance performance of the wall. The green wall have no fire resisting properties and does not comply with clauses C1.9 and 2.4. Clause CV3 also prescribes the use of sprinklers in the protection external wall after being tested for EW performance based on AS 5113. It is however important to note that a vegetation cover may not pass the EW performance due to lack of adequate thermal properties. This renders green walls non-compliant to DTS provisions for fire resistance.
It is important to note that the dance studio will be located at the basement of the building. Which also comprises of carpark. For Type A construction, the building assumed to be of four or more than four storey based on Table C1.1 of BCA Volume one. According to Clause C1.9, all the external and common walls including their components must be non-combustible. The floor lining and floor covering must comply with clause C1.10. The external walls must also have an FRL of 30/30/30 since the room will be located to the carports at the basement.
Exit Requirements for Different Building Classifications
According to clause 2.6 of BCA Volume one, the total mezzanine area in the room should not exceed 1/3 or 200m2 of the room with the lower value taking precedence.
Previous area of the mezzanine = 251.68 – 232.84 = 18.87 m2
251.68/3 = 83.89 m2
18.87 < 83.89 m2; therefore the floor area of the mezzanine is satisfactory
The current area of the mezzanine after extension = 111.54 m2
Total area of the room = 251.68 + 56.96 = 308.64 m2
308.64/3 = 102.88 m2
111.54 > 102.88 m2; the floor area of the mezzanine does not meet the requirements
From the calculations, we can see that the extension of the mezzanine to the corridor makes the new plan not to meet the requirements as provided in the Regulation Impact Statement.
The common wall between units 10 and 11 serves, as must have an adequate FRL as a fire protection precaution. According to Table 3 of the BCA Volume one, common walls in Type A construction should have FRL of 90/90/90 for buildings classes 2,3 and 4, FRL of 120/120/120 for building classes 5, 7a and 9, 180/180/180 for building class 6 and 240/240/240 for building classes 7b and 8.
Looking at the provided plan, it forms a class 2 building therefore the common fire-resisting wall should have FRL of 90/90/90 and should extend up to just below the roof ceiling material.
The distance between the external in unit 12 and windows in unit 13 should not be less than 4m based on the provisions of clause C3.3 and Table C3.3 of Volume of the BCA 2019. In addition, Clause C3.4 provides that the FRL for the windows must be -/60/- .
The vertical protection of windows in the floor above requires that the floor/ceiling have sufficient resistance to fire so that the fire does not spread to the space above. According to clause 3.7.4.3 of Volume two of BCA 2019, an FRL of 30/30/30 is required when test from the floor underside. The wall external wall supporting the window and the above floor must be non-combustible.
Looking at the floor plan drawing, it can be noted that the building is made of a basement with parking lots. The ground floor has four sole occupancy units. Therefore, this forms a class two building based on clause A6.2 of Volume two of the BCA. The rise in storey for this building can be counted to be 1 when we take basement floor as the finished ground and having an external wall rising to the roof and ground level serving as a relevant boundary as provided by clause C1.2 (ii). Therefore, the type of construction required for this building is construction type C.
The method for protection of the external widows is provided in Clause C3.4 (ii) of the BCA Volume one. Where “(A )internal or external wall-wetting sprinklers as appropriate used with windows that are automatic closing or permanently fixed in the closed position; or (B)–/60/– fire windows that are automatic closing or permanently fixed in the closed position; or (C)–/60/– automatic closing fire shutters.”
It is important to note that this offices building therefore a class 5 building based on clause A6.5 of BCA Volume Two. In addition, the building has two-rise storey.
Assuming a height of 3 m from each floor
3 floor height = 3 x 3 = 9m
Assuming 3m for roof
Building height = 9 +3 = 12m
According to Table E1.5, a building should have an effective height of more than 25m or have a rise in storey of four and above for it to qualify having a sprinkler. This building has only two storeys with a height of only 12m therefore; there is no any justification from the installation of a sprinkler in the building.
Calculating the toatal areas for the building
Area= 400 x 3 = 1200 m2
Clause E1.3 (a)(i) of volume one of the BCA 2019 provides that a builing of a floor area more than 500m2 must be provided with a fully functionong fire hydrant system placed at it sground floor. The installation of the fire hydrant is prescribed in clause E1.3(b)(i) where the installation is done based on Australian Standards AS2419.1. However, this standard is not applied when the building has an existing fire hydrant booster within 3.5 to 10 meters from the bulding to be serviced.
Clause E1.4(b)(i) requires that a fire hose reel system must be provided where there is a fire hydrant in a building. Furthermore, caluse E1.4 (c) (i) requires that a hose reel system be intalled following provisions by Australian Standards AS2441 and must be adjscaent to the internal water hydrant. Therefore, this building qualifies for installation of a water hydrant and a fire hose reel for control of fire hazards.
Reference List
National Construction Code, 2019. Building Code of Australia 2019, Volume One Amendment 1.
National Construction Code, 2019. Building Code of Australia 2019, Volume Two Amendment 1.
Barnett, A., 2021. Green walls and the question of fire compliance. Available from https://www.thisisconstruction.com.au/knowledge-articles/green-walls-and-the-question-of-fire-compliance
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