Background It is generally the architect's aim to maximise land utilisation and fill every square meter of the site with functional/usable space for the client. Where this can land them in hot water is when trying to address the National Construction Code 2019 (NCC) requirement to ensure external walls are provided with a minimum Fire Resistance Level (FRL). This is a problem in of itself (and shall be addressed in a future post) however, the focus of this post is to discuss what happens when openings are introduced into these walls required to have an FRL. NCC 2019 Amendment 1 requires the f ..read more

Retail buildings are highly visible to the public and as such, architects are tasked with creating aesthetically appealing spaces to entice occupants to enter and shop. Fire engineers have a tough time working on these sorts of projects given the objective to balance life safety levels without inhibiting the above innovative architectural design goal. A typical design approach by complying with the Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) provisions will often impose restrictions to architectural design which is not palatable. It then falls upon the fire engineer to develop Performance Solutions and strike th ..read more

So you've decided to get some fire engineers involved on your project for some Performance Solutions. Not sure what a Performance Solution is? Check our previous post. This post is intended to provide a general overview on getting a Performance Solution reviewed and approved in South Australia. At the time of writing, the process is governed by several documents including those listed below. Planning Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA) Planning Development and Infrastructure Regulations 2017 (SA) National Construction Code 2019 Amendment 1 Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines (AFE ..read more

Fire engineers are a part of the building services engineering team for construction projects. We focus on the fire and life safety aspects of the building design with specific attention paid to the following: Fire resistant construction Access and egress Fire protection services and equipment These specialty areas are covered by specific sections of the National Construction Code (NCC) being Sections C, D and E. Each of these sections provide prescriptive measures known as Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) provisions which the design should adhere to for a building to be compliant. This is not the o ..read more

If you've had your head buried in the sand for the last few years, you'll be asking why a fire engineer is writing about composite wall cladding. Please familiarize yourself with the following news stories and nifty table (original article here) of recent events. Lacrosse Apartments Fire Grenfell Tower Fire Changsha Cladding Fire What is Combustible External Wall Cladding Made Of? Your typical Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) comprises two thin sheets of aluminium sandwiching a composite core which is usually Polyethylene (PE) or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate. The concentration of combustible elemen ..read more

Problem Description The proliferation of alternative, more environmentally friendly modes of transport has become a priority in modern society considering the escalating cost of fuel. This has resulted in a rapid uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs) comprising cars, bikes and scooters. Overshadowing all of the hype behind going green, fire engineers around the world are scrambling to understand how much more of a fire risk having EVs in your homes and businesses presents. This post provides a short summary on whether it's a good idea to buy an e-scooter or e-bike today by weighing up the pros an ..read more

One of the most common questions we get asked as fire engineers relates to door swing directions and how Performance Solutions can be brought into the equation. Requirement Under clause D2.20 of the National Construction Code 2019 Amendment 1 (NCC), exit doors must: Swing in the direction of egress travel unless it serves a building or part not exceeding 200 m2 or is a sanitary compartment or is a farm building (South Australia). Not encroach on the required width of required exits (stairways, ramps, passageways) if it is likely to impede the path of travel (spoiler: it almost always does ..read more

Problem Description The problem fire engineers face when designers want an external wall within range of a fire source feature with A LOT of glass lies in satisfying this part of the NCC 2019 Amendment 1. Unfortunately, with curtain walls, the glass occupies more than one third of the total wall area and as such, the traditional protection mechanisms afforded under NCC clause C3.4 are not applicable. Specifically: On top of that, the NCC also requires external walls within proximity of a fire source feature (adjacent boundaries/buildings) possess a Fire Resistance Level (FRL). Clearly (pun i ..read more

When you ask your fire engineer this question, the short answer generally is: Sort of You may have read in one of our previous blog posts that the National Construction Code 2019 Amendment 1 (NCC) permits the use of dry hydrant risers in certain Class 2/3 buildings when protected with automatic fire sprinkler systems. So what is a dry fire hydrant riser and why is it such a hot topic in the fire industry right now? We’re here to break down the history and provide context on its perception in the Adelaide fire industry. ,What is a Dry Fire Hydrant Riser? Let’s take a step back. What are fire h ..read more

As fire engineers, we’re no stranger to the accusation that we have no experience in handling fire equipment or operating Fire Indicator Panels (FIPs) as we sit behind desks all day eating doughnuts. The fact that there is some truth in the above statement poses a serious concern (and it’s not related to the waistline!). Professionals and even the general public should have an understanding and some basic training as to how first aid firefighting equipment works because the last thing you’d want to be struck with in a fire scenario is having to learn how to operate the equipment in those criti ..read more