m

er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

300706 BUILDING 1
MODULE 9
Fire safety & building in hazardous locations

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16204059/Module-09b/
 Introduction

The Building Code of Australia devotes a large part of its regulation to the matter of Fire Safety in buildings. Its provisions
are aimed at: limiting the spread of any fire in buildings; requiring alarms to detect and warn of fire with sufficient time for
people to escape; providing adequate pathways for escape in the event of a fire emergency; the safe management of
heating appliances; and the proper design of buildings in bushfire prone areas. The BCA and Australian Standards also
have specific and general provisions to deal with a number of other hazards commonly found on building sites, such as,
flood, storm, bushfire, earthquake, contaminated ground, mine subsidence and snow loads.

Fire Safety

Part 3.7 of the BCA (vol.2) deals with Fire Safety in Class 1 buildings. It states where non-combustible materials are
required and lists the standard of construction needed for external walls adjacent to fire sources. The Fire Resistance
Levels (FRLs) of particular construction elements such as floors or walls are also specified. Separating walls between
townhouses or other similar buildings have particular requirements to avoid the spread of a fire to neighbouring
residences. Rooflights and skylights have specific provisions for similar reasons.

Smoke alarms are required for all residences. The alarm is designed to wake sleeping

m
er as
occupants and give them sufficient time to evacuate the building. Generally the smoke
alarm for a house should be located on the ceiling in the path of travel most likely to be

co
used as an escape route in the event of fire.

eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s

Open fireplaces, slow combustion heaters and their chimneys and flues are considered likely ignition sources for house
vi y re

fires. Consequently the materials and locations of these appliances are controlled.
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

Non-combustible hearth for fireplace BCA

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16204059/Module-09b/
 m
er as
co
Minimum height of chimney BCA

eH w
o.
Bushfire is dealt with by classifying house sites in terms of their vulnerability to bushfire attack. There are specific

rs e
construction requirements for areas of medium, high and extreme bushfire attack. These include acceptable materials as
well as clearances and protection of openings.
ou urc
There are special fire safety provisions for alpine areas due to the increased difficulties of fighting fires and maintaining
access and egress in snow conditions.
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
sh is

Access in alpine areas BCA

Th

Flood

Generally building in flood prone areas is discouraged. Maps of predicted 50 and 100 year flood lines are available
through State departments of water resources and local Councils. Where the likelihood of flooding is slight, a solution is
to elevate the building on a raised mound of imported fill or on timber or steel poles of a suitable height. It is important to
remember that in a flood situation the structure will be subject to strong uplift forces so that it must be securely tied down
to an extent much greater than other non-flood prone structures.

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16204059/Module-09b/
 Storm/cyclone, strong wind

Buildings in the designated cyclone regions of Australia have to meet much more stringent standards of structural
capacity and resistance to both lateral forces and uplift. AS1684.3 Residential timber framed construction – Cyclone
areas deals with timber frame design for cyclone regions.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu

Bushfire

In NSW, the Rural Fire Authority has coverage of building in bushfire prone areas. Local Council seek input from the RFA
sh is

when assessing building proposals. AS3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas details what is needed
according to the category of bushfire threat.
Th

Earthquake

AS1170.4 Minimum design loads on structures - Earthquake loads sets out a method of designing structures for minimal
loss of life in the event of structural collapse due to earthquakes. They are calculated a 90% probability of ground
motions not being exceeded in fifty years. Of course there is always the possibility of an earthquake beyond what is
expected such as happened in Newcastle in 1989.

Contaminated ground

Land which has previously been occupied by toxic industries or intensive chemical use as well as land which has
previously been the site of legal or illegal dumping may cause risk to the health of future residents when built over. State
Health departments and local councils have legal jurisdiction over what is permissible in these cases. The site may
require ‘encapsulation’, that is, isolation of seepage by means of concrete or clay barriers. Alternatively it may need
‘remediation’ or the removal and replacement of contaminated soil and associated chemicals. Both these add
significantly to the cost of conversion of former industrial land for housing. Nevertheless, Sydney has seen several large
reclamation projects on contaminated harbour-side land in recent years.

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16204059/Module-09b/
 Mine subsidence and landslip

State Departments of Mines have coverage of the requirements for building in areas where underground mining has
occurred. Detailed design by a qualified structural engineer is usually required on a case by case basis.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e Mine subsidence diagram
ou urc
Snow loads

AS1170.3 Minimum design loads on structures – Snow and ice actions governs the design of structures in alpine areas.
o

Snow loads can be a very significant addition to the live loads a structure is expected to cope with. Snow may be
aC s

distributed unevenly and it may shift or creep over time. Roof in alpine areas tend to be steeply pitched in order to shed
snow as much as possible.
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

AS1170.3

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16204059/Module-09b/
 Conclusion

It is essential that any hazards or special conditions that apply to a site for residential building are identified early in the
design process. Otherwise the cost of allowing for special circumstances is likely to cause budget blowouts and affect the
viability of the project. The Building Code of Australia and the relevant Australian Standards provide guidance on how
best to deal with these matters and local councils and State government departments are often very good sources of
information about dealing with hazards in their areas of expertise.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16204059/Module-09b/

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)