NSW FIRE BRIGADES
GUIDELINESFOR
ON STREAMLINED
144
GUIDELINES
MINOR
APPLICATIONS
FOR LARGE
RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS
ISOLATED BUILDINGS
POLICY NO. 8
POLICY NO. 7
PREVENT PREPARE PROTECT
VERSION
VERSION 01
DRAFT02
D
POLICY NO. 7: GUIDELINES ON STREAMLINED 144 APPLICATIONS FOR LIB’S
© Copyright State Government of NSW (NSWFB) 2008
All rights reserved. The information contained in this report is provided to inform. Apart from any use as permitted under
the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the New South Wales Fire Brigades (NSWFB).
Published by:
Structural Fire Safety Unit
New South Wales Fire Brigades
Amarina Avenue
Greenacre NSW 2190
Telephone: (02) 9742 7400
Facsimile: (02) 9742 7483
Email: [email protected]
Version
Date
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
01
31 JUL 2008
MSFSU
DCS
02
02 DEC 2008
MSFSU, MECH ENG
A/DCS
CONTENTS
1
PAGE
1
SCOPE
2
2
APPLICATION
2
3
APPROACH
2
3.1 BCA Issues
2
3.2 Applicable Designs
3
4
FIRE SCENARIOS AND PARAMETERS FOR DESIGN FIRES
4
5
THE FIRE ENGINEERING BRIEF
5
6
THE FIRE ENGINEERING REPORT (FER)
6
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POLICY NO. 7: GUIDELINES ON STREAMLINED 144 APPLICATIONS FOR LIB’S
1
Scope
This document details NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) guidelines for alternative solution
applications for Class 7b Large Isolated Buildings (LIBs).
2
Application
This guideline should be used by fire engineers and Principal Certifying Authorities (PCA) who
wish to submit a ‘fast-tracking’ alternative solution application for a Class 7b LIB, which may
incorporate ancillary offices or retail (i.e. minor part of building being Class 5 or 6).
When followed, this guideline can be used to streamline the review and comment of an alternative
solution application which has certain types of fire engineering design and common Building Code
of Australia (BCA) issues. This allows ‘fast-tracking’ assessment by the NSWFB (i.e. 23 day
response).
When not followed, applications for alternative solutions must have all criteria assessed on a
‘case-by-case’ basis, requiring the NSWFB to allocate more time to review and comment on the
application.
Responsibility remains with the PCA to ensure that the design completely and adequately meets
all performance requirements of the BCA.
3
Approach
Certifying Authorities must review fire engineering submissions and document consistency with
the criteria prior to submission.
Project proponents will continue to have the option of case-specific review and comment for fire
engineering designs outside of the scope of the streamlining process.
3.1
BCA Issues
The submitted design solution will be initially limited to one or more of the following alternative
solutions for LIBs (as per the BCA):
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
EP2.2 — Installation of an ESFR sprinkler system which in order to comply with
the Factory Mutual (FM) specifications and to ensure early activation requires the
modification of automatic smoke exhaust in accordance with BCA Spec E2.2b;
DP4 & EP2.2 — Extended travel distances to a point of choice to an exit;
DP4 & EP2.2 — Extended travel distances to an exit;
DP4 & EP2.2 — Extended travel distances to an alternative exit; and
EP1.1 — Associated with extended travel distances an alternative solution which
will usually propose the utilisation of either 50 metre hose reels or the installation
of hose reels in non compliant locations to attain coverage. To ensure that building
occupants can efficiently use 50 metre hose reels consideration must be given to
the strategic placement of such hose reels, (i.e. straight hose runs with minor
deviations to the areas protected must be the objective of the design). The
scenario will be reviewed on a case by case basis during the FEB meeting or
review.
All other aspects of the building design need to comply with the Deemed to Satisfy (DtS)
provisions of the BCA as determined by the PCA.
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POLICY NO. 7: GUIDELINES ON STREAMLINED 144 APPLICATIONS FOR LIB’S
3.2
Applicable Designs
The pilot design will consist of the following:
• suppression mode sprinkler protection to be provided according to the most current
Standards and Specifications,
• sprinkler water supply to be ‘on-site’,
• monitoring of all water supplies, including valves and water levels, needs to be provided
to a constantly attended location and procedures in place to deal with planned and
unplanned system outages,
• smoke detection to AS1670 and Building Occupant Warning be provided in accordance
with the current relevant Australian Standards (extended coverage spacing protection
permitted i.e. BCA Specification E2.2a Clause 5(b)(iii)(A)),
• hydrant systems (EP1.3) must be DtS,
• perimeter access (CP9) must be DtS,
• smoke clearance fans must be provided and have a capacity of one (1) air change per
hour, fans and fan cabling must be fire rated so fans are capable of operating at 200ºC
for 60 minutes,
• smoke clearance fan controls must be located either at the FIP or in the Fire Control
Centre (FCC), and visible signage provided in accordance with AS 1668.1 clearly
identifying use and procedures,
• the FIP or FCC location and configuration must be DtS,
Note: Where a FCC is not required, the FIP must be located at the Designated Building Entry
Point (refer to Clause 3.9.1 of AS 1670.1).
• fire protection pumps, water supply tanks, sprinkler boosters, and sprinkler valves to be
within 60m and in direct line-of-sight of the FCC or the Designated Building Entry Point,
• sprinkler and detection systems to be monitored by a NSWFB approved Automatic Fire
Alarm Service Provider (AFASP) via Automatic Signalling Equipment (ASE),
• hose reels must be installed to provide full coverage of the subject building,
• rationalisation of FRLs is precluded under these guidelines,
• emergency plans need to be specified which include training and auditing requirements
to ensure that they are consistent with the fire engineering assessment,
• ‘management in use’ plans need to be specified which include training and auditing
requirements to ensure that they are consistent with the fire engineering,
•
tactical fire plans need to be developed and provided for brigade use in the FCC,
Note: The NSWFB Guidelines on Tactical Fire Plans is available at www.fire.nsw.gov.au.
• a sign outlining the specific details of the alternative solution must be provided in the FCC
and the designated entrance to the building which is clearly legible. The NSWFB will
provide the appropriate wording and template following review of the 144 submission,
• the subject development cannot be subject to any other specific special hazard planning
approval/review instruments (e.g. SEPP 33),
• the building solution proposed for the development must not incorporate applications for
exemption (Clause 188), and
• the building solution proposed for the development must not conflict with any conditions
of development consent as determined by the relevant consent authority.
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Dangerous goods are not permitted within the subject building, however developments which
have minor storage quantities of flammable and combustible liquids are permitted in the building
provided such storage is in accordance with the minor storage requirements of AS1940, (i.e.
quantities, location and storage facilities/cabinets). Developments which will have quantities of
flammable and combustible liquids exceeding the minor storage thresholds specified in AS1940
are outside the scope of the streamlined process and will need to be specifically assessed.
Standards of construction and commissioning need to be specified to the satisfaction of the PCA.
The design for detection, building occupant warning, fire hose reel, and hydrant systems need to
be specifically reviewed and certified compliant to relevant Australian Standards and systems
commissioned by a complete test which is documented and certified accordingly.
Under this proposed approach the responsibility for fire engineering will continue to rest with the
fire engineer of record, and it will be incumbent on them to undertake and document the FEB in
accordance with the International Fire Engineering Guidelines (IFEG) with agreement by all
relevant stakeholders.
4
Fire Scenarios and Parameters for Design Fires
The design fire should be based on the following documents:
• International Fire Engineering Guidelines (IFEG),
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide E: Fire engineering,
• British Standard PD 7974: Application of fire safety engineering principles to the design
of buildings,
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code NFPA 92B: Standard for Smoke
Management Systems in Malls, Atria, and Large Spaces, or NFPA 204: Standard for
Smoke and Heat Venting.
Fire incidents to be assessed must consider the following events:
• low level palletised storage fire (sprinkler controlled),
• rapid fire growth vertically and laterally in high rack storage (sprinkler controlled),
• rapid fire growth vertically and laterally in high-piled palletised storage (sprinkler
controlled),
• worst-case of above scenarios for sprinkler failure, initial rapid growth vertically and
laterally to top of racking/pile then slower after reaching top of rack,
• scenarios to be based on credible worst case combustibles/materials since storage can
be homogeneous in different areas (i.e. an ‘averaging’ characteristics is not considered
to be appropriate since a fire involving part of a rack could involve singular types of
materials e.g. the plumbing section might be expected to be predominantly plastics),
• fire scenarios to be justified as credible worst case by fire engineering and building/use
control measures) and agreed on by all relevant stakeholders.
Design fire events considered need to include:
• 'super-ultra fast' (i.e. k=40 maximum),
• 'ultra fast' (k=75),
• 'medium' (k=300).
A minimum factor of safety of 1.5 is required for identified worst credible fire scenarios.
NSW FIRE BRIGADES
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POLICY NO. 7: GUIDELINES ON STREAMLINED 144 APPLICATIONS FOR LIB’S
The factor of safety is to be applied to the entire RSET (i.e. pre-movement plus movement) and
must be clearly detailed in tabular form within the report.
The design fire peak heat release rate needs to be based on the assumption that fire growth is
controlled and maintained at this rate when the last sprinkler in the immediate first two rows
‘sprinkler design area’ activates (noting that for high-piled and/or rack storage the number of
sprinklers expected to activate would approach those contained in the ‘sprinkler design area’).
The NSWFB considers the activation time of the second row of sprinklers as a reasonable time at
which the fire can be considered sprinkler controlled as illustrated below.
First Row
AOFO
R1
Second Row
R2
Figure 1 Second row fire sprinkler activation
Note: This is applicable where first principle calculations are used for determination of activation
time. Other methods may be considered suitable during the FEB stage.
The physical size is to be justified by the fire engineer. Consideration for fire brigade intervention
and conditions need to be evaluated at the anticipated arrival time, as calculated through
acceptable fire brigade intervention modelling. The model duration may also be required to be
extended to incorporate conditions at the anticipated arrival time, following evaluation of the
anticipated fire brigade arrival time.
Other fire scenarios need to be considered and addressed as determined by the fire engineer and
relevant stakeholders during the formal briefing stage.
5
The Fire Engineering Brief
The FEB submitted for fast tracking needs to satisfy the IFEG for consideration for streamlined
review and assessment by the NSWFB.
The FEB must include the following outline:
• scope of project,
• relevant stakeholders,
• building characteristics,
• occupant characteristics,
• objectives,
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POLICY NO. 7: GUIDELINES ON STREAMLINED 144 APPLICATIONS FOR LIB’S
• hazards and preventative measures,
• trial concept design,
• compliance issues which detail:
— brief on issue,
— measure on DtS and performance requirements,
— non-compliances,
— method (e.g. A0.5, A0.9, IFEG sub-systems),
— approach (e.g. comparative, absolute, qualitative, quantitative),
— acceptance criteria,
— strategy outline,
— tools used.
The FEB needs to be certified by the Certifying Authority that this guideline has been used as the
template (e.g. a covering letter signed accordingly by the PCA).
6
The Fire Engineering Report (FER)
The FEB report needs to adequately and clearly document the above process, and needs to
indicate how agreement by all relevant stakeholders was achieved (e.g. meetings, report
circulation). Minutes of meetings and other pertinent supporting documentation needs to be
included.
The FER needs to be set out as per the IFEG format with the following outline:
• report identification,
• executive summary,
• introduction,
• Fire Engineering Brief (FEB),
• analysis,
• collation and evaluation of results,
• report conclusion,
• references,
• drawings and technical data identification which includes:
— Appendix A — FEB report,
— Appendix B — FEB meeting minutes,
— Appendix C — CFD input parameters,
— Appendix D — CFD output results,
— Appendix E — occupant evacuation input,
— Appendix F — occupant evacuation output,
— Appendix G — FBIM evaluation,
— Appendix H — fire hydrant schematic,
— Appendix I — water pressure enquiry,
— Appendix J — any other relevant details.
NSW FIRE BRIGADES
6
NSW FIRE BRIGADES
STRUCTURAL FIRE SAFETY UNIT
Postal Address:
Location:
Locked Bag 12
Greenacre, NSW, 2190
Amarina Avenue,
Greenacre, NSW, 2190
Ph: (02) 9742 7400
Fax: (02) 9742 7486
Email: [email protected]
PREVENT PREPARE PROTECT
www.fire.nsw.gov.au
VERSION 01 DRAFT D