NCC 2022 Volume One - Building Code of Australia Class 2 to 9 buildings
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C1

Part C1 Fire resistance

Part C1 Fire resistance

Introduction to this Part

This Part focuses on minimising risk of illness, injury or loss of life due to fire in a building including during evacuation, reducing fire spread within and between buildings and minimising risk to the public and occupants of nearby buildings when a fire occurs.

Objectives

The Objective of Parts C1, C2, C3 and C4 is to—

  1. safeguard people from illness or injury due to a fire in a building; and
  2. safeguard occupants from illness or injury while evacuating a building during a fire; and
  3. facilitate the activities of emergency services personnel; and
  4. avoid the spread of fire between buildings; and
  5. protect other property from physical damage caused by structural failure of a building as a result of fire

Basis of Objective

This Objective is based on the belief that a building should:

  • provide people with an environment which, during a fire, will minimise the risk of them suffering illness or injury;
  • provide people with an evacuation route which will minimise the risk of them suffering illness or injury while escaping a fire;
  • facilitate the role of emergency services personnel, such as the fire brigade, if it becomes necessary for them to undertake such operations as fire-fighting and search and rescue;
  • assist in minimising the risk of fire spreading from one building to another; and
  • not have a structural failure during a fire that results in damage to another building, allotment or road.

Spread of fire

There is a continuing debate regarding the means by which the BCA should minimise the risk of fire spreading from one building to another. Should the greater degree of fire protection be in the building on fire, or should it be in the building at potential risk of the fire spreading?

Generally, the BCA provisions aim to minimise the spread of fire from the building on fire, but there are some provisions that limit the spread of fire from an adjacent building.

Consequently, C1O1(d) states that the spread of fire is to be avoided “between buildings” — that is, in either direction.

Protection of other property

The BCA is principally designed to maximise (within reasonable bounds) the safety, health and amenity of people in and around buildings. Protection of property, either the subject building or what is termed “other property”, is not generally a primary aim of the BCA—although it may sometimes be a consequence of the provisions of the BCA.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule, and the inclusion of “other property” in C1O1(e) is one of these. In this context, a building is expected to maintain the level of structural sufficiency necessary to prevent it causing damage to any other property as a result of fire. The reason C1O1(e) concerns itself with the protection of other property is primarily because fire from a building should not pose a serious risk to the health, safety and amenity of the public or occupants of another building. See Schedule 1 for definition of “other property”.

Functional Statements

A building is to be constructed to maintain structural stability during fire to—

  1. allow occupants time to evacuate safely; and
  2. allow for fire brigade intervention; and
  3. avoid damage to other property.

A building is to be provided with safeguards to prevent fire spread—

  1. so that occupants have time to evacuate safely without being overcome by the effects of fire; and
  2. to allow for fire brigade intervention; and
  3. to sole-occupancy units providing sleeping accommodation; and
  4. to adjoining fire compartments; and
  5. between buildings.

Applications

C1F2(c) only applies to a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building.

C1F2 Prevention of fire spread

Structural stability

A building must remain structurally stable during a fire to:

  • allow the occupants to safely evacuate;
  • allow the fire brigadeto undertake searchand rescue, if necessary, and fire-fighting operations; and
  • avoid damage to anotherbuilding, allotment or road.

Instability may not contravene the BCA

So long as a building does not endanger life or other property, and the BCA’s structural stability criteria have been satisfied,

then the building may become structurally unstable after a fire and still comply with the objectives of Section C. It could even collapse, providednone of the building falls in a way that endangers the public or causes damage to anotherbuilding. For example, if a buildingfalls onto a road, it could endangerthe safety of the public and would therefore not achieve the Functional Statement.

Spread of fire

A building must have in-builtsafeguards to preventthe spread of fire:

  • to allow sufficient time for the occupants to safely evacuate;
  • to allow the fire brigade to undertake search and rescue,if necessary, and fire-fighting operations;
  • in Class 2 or Class 3 buildings or Class 4 parts used as sole-occupancy units that provide sleeping accommodation to allow sufficient time for the occupants to safely evacuate;
  • to an adjoining fire compartment; and
  • from one building to another building.

Spread of fire may not contravene BCA

So long as a buildingfire does not endanger life or other property, and the BCA’s spread of fire criteriahave been satisfied, then the building may burn and still comply with the aims of Section C.

Performance Requirements

A building must have elements which will, to the degree necessary, maintain structural stability during a fire appropriate to—

  1. the function or use of the building; and
  2. the fire load; and
  3. the potential fire intensity; and
  4. the fire hazard; and
  5. the height of the building; and
  6. its proximity to other property; and
  7. any active fire safety systems installed in the building; and
  8. the size of any fire compartment; and
  9. fire brigade intervention; and
  10. other elements they support; and
  11. the evacuation time.

C1P1 Structural stability during a fire

C1P1 sets structural stabilityrequirements for buildingelements during a fire.

C1P1 does not make any reference to a fire-resistance level (FRL). FRLs are only included as part of the Deemed-to- Satisfy Provisions.

It may be found by a building proponentusing a Performance Solution that FRLs to building elementsare not necessary as other means, such as the use of active systems, satisfy the Performance Requirements.

“To the degree necessary”

C1P1 uses the term “to the degreenecessary”. This word usage is designed to provide flexibility in the way this provision is implemented. The intended meaning of the term “to the degree necessary” in C1P1 and other Performance Requirements, is explained in explanatory information to A1G4(3)(c).

It means that the BCA recognises that different building elements require differing degrees of structural stability during a fire. The expression is intended to allow the appropriate authority to determine the degree of compliance necessary in each particular case.

Any decision made in this context can extend to not requiring an item to be installed or a particular level of performance to be achieved, if that is the appropriate action to be taken.

“Appropriate to”

The structural stability must be “appropriate to” the criteria listedin C1P1, which relateto such factors as:

  • the likelihood or risk of a fire occurring in the building;
  • the load, intensity and potential dangerof any fire in the building;
  • the difficulty of evacuation and/orrescue;
  • a structural element’s exposure to fire in another building,or risk of spreading a fire to another building;
  • the fire safety systems in the building,which can affect the rate of fire spread (e.g. if a sprinkler system is installedin a building, it could either extinguish the fire or reduce its growth rate);
  • the size of a fire and the difficulties in effecting an evacuation;
  • the fire-fighting operations of the fire brigade;and
  • the consequences of the failureof the element (another way of expressing this is to consider that if the element fails, could it result in the failure of another element).
  • the time taken from the startof the emergency to the occupants reachinga safe place.

While assessment of a building proposal must have regard to the differing needs of each building element, the proposal must make sure that the elements have an appropriate structural stability during a fire so that:

  • the fire does not endanger the occupants by entering escape routes; and
  • the fire does not endanger firefighters while they are undertaking search and rescue operations.

The following are two examples of what may or may not be “appropriate”. They should not be regarded as absolute, or applicable in all circumstances.

Examples

The building concerned is a commercial poultry building which is single storey and occupied by only a few workers, who are likely to know the buildingwell. The buildingis situated a long distancefrom any other building and has direct routes to the exit doors.

In such a case,the building elementsmay not need to be fire protected under C1P1 becausethe occupants wouldbe able to evacuate quickly and if the building collapses, there is little likelihood of it damaging another building.

Note that for the example above, it is assumed that the buildingin question has not met the criteriato be considered a farm building or farm shed in the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

Examples

The building concerned is a centralcity high-rise officebuilding. It is located on the streetalignment and closeto other similar buildings. In such a case, the structural failure of any of the building elements could lead to danger to building occupants and the general public, failure of building elements intended to protect another building, or the collapse of another element which relies on the first element for structural support.

In this example,building elements may require a high level of protection under C1P1.

In both cases, the ability of the fire brigade to control a fire also needs to be considered when considering the implications of C1P1.

If the proposal being considered involves a solutionthat is taking advantage of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions contain detailed requirements for the fire protection of building elements.

If a Performance Solution is being used, it may be appropriate to assess it using the Section C Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions (Parts C2, C3 and C4) for guidance purposes. It is stressed, however, that compliance with the Deemed-to- Satisfy Provisions is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved. The building proponent should refer to A2G2 for guidance on acceptable assessment methods for determining compliance with the Performance Requirements.

(1) A building must have elements which will, to the degree necessary, avoid the spread of fire—

  1. to exits; and
  2. to sole-occupancy units and public corridors; and
  3. between buildings; and
  4. in a building.

(2) Avoidance of the spread of fire referred to in (1) must be appropriate to—

  1. the function or use of the building; and
  2. the fire load; and
  3. the potential fire intensity; and
  4. the fire hazard; and
  5. the number of storeys in the building; and
  6. its proximity to other property; and
  7. any active fire safety systems installed in the building; and
  8. the size of any fire compartment; and
  9. fire brigade intervention; and
  10. other elements they support; and
  11. the evacuation time.

Applications

C1P2(1)(b) only applies to a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building.

C1P2 Spread of fire

C1P2 deals with the spread of fire both within and between buildings (including risk of spread of fire via the external walls of the building), and which does not only result from the structural failure of a building element.

C1P2 does not make any reference to non-combustibility or a fire-resistance level (FRL). Non-combustibility and FRLs are only included as part of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions. However, proponents of a Performance Solution should note these requirements, as part of developing the Performance Solution, if considered to be applicable. See C1F2.

C1P2(1)(a) aims to avoid a situation where fire either endangers occupants evacuating by way of exits, or impedes the capacity of emergency services personnel to access the building and fight the fire or rescue occupants.

C1P2(1)(b) aims to minimise the risk of people in Class 2 and Class 3 buildings and Class 4 parts, for example, if they were sleeping and consequently having difficulty escaping a fire. For this reason,C1P2(1)(b) requires that sole-occupancy units and corridors used for escaping be provided, to the degree necessary, with protection to avoid the spread of fire.

C1P2(1)(c) aims to minimise the risk of fire spreading from one building to another that could endanger the occupants of both buildings and impede the actions of the fire brigade. See C1V1 and C1V2 for two means of verifying, under certain circumstances, whether or not the requirements of C1P2(1)(c) will be achieved. Other assessment methods for determining compliance with the Performance Requirements are in A2G2.

C1P2(1)(d) aims to minimise the risk of fire spreading through a building that could endanger the occupants and impede the actions of the fire brigade. C1P2(1)(d) requires that a building must have elements that will avoid the spread of fire in a building. This includes avoiding the risk of fire spread via the external walls of the building. C1P2(1)(d) covers the risk of fire spread across the building facade due to the increased risk of spread to other compartments of the building, to other adjacent buildings, and the difficulty of firefighting external fires occurring at higher levels.

C1P2(1) uses the term “to the degree necessary”. This word usage is designed to provide flexibility in the way this provision is implemented.

It means that the BCA recognises that different building elements require differing degrees of protection to avoid the spread of fire. The expression is intended to allow the appropriate authority to determine the degree of compliance necessaryin each particular case after considering each building scenario.

Any decision made in this context can extend to not requiring an item to be installed or a particular level of performance to be achieved, if that is the appropriate action to be taken.

Building elements must be appropriate to avoid spread of fire, taking into consideration the matters listed in C1P2(2) including:

  • the likelihood or risk of a fire occurring in the building;
  • the size, load or intensity of any fire in the building;
  • the difficulty of evacuation and/orrescue;
  • the building’s exposure to fire in another building, or risk of spreading a fire to another building;
  • the fire safety systems in the building,which can affect the rate of fire spread (e.g. if a sprinkler system is installedin a building, it will either extinguish the fire or reduce its growth rate);
  • the size of a fire and the difficulties in effecting an evacuation;
  • the fire-fighting operations of the fire brigade and the resources available to it;
  • the consequences of the failure of the element (another way of expressing this is to consider that if the element fails, could it result in the failure of another element); and
  • the time taken from the start of the emergency to the occupants reaching a safe place.

If a Performance Solution is being used, it may be appropriate to assess it using the Section C Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions (Parts C2, C3 and C4) for guidance purposes. It is stressed, however, that compliance with the Deemed-to- Satisfy Provisions is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved. The building proponent should refer to A2G2 for guidance on acceptable assessment methods for determining compliance with the Performance Requirements.

The following are two very simple examples of what may or may not be “appropriate”. They should not be regarded as absolute or applicable in all circumstances.

Examples: Commercial poultry building

The building concerned is a commercial poultry building whichis single storeyand is occupied by only a few workers, who are likely to know the building well. The building is situated some distance from any other building and has direct routes to the exit doors.

In such a case,the building elements may not need to be protected against the spread of fire under C1P2(1) because the building is:

  • only one fire compartment;
  • people are not sleeping in the building; and
  • there is little likelihood of the spread of fire to another building because of the large distance to any other building.

Note that for the example above, it is assumed that the building in question has not met the criteria to be considered a farm building or farm shed in the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

Examples: High-rise office building

The building concerned is a central city high-rise office building. It is located on the street alignment and close to other similar buildings.

In such a case, the spread of a fire needs to be avoided because:

  • the occupants will take some time to evacuate the building, so there is a need to protect the escape routes;
  • there is a need for protection from the spread of a fire between each storey, including the risk of fire spread via the external walls of the building where each storey is a separate fire compartment; and
  • a fire could easily spread between buildings because they are close together.

In this example,building elements may require a high level of protection against the spread of fire under C1P2(1).

In both cases, the ability of the fire brigade to control a fire would also need to be considered when considering the implications of satisfying C1P2(1).

If the proposal being considered involves a solution that is taking advantage of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions contain detailed requirements for the fire protection of building elements.

A building must be protected from the spread of fire and smoke to allow sufficient time for the orderly evacuation of the building in an emergency.

Applications

C1P3 only applies to—

  1. a patient care area of a Class 9a health-care building; and
  2. a Class 9c building.

C1P3 Spread of fire and smoke in health and residential care buildings

C1P3 deals with the spread of fire and smoke withina patient care area of a Class 9a building.

If a fire occurs in a health-care building, most patients would be unable to leave their beds, or may require assistance to evacuate the building. It is therefore important that the areas of the health-care building used by patients in beds be protected from fire in another part of the building.

See definition of “health-care building”in Schedule 2.

C1P3 also applies in Class 9c buildings. In this case it applies throughout the whole building, not just in the resident use areas. This is because if a fire occurs in an aged care building, some residents would be unable to leave their beds, or may require assistance to evacuate the building.

To maintain tenable conditions during occupant evacuation, a material and an assembly must, to the degree necessary, resist the spread of fire and limit the generation of smoke and heat, and any toxic gases likely to be produced, appropriate to—

  1. the evacuation time; and
  2. the number, mobility and other characteristics of occupants; and
  3. the function or use of the building; and
  4. any active fire safety systems installed in the building.

Applications

C1P4 applies to linings, materials and assemblies in a Class 2 to 9 building.

C1P4 Safe conditions for evacuation

C1P4 deals with the fire hazard properties of materials used in the construction of a building. These include such matters as their smoke, toxic gas and heat generation capacities.

C1P4 uses the term “to the degree necessary”. This word usage is designed to provide flexibility in the way this provision is implemented.

It means that the BCA recognises that different materials and assemblies must resist the spread of fire to limit the generation of smoke, heat and toxic gases to differing degrees, depending on the circumstances of their use. The expression is intended to allow the appropriate authority to determine the degree of compliance necessary in each particular case after consideration of the building scenario.

Any decision made in this context can extend to not requiring an item to be installed or particular level of performance to be achieved, if that is the appropriate action to be taken.

The materials used in the building must be appropriate to avoid the spread of fire and the generation of smoke, heat and toxic gases after consideration of the matters listed in C1P4. The reason for each of these matters is as follows:

  • If the occupants can evacuate in a short time, then the smoke, heat and toxic gases generated prior to the completion of the evacuation will be less likely to have an impact on the safety of the occupants than if a longer evacuation time is required.
  • The number, mobility and other characteristics of the occupants influence the time taken for the evacuation of the building. If the number of occupants is large, or they are not mobile, such as patients in a hospital or residents of an elderly people’s home, the evacuation time could be long. Such an evacuation time may allow the fire to develop and generate greater amounts of smoke, heat and toxic gases that will endanger the safety of the occupants trying to evacuate.
  • The function or use of the building has an impact on the types of materials and linings that are part of the building’s fire load. This directly influences the rate of spread of any fire in the building.
  • Any active fire safety system installed in the building, such as a sprinkler system,may limit the spread of fire and allow additional time for the evacuation of the occupants.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision applicable to C1P4 is C2D11. C2D11 limits the early fire hazard characteristics of materials susceptible to the effects of flame or heat, particularly during the early stages of a fire.

If a Performance Solution is being used, it may be appropriate to assess it using the Section C Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions (Parts C2, C3 and C4) for guidance purposes. It is stressed, however, that compliance with the Deemed-to- Satisfy Provisions is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved. The building proponent should refer to A2G2 for guidance on acceptable assessment methods for determining compliance with the Performance Requirements.

A concrete external wall that could collapse as a complete panel (e.g. tilt-up and pre-cast concrete) must be designed so that in the event of fire within the building the likelihood of outward collapse is avoided.

Limitations

C1P5 does not apply to a building having more than two storeys above ground level.

C1P5 Behaviour of concrete external walls in a fire

C1P5 is intended to overcome a problem observed when a fire has occurred in a building of “tilt-up construction”, and the panels have collapsed outwards,either during the fire or shortly after with little or no warning, endangering public safety, health, amenity and fire fighting operations.

A wide variety of structural systems and materials are possible to achieve this.

C1P5 is only applicable to walls that could collapse as complete panels and, therefore, is not applicable to concrete and clay masonry walls, and the like, because such walls tend to fail in portions, rather than as complete panels.

The height limitation of 2 storeys is based upon the observation that the problem only seems to occur in low-rise buildings. This is due to taller buildings usually having fire rated floors and other building elements to restrain wall panels during a fire.

A building must have elements, which will, to the degree necessary, avoid the spread of fire from service equipment having—

  1. a high fire hazard; or
  2. a potential for explosion resulting from a high fire hazard.

C1P6 Fire protection of service equipment

Certain types of equipment installed in buildings, such as boilers and the like, have a high fire potential. Other types of equipment, such as transformers and batteries, have a high potential for explosion. C1P6 aims to minimise the risk of a fire spreading from such equipment to other parts of the building. 

C1P6 uses the term “to the degree necessary”. This word usage is designed to provide flexibility in the way this provision is implemented. 

It means that the BCA recognises that different equipment requires differing levels of protection, depending on the circumstances within which it is used and installed. The expression is intended to allow the appropriate authority to determine the degree of compliance necessary in each particular case. 

Any decision made in this context can extend to not requiring an item to be installed or a particular level of performance to be achieved, if that is the appropriate action to be taken.

A building must have elements, which will, to the degree necessary, avoid the spread of fire so that emergency equipment provided in a building will continue to operate for a period of time necessary to ensure that the intended function of the equipment is maintained during a fire.

C1P7 Fire protection of emergency equipment

C1P7 is intended to protect emergency equipment from the spread of fire within a building. It is important that emergency equipment continues to operate to the required level during an emergency. The length of time it should continue to operate will depend on the particular equipment.

Examples

C1P7 requires that the emergency equipment continue to operate for as long as it is needed. Some examples of where protection may be required include:

  • the protection of central smoke control plant required to operate in a fire for sufficient time for the occupants to evacuate; and
  • the protection of the power supply to emergency lifts for sufficient time for the use of the lifts.

C1P7 uses the term “to the degree necessary”. This word usage is designed to provide flexibility in the way this provision is implemented.

It means that the BCA recognises that different emergency equipment requires differing levels of protection, depending on the circumstances within which it is used and installed. The expression is intended to allow the appropriate authority to determine the degree of compliance necessary in each particular case.

Any decision made in this context can extend to not requiring an item to be installed or a particular level of performance to be achieved, if that is the appropriate action to be taken.

Any building element provided to resist the spread of fire must be protected, to the degree necessary, so that an adequate level of performance is maintained—

  1. where openings, construction joints and the like occur; and
  2. where penetrations occur for building services.

C1P8 Fire protection of openings and penetrations

C1P8 requires openings and penetrations in building elementsto resist the spread of fire.

C1P8 should be read in conjunction with C1P2. C1P8 deals with any opening or penetration within a building element, and C1P2 deals with the building element itself.

C1P8 uses the term “to the degreenecessary”. This word usage is designed to provide flexibility in the way this provision is implemented.

It means that the BCA recognises that different building elements require differing levels of protection, depending on the circumstances within which they are used and installed. The expression is intended to allow the appropriate authority to determine the degree of compliance necessary in each particular case.

Any decision made in this context can extend to not requiring an item to be installed or a particular level of performance to be achieved, if that is the appropriate action to be taken.

Access must be provided to and around a building, to the degree necessary, for fire brigade vehicles and personnel to facilitate fire brigade intervention appropriate to—

  1. the function or use of the building; and
  2. the fire load; and
  3. the potential fire intensity; and
  4. the fire hazard; and
  5. any active fire safety systems installed in the building; and
  6. the size of any fire compartment.

Verification Methods

Compliance with C1P2(1)(c) to avoid the spread of fire between buildings on adjoining allotments is verified when it is calculated that—

  1. a building will not cause heat flux in excess of those set out in Column 2 of Table C1V1 at the location on an adjoining property set out in Column 1 of Table C1V1; and
  2. when located at the distances from the allotment boundary set out in Column 1 of Table C1V1, a building is capable of withstanding the heat flux set out in Column 2 of Table C1V1 without ignition.
Table C1V1 Fire spread between buildings on adjoining allotments
Column 1 (Location) Column 2 (Heat flux (kW/m2))
On boundary 80
1 m from boundary 40
3 m from boundary 20
6 m from boundary 10

Compliance with C1P2(1)(c) to avoid the spread of fire between buildings on the same allotment is verified when, for the distances between buildings set out in Column 1 of Table C1V2, it is calculated that a building—

  1. is capable of withstanding the heat flux set out in Column 2 of Table C1V2 without ignition; and
  2. will not cause heat flux in excess of those set out in Column 2 of Table C1V2.
Table C1V2 Fire spread between buildings on the same allotment
Column 1 (Distance between buildings on the same allotment (m)) Column 2 (Heat flux (kW/m2))
0 80
2 40
6 20
12 10

Compliance with C1P2 to avoid the spread of fire via the external wall of a building is verified when—

  1. compliance with C1P2(1)(c) to avoid the spread of fire between buildings, where applicable, is verified in accordance with C1V1 or C1V2, as appropriate; and
  2. the external wall system—
    1. has been tested for external wall (EW) performance in accordance with AS 5113; and
    2. has achieved the classification EW; and
    3. if containing a cavity, incorporates cavity barriers and these cavity barriers have been included in the test performed under (i) at the perimeter of each floor; and
  3. in a building of Type A construction, the building is protected throughout by a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 and has—
    1. sprinkler protection to balconies, patios and terraces, and where overhead sprinkler coverage is not achieved alongside the external wall, sidewall sprinkler heads are provided at the external wall for the extent of the balcony, patio or terrace where overhead sprinkler coverage is not achieved; and
    2. for a building with an effective height more than 25 m—
      1. monitored stop valves provided at each floor level arranged to allow the isolation of the floor level containing the stop valve while maintaining protection to the remainder of the building; and
      2. the sprinkler system being capable of providing sufficient flow to serve the design area required by AS 2118.1 for the relevant hazard class on each floor level plus the design area required by AS 2118.1 for the floor level above, except where the former level is either the floor level below the uppermost roof, or any floor level that is wholly below ground; and
  4. in a building of Type B construction, the building is—
    1. a Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 building or Class 4 part of a building; or
    2. a Class 2, 3 or 9 building that—
      1. is protected throughout by a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17; or
      2. has any openings in external walls separated by a slab or other horizontal construction complying with C3D7(1)(d) as if the building were of Type A construction.

(1) Compliance with C1P1, C1P2, C1P3, C1P4, C1P5, C1P6, C1P7, C1P8 and C1P9 is verified when a building is designed in accordance with—

  1. the requirements of (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6); and
  2. the Fire Safety Verification Method Standard.

(2) Performance-based design brief (PBDB):

  1. When using this Verification Method, the fire safety engineer must undertake a performance-based design brief (PBDB) that must—
    1. involve all stakeholders relevant to the building design; and
    2. outline the fire strategy to be adopted.
  2. While full agreement on all aspects of the PBDB is the preferred outcome, it is acknowledged that in some instances this may not be possible to obtain.
  3. In the event that full agreement cannot be achieved through the PBDB, dissenting views must be appropriately recorded and carried throughout the process and considered as part of the due processes of the appropriate authority when determining compliance and providing approval.
  4. Consideration of whether a peer review (by an independent fire safety engineer) of some or all of the proposed Performance Solutions and the supporting analysis is required or not, must be undertaken at this PBDB stage.

(3) Fire strategy:

  1. The PBDB must cover the fire safety strategy for the building, outlining the philosophy and approach that will be adopted to achieve the required level of performance.
  2. The fire safety strategy must pay particular attention to the evacuation strategy to be used and the management regimes necessary.

(4) Stakeholder involvement:

  1. The PBDB must be developed collaboratively by the relevant stakeholders in the particular project.
  2. The following parties must be involved:
    1. Client or client’s representative (such as project manager).
    2. Fire engineer.
    3. Architect or designer.
    4. Various specialist consultants.
    5. Fire service (public or private).
    6. Appropriate authority (Authority Having Jurisdiction – subject to state/territory legislation).
    7. Tenants or tenants representative for the proposed building (if available)
    8. Building operations management (if available).
  3. Conducting a simple stakeholder analysis can be used to determine who must be involved in the PBDB process.
  4. This analysis must identify stakeholders with a high level of interest in the design process, and/or likely to be affected by the consequences of a fire should it occur in the building.

(5) Required level of safety:

  1. Given the absence of specific safety targets in the NCC and the qualitative nature of the NCC fire safety Performance Requirements, for this Verification Method to ensure the level of safety expected, the proposed building design must be at least equivalent to the relevant Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
  2. As the NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions evolved originally from State and Territory regulations and are regularly updated to reflect technical advances and experience they are commonly accepted as providing an acceptable benchmark.
  3. It is accepted that the NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions reflect societal expectations in terms of fire safety, which address individual risk, societal risk and the robustness in the design by adopting a defence in depth approach.
  4. In the majority of design scenarios the Verification Method requires a demonstration that the proposed level of safety is at least equivalent to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
  5. In relation to the required level of safety, the PBDB process must—
    1. identify the relevant Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions to be used in the equivalency process to determine whether the relevant Performance Requirements have been met; and
    2. consider 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
    3. consider the specific occupant profile of the building, paying particular attention to occupants with a disability and the vulnerable, in regards to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions to be used in the equivalency process.

(6) Final report: Once the analysis of all relevant design scenarios for all the required Performance Solutions has been completed, the fire safety engineer must prepare a final report that includes the following:

  1. The agreed PBDB.
  2. All modelling and analysis.
  3. Analysis required to demonstrate that the proposed building provides a level of safety at least equivalent to the relevant Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
  4. Any other information required to clearly demonstrate that the building and its fire safety system satisfies the relevant Performance Requirements as set out in the Fire Safety Verification Method Standard.

Explanatory information

When developing a Performance Solution, a PBDB is an important step in the process. It allows all relevant stakeholders to be involved in the development of the building design and its fire safety system.

A PBDB is a documented process that defines the scope of work for the fire engineering analysis. Its purpose is to set down the basis, as agreed by the relevant stakeholders, on which the fire safety analysis of the proposed building and its Performance Solutions will be undertaken.

Relevant stakeholders will vary from design to design. However, some examples of relevant stakeholders are: a fire safety engineer, architect, developer, client, appropriate authority (some state legislation prevents appropriate authorities from being involved in the design process), fire authority and other stakeholders that fire safety design may affect such as insurers. Further information on the relevant stakeholders is provided in the Fire Safety Verification Method Standard.

Guidance on the development of a PBDB is presented in the Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines.