NCC 2022 Volume One - Building Code of Australia Class 2 to 9 buildings
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I3

Part I3 Farm buildings and farm sheds

Part I3 Farm buildings and farm sheds

Introduction to this Part

This Part provides additional Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for Class 7 and Class 8 buildings which are farm buildings or farm sheds.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

(1) The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part apply to farm buildings and farm sheds.

(2) The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part take precedence where there is a difference to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Sections C, D, E, and F.

(3) I3D1 to I3D5, I3D8 and I3D11 to I3D18 apply to a farm shed.

(4) I3D1, I3D3, I3D5 to I3D7, I3D9 to I3D12, I3D14, I3D15 and I3D18 apply to a farm building.

Explanatory information

Part I3 contains Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions additional to those contained in Sections C, D, E and F for farm buildings and farm sheds.

To clarify the application of Part I3 to farm buildings and farm sheds and to clarify to what extent they are subject.

General application of Part I3

I3D1(1) outlines that the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part I3 apply to farm buildings and farm sheds.

I3D1(2) provides a rule for resolving inconsistencies between these requirements imposed on farm buildings and farm sheds and those in the remainder of the BCA, by providing that the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part I3 take precedence where there is a difference.

Farm buildings and farm sheds in Part I3

I2D1(3) sets out which provisions in Part I3 apply to farm sheds. I3D1(4) sets out which provisions in Part I3 apply to farm buildings.

A farm shed need not comply with the provisions of Parts C2, C3 and C4, except for C2D12, if it is separated from any other building or allotment boundary by a distance of not less than 6 m.

To specify fire resistance and separation requirements for farm sheds.

I3D2 provides a concession for farm sheds (see defined term) from the Deemed-to-Satisfy requirements in Parts C2, C3 and C4, except for C2D12.

This concession recognises that these buildings will only be occupied by a few people at any time, who are likely to know the building well, thus reducing the risk to life safety. In the event of an emergency in a farm shed, such as a fire, it is expected any occupants will be able to evacuate quickly as there are exits provided.

Further to this, the building elements of a farm shed do not need to be protected from the spread of fire because it is likely there is only one fire compartment, people are not sleeping in the building and there is little likelihood that a fire will spread to another building due to the separation distance required.

(1) Except for D2D3, D2D5 to D2D11, D2D14, D2D15(1), D2D18(c), D2D19 and D2D20, the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part D2 do not apply to a farm shed.

(2) An open space adjacent to a farm building or a farm shed need not be directly connected with a public road.

To specify requirements to allow occupants to escape from a farm shed in the event of an emergency.

The intent of I3D3 is to ensure that the requirements to allow occupants to escape are proportional and appropriate to the very limited number of occupants anticipated in the building at any time. Consequently, the specific provisions from Part D2 which are listed in I3D3(1) are considered the minimum necessary for farm sheds to achieve this objective.

I3D3(2) provides a further concession for farm sheds and farm buildings so that an open space (see definition) need not be directly connected to a public road. This concession gives recognition to the often isolated nature of many farm sheds and farm buildings.

 

Except for D3D14, D3D15, D3D17 to D3D21, D3D22 and D3D29, the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part D3 do not apply to a farm shed.

To specify requirements for the construction of exits in a farm shed.

The intent of I3D4 is to ensure that the specific requirements for the construction of exits are proportional and appropriate to the very limited number of occupants anticipated in the building at any time. It is likely that any occupants will be familiar with the building, and therefore, will be able to quickly identify exits and traverse obstacles in order to gain quick and efficient egress in case of an emergency. Consequently, the specific provisions from Part D3 which are listed in I3D4 are considered the minimum necessary for farm sheds to achieve this objective.

A fixed platform, stairway, ladder and any going and riser, landing, handrail or barrier may comply with AS 1657 in lieu of D3D14, D3D15, D3D17 to D3D21 and D3D22 where it serves a farm building or a farm shed.

To provide requirements for the construction of fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders in farm buildings and farm sheds.

I3D5 extends the concession contained in D3D23 to farm buildings and farm sheds, to allow a choice of designing a stairway, platform, etc. to the requirements contained in D3D14, D3D15, D3D17 to D3D21 and D3D22 or within AS 1657.

The threshold of a doorway that serves an area not required to be accessible by D4D2 in a farm building need not comply with D3D16 where the door sill is not more than 700 mm above the finished surface of the ground, floor or the like, to which the doorway opens.

To provide a concession for farm buildings, under certain conditions, from complying with the requirements of D3D16.

Doorways to farm buildings and farm sheds are often provided with a threshold (more commonly known as a hob or vermin barrier) in the form of a low-height concrete wall along the sides of the building for the purposes of cleaning, clearing and pest control. This is particularly relevant to buildings used for keeping pigs and chickens.

These thresholds do not comply with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of D3D16 which generally prevent a step or ramp being constructed at the doorway. I3D6 provides a concession for a farm building or farm shed enabling the construction of a hob up to 700 mm in height, except where the area is required to be accessible by D4D2.

A swinging door in a required exit or forming part of a required exit need not swing in the direction of egress if it serves a farm building.

To provide a concession for farm buildings from complying with the requirements of D3D25.

I3D7 specifies that D3D25 does not apply to a farm building. D3D25 also does not apply to a farm shed due to I3D4.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part E1 do not apply to a farm shed.

To provide a concession for farm sheds from complying with the requirements of Part E1.

Due to the limited size and very low occupation of farm sheds, the provision of fire hydrants, fire hose reels and sprinklers is considered onerous for these types of buildings as a minimum requirement.

This concession aims to allow what is considered as an appropriate level of fire fighting equipment to facilitate initial attack by any occupants, in the form of portable fire extinguishers in specific locations. Refer to I3D11 for the portable fire extinguisher requirements for farm sheds.

(1) This provision applies to a farm building—

  1. with a total floor area greater than 500 m2; and
  2. located where a fire brigade station is—
    1. not more than 50 km from the building as measured along roads; and
    2. equipped with equipment capable of utilising a fire hydrant.

(2) A farm building referred to in (1) must be—

  1. provided with a fire hydrant system installed in accordance with AS 2419.1, except reference to ‘4 hours’ water supply in clause 4.2 is replaced with ‘2 hours’; or
  2. located on the same allotment as an access point to a water supply which—
    1. has a minimum total capacity of 144,000 litres; and
    2. is situated so as to enable emergency services vehicles access to within 4 m; and
    3. is located within 60 m of the building and not more than 90 m from any part of the building.

(3) For the purposes of (2)(b), water supply for a farm building must consist of one or any number of the following:

  1. A water storage tank.
  2. A dam.
  3. A reservoir.
  4. A river.
  5. A lake.
  6. A bore.
  7. A sea.

(4) If the whole or part of the water supply referred to in (2)(b) is contained in a water storage tank, it must be—

  1. located not less than 10 m from the building; and
  2. fitted with at least one small bore suction connection and one large bore suction connection where—
    1. each suction connection is located in a position so as to enable emergency service vehicles access to within 4 m; and
    2. the suction connections are located not less than 10 m from the building; and
    3. ‘small bore suction connection’ and ‘large bore suction connection’ have the meanings contained in AS 2419.1.

To provide appropriate fire fighting and water supply requirements for farm buildings.

Farm buildings are often located in remote areas which are not serviced by mains water, and these areas can also be affected by drought which can affect the availability and reliability of on-site water supply. To ensure a farm building has adequate water to allow an attending fire brigade to undertake fire fighting operations and in light of the limited availability of water when compared to more urban located buildings, I3D9(2)(a) provides a concession to the requirements of AS 2419.1 so that 2 hours water supply for a fire hydrant installation is required instead of 4 hours.

I3D9(2)(b) provides an alternative concession, if certain conditions are met, from the requirement for a fire hydrant system to be installed to serve a farm building. The concession instead requires the provision of an adequate supply of water that can be used by a fire brigade instead of a fire hydrant system, noting that there is also a reduction in the volume of static water required to be supplied for fire fighting purposes from 288,000 litres to 144,000 litres.

Acceptable sources of water are listed in I3D9(3)(a) to (g) and must be located on the same allotment as the farm building, have a minimum capacity of 144,000 litres, and access to the water supply must be within 60 to 90 metres from any part of the farm building. The water source must also be situated so as to enable emergency services vehicles access to within 4 metres. Multiple buildings may be served by a single water supply providing the proximity requirements of I3D9(2)(b) are met by each building.

If a water supply is a water tank, there are additional requirements such as suitable suction connections to ensure that the fire brigade can access and use the water available in the water tank.

A fire hose reel system need not be provided to serve a farm building where portable fire extinguishers are installed in accordance with I3D11.

To provide a concession for farm buildings, under certain conditions, from complying with the requirements of E1D3.

Due to the low occupancy numbers of farm buildings, these buildings are exempt from the requirements for fire hose reels where specific requirements for portable fire extinguishers are satisfied under I3D11.

Farm sheds are not required to comply with the requirements of E1D3 due to I3D8.

(1) A farm building not provided with a fire hose reel system in accordance with E1D3 must be provided with—

  1. one portable fire extinguisher rated at not less than 5ABE in each room containing flammable materials or electrical equipment; and
  2. one portable fire extinguisher rated at not less than 4A60BE adjacent to every required exit door; and
  3. location signs complying with clauses 3.3 to 3.9 of AS 2444 above each required portable fire extinguisher.

(2) A farm shed must be provided with not less than one portable fire extinguisher for every 500 m2 of floor area or part thereof, distributed as evenly as practicable throughout the building.

(3) A portable fire extinguisher required by (2) must be—

  1. of ABE type; and
  2. not less than 4.5 kg in size; and
  3. installed in accordance with Section 3 of AS 2444.

To specify requirements for portable fire extinguishers in farm buildings and farm sheds covered by Part I3.

Portable fire extinguishers in buildings allow occupants to undertake initial attack on a fire. They should be located in plain view, along normal paths of travel and near exits where possible, and should not be located in hazardous places. Under E1D13, portable fire extinguishers must be provided in accordance with E1D13(3) and (4), which refers to AS 2444 Portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets – Selection and location.

I3D11 includes requirements for specific types of extinguishers to be installed to deal with the specific types of hazards which may be associated with farm buildings and farm sheds. When applying I3D11(1)(a) the proposed building use should be considered. In addition, there are requirements to ensure that occupants are aware of the location of portable fire extinguishers as I3D11 includes reference to specific sections of AS 2444.

 

(1) An emergency lighting system need not be installed in a farm building—

  1. with no artificial lighting as permitted by I3D18; or
  2. with artificial lighting where, if that lighting fails due to an emergency, automatic power supply to the building is provided by a fuel-driven generator.

(2) An emergency lighting system need not be installed in a farm shed.

To provide a concession for farm buildings and farm sheds, under certain conditions, from complying with the requirements of E4D2.

An exit serving a farm shed need not be provided with an exit sign where the exit is a permanent opening not less than 2 m wide.

To provide a concession for farm sheds, under certain conditions, from complying with the requirements of E4D5.

I3D13 provides a concession for farm sheds from the requirements of E4D5 in the circumstance where there is a large permanent opening, on the basis that where farm sheds are likely only to be occupied during the day there would be sufficient natural light available from a permanent opening to guide any occupants towards the exit.

In a farm building or a farm shed, if an exit is not readily apparent to persons occupying or visiting the building, exit signs complying with I3D15 must be installed in appropriate positions in corridors, hallways, lobbies and the like, indicating the direction to a required exit.

To specify requirements for the provision of direction signs in farm buildings and farm sheds.

I3D14 outlines requirements for direction signs in farm buildings and farm sheds, to enable occupants to find their way out of a building in the event of an emergency.

(1) In a farm building, each required exit sign provided under E4D5 and I3D14 need not comply with E4D8 if—

  1. the use of illuminated exit signs may adversely impact the behaviour or welfare of animals being kept in the building; and
  2. non-illuminated exit signs are installed in accordance with the requirements of Appendix D of AS/NZS 2293.1 as for an externally illuminated exit sign, and clauses 5.6 and 5.8 of AS/NZS 2293.1.

(2) In a farm shed, each required exit sign provided under E4D5 and I3D14 need not comply with E4D8 if—

  1. non-illuminated exit signs are installed in accordance with the requirements of Appendix D of AS/NZS 2293.1 as for an externally illuminated exit sign, and clauses 5.6 and 5.8 of AS/NZS 2293.1; and
  2. the maximum viewing distance in clause 5.6 of AS/NZS 2293.1 is not more than 24 m.

To provide a concession for farm buildings and farm sheds, under certain conditions, from complying with the requirements of E4D8.

Some farm animals are sensitive to the level or duration of light to which they are exposed and the use of illuminated exit signs can adversely impact the behaviour or welfare of these animals where they permanently occupy a building. I3D15(1) provides a concession to the requirements of E4D8 for farm buildings to allow non-illuminated exit signs to be used provided the size, mounting height and pictorial requirements specified are complied with.

For a farm shed, illuminated exit signs are not considered necessary given the limited size and low occupancy of these buildings and a concession is provided in I3D13. However, required exit signs must meet specified criteria, such as maximum viewing distances, to ensure that occupants can safely evacuate.

F4D4 does not apply to a farm shed.

To provide a concession for farm sheds from complying with the requirements of F4D4.

I3D16 provides a concession for farm sheds from compliance with F4D4.

F5D2 does not apply to a farm shed which has ceiling heights not less than—

  1. in a room, corridor, passageway or the like — 2.1 m; and
  2. in a room or space with a sloping ceiling or projections — a height of not less than 2.1 m for at least two-thirds of the floor area of the room or space, and when calculating the floor area of the room or space, any part that has a ceiling height of less than 1.5 m is not included; and
  3. in a stairway, ramp, landing or the like — 2.0 m measured vertically above the nosing line of stairway treads or the floor surface of the ramp, landing or the like.

To provide a concession for farm sheds from complying with the requirements of F5D2.

I3D17 provides a concession for farm sheds from compliance with F5D2.

(1) An artificial lighting system need not be provided in a farm building where—

  1. occupants are provided with visibility sufficient for safe movement through suitable alternative means; and
  2. the use of artificial lighting could adversely affect the function of the building including, but not limited to—
    1. the behaviour or welfare of animals being kept in the building; or
    2. the cultivating or propagating of plants or fungi.

(2) An artificial lighting system need not be provided in a farm shed.

To provide a concession for farm buildings and farm sheds from complying with the requirements of F6D5.

There are a wide variety of farm buildings. I3D18(1) is provided in recognition of the fact that various farm building uses may negate the requirement for artificial lighting. There are two components in using the concession from F6D5 for farm buildings. The first is ensuring sufficient visibility for safe movement of occupants. Where artificial lighting is not provided, an alternative means of providing sufficient visibility must be demonstrated.

The second component acknowledges that some farm animals are sensitive to the level or duration of light to which they are exposed and the use of artificial lighting can adversely impact the behaviour or welfare of these animals where they permanently occupy a building. Some types of plant and fungi are also sensitive to the level of lighting provided.

I3D18(2) exempts farm sheds from compliance with F6D5.