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CH GROUP ADVICE BULLETIN
issue 9 M arch 2014 ncc - BCA 2014 VOLUME ONE
There are some significant changes to the bca 2014
BCA 2014 FIRE SAFETY CHANGES It is nearing that time of the year again (May) when changes and amendments to the BCA provisions are adopted by the State and Territory authorities. There are two volumes to the BCA with Volume One dealing with commercial /residential buildings being Class 2 to 9 and Volume Two addressing the requirements for Class 1 (housing) and Class 10 (sheds, carports etc) domestic buildings. Then there is the BCA Appendices of each Volume that has the State and Territory amendments/changes to the main Volumes of the BCA. The provisions of the BCA only apply to the construction of a new building or additions. In this bulletin we will provide a general overview of some of the main changes to the BCA Volume One and the relevant Appendices as they relate to fire safety in Aged Care buildings Fire Sprinklers
INSIDE THIS ISSUE BCA 2014 Changes - Fire Sprinklers
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BCA 2014 Changes - Fire Hose Reels
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BCA 2014 Changes - Fire Extinguishers 2 BCA 2014 Changes - Exit Signage
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BCA Specification A1.3 Table 1 has been AS 2118.4-1995 Automatic fire sprinkler reference AS 2118.4-2012 Automatic for accommodation buildings not
amended to delete the reference to systems (Residential) to now only fire sprinkler systems (Sprinkler protection exceeding four storeys in height).
However, the Victoria Appendix still requires the installation of the 1995 version for Class 2 (apartments), 3 (Hostel, Motels, Backpackers accommodation etc) and residential care buildings other than a Class 9c aged care building. Victoria has not adopted the 2012 version of fire sprinklers for these buildings. Some of the main obvious changes in the 2012 version from the 1995 version are as follows: • C lause 2.2.2 deals with concealed spaces and outlines exemptions which are more closely aligned with those in AS 2118.1-1999 Automatic fire sprinklers (General requirements), • C lause 2.2.3 lists the locations where sprinklers are not required – cupboards, alcoves, wardrobes less than 3.0m2, toilets and bathrooms, open balconies and verandahs, fire-isolated stairs.
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• C lause 2.6 now allows multiple buildings to be protected by the same installation where they are interconnected or in close proximity. The maximum floor area coverage of the installation remains at 5,000m2.
Level 1, 2 Rutherford Road Seaford Victoria 3198 Australia T 03 9775 0871 F 03 9775 0867
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Fire Sprinklers (cont.)
the bca 2014 exempts fire hose reels in class 2 and 3 buildings
• S ection 3 dealing with water supplies now allows the hydrants to be connected and be off the same supply/tapping without the need to install a system complying with AS 2118.6. • C lause 4.4 sets out the requirements for the spacing of sprinklers and requires them to be in accordance with sprinkler listing data or Table 4.4 of the standard, whatever is more stringent. If the spacing exceeds Table 4.4 then the installation is not compliant. A range of other criteria similar to AS 2118.1 is contained in this clause.
of a fire compartment exceeds 500m2, then portable fire extinguishers must be installed. The fire extinguishers must be installed and distributed as per AS 2444. The portable fire extinguishers must be an ABE type with a minimum size of 2.5kg. The portable extiguishers must be distributed outside a sole-occupancy unit to serve only the storey at which they are located and so that the travel distance from the entrance doorway of any sole occupancy unit to the nearest fire extinguisher is not more than 10m. photoluminescent exit signs
fire hose reels
BCA Clause E4.8 has been amended to allow the use of Photoluminescent (PL) exit signage. These signs are commonly referred to as “glow in the dark” signs although there is a lot more science to it than what we used to use as kids. They rely on an external light source to absorb light and UV rays and re-emit light for a period after the external source of light has been removed.
The requirement to install fire hose reels in Class 2 (apartments), Class 3 (Hostel) and Class 4 (a dwelling part of a commercial building) has been deleted. BCA Clause E1.4 exempts fire hose reels to be installed in a Class 3 hostel building regardless of whether there is a fire sprinkler system installed or not.
The BCA requires that a PL exit sign must have a dedicated, light source illuminating 100 lux onto the face of the sign. The PL exit signs will need to be placed within 2m of an exit door or typically where exit signs are required to be located in accordance with the BCA and AS 2293.1.
It is difficult to see the advantages of the use of a PL exit sign over the current LED exit signs with PL exit The exemption for the deletion of fire hose reels sign requiring an external 100 lux light source. does not apply to alpine areas. The online Electrical Connection magazine has quoted the Lighting Council Australia Chairman, fire extinguishers Russell Loane in relation to the PL exit signs as saying; “The expected supply and install cost of a standard LED exit sign is in the order of $250, with ongoing energy costs of $3.16 per year. The supply and install cost of a PL exit sign and accompanying emergency light and separate luminating light source is in the order of $550, with ongoing energy costs of $21.56 per year.” (published online by Electrical Connection - http://www.electricalconnection.com. au/article/10021193/photoluminescent-exit-signsnot-commercially-viable)
Photoluminescent Exit signs - Glow in the Dark
As a consequence of deleting fire hose reels For more information on the changes to the BCA from Class 2, 3 and 4 buildings a new sub-clause in 2014, contact our offices to speak to one of our has been added to the BCA Clause E1.6 to detail Building Surveyors. specific requirements for fire extinguishers. Where Class 2, 3 or 4 buildings have one or more internal fire hydrants or the floor area issue 9 page 2
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CH Group Services • Independent Building Surveyor Assessment of Design Documentation • Due Diligence Reports • BCA 9c Conversion Reports • Building Code of Australia Compliance Audits Class 2 to 9 • Building Permits and Inspections • BCA and Australian Standard Training Seminars • Essential Service Compliance Reports and Training • Compliance Risk Management Programs
CH Group Building Surveyors The best advice to build on Level 1, 2 Rutherford Road Seaford, Victoria, 3198 T 03 9775 0871 F 03 9775 0867 Email;
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issue 9 page 3
