NCC 2019 Volume One Amendment 1
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Specification C1.10 Fire hazard properties
This Specification sets out requirements in relation to the fire hazard properties of linings, materials and assemblies in Class 2 to 9 buildings as set out in Table 1.
To set out the scope of Specification C1.10.
It should be noted that C1.10 requires the fire hazard properties of linings, materials and assemblies used in the construction of a building to comply with Specification C1.10. SpecificationC1.10 sets out the details of these requirements.
Linings, materials and assemblies in Class 2 to 9 buildings must comply with the appropriate requirement described in Table 1.
Lining, material or assembly |
Requirement |
Floor linings and floor coverings |
|
Wall linings and ceiling linings |
|
Air-handling ductwork |
|
Lift cars |
|
In fire control rooms subject to Specification C1.8 and fire isolated exits |
|
In Class 9b buildings used as a theatre, public hall or the like— (a) fixed seating in the audience area or auditorium; and (b) a proscenium curtain required by Specification H1.3 |
|
Escalators, moving walkways and non-required non-fire-isolated stairways or pedestrian ramps subject to Specification D1.12 |
|
Attachments to internal floors, walls and ceilings |
|
Other materials including insulation |
To set out clauses in the Specification, that the linings, materials and assemblies must comply with.
Table 1 sets out which Clauses of Specification C1.10 linings, materials and assemblies must comply with.
A floor lining or floor covering must have—
a critical radiant flux not less than that listed in Table 2; and
in a building not protected by a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5, a maximum smoke development rate of 750 percent-minutes; and
a group number complying with Clause 6(b), for any portion of the floor covering that is continued more than 150 mm up a wall.
Class of building | Building not fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5 | Building fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5 |
Fire-isolated exits and fire control rooms |
---|---|---|---|
Class 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b, excluding— (i) Class 3 accommodation for the aged; and (ii) Class 9b as specified below |
2.2 kW/m2 | 1.2 kW/m2 | 2.2 kW/m2 |
Class 3 Accommodation for the aged |
4.5 kW/m2 | 2.2 kW/m2 | 4.5 kW/m2 |
Class 9a |
4.5 kW/m2 | 2.2 kW/m2 | 4.5 kW/m2 |
Class 9a Areas other than patient care areas |
2.2 kW/m2 | 1.2 kW/m2 | 4.5 kW/m2 |
Class 9b auditorium or audience seating area used mainly for indoor swimming or ice skating | 1.2 kW/m2 | 1.2 kW/m2 | 2.2 kW/m2 |
Class 9b auditorium or audience seating area used mainly for— other sports or multi-purpose functions. |
2.2 kW/m2 | 1.2 kW/m2 | 2.2 kW/m2 |
Class 9c |
N/A | 2.2 kW/m2 | 4.5 kW/m2 |
Class 9c Areas other than |
N/A | 1.2 kW/m2 | 4.5 kW/m2 |
To prescribe the fire hazard properties of floor linings and floor coverings.
Clause 3(a) states that a floor lining or covering must have a critical radiant flux not less than that in Table 2. A material’s critical radiant flux is determined by testing the material in accordance with AS ISO 9239.1. This test is the floor radiant panel test. The higher a material’s critical radiant flux is, the better the material performs.
The different requirements for materials are based on the building classification, the location of the material in the building and whether the building contains a sprinkler system. The requirements are higher for aged care buildings and health care buildings due to the limited mobility of occupants in those buildings. The requirements are based on research which indicated that the required egress time in these buildings was greater and therefore proposed levels of control needed to be greater.
Clause 3(b) contains requirements dealing with a material’s smoke development rate. A material’s smoke development rate is determined by testing the material in accordance with AS ISO 9239.1. This test is the floor radiant panel test. The requirement is only applicable where floor materials and coverings are installed in buildings that do not have a sprinkler system complying with Specification E1.5. Clause 3(b) limits the smoke development rate to not more than 750 percent-minutes.
Table 2 does not contain any requirements for Class 9c buildings that do not contain a sprinkler system. The reason for this is because, pursuant to E1.5, all Class 9c buildings must have a sprinkler system installed throughout the building.
A wall or ceiling lining system must comply with the group number specified in Table 3 and for buildings not fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5 have—
a smoke growth rate index not more than 100; or
an average specific extinction area less than 250 m2/kg.
A group number of a wall or ceiling lining and the smoke growth rate index or average specific extinction area must be determined in accordance with AS 5637.1.
Class of building |
Fire-isolated exits and fire control rooms |
Public corridors |
Specific areas |
Other areas |
Class 2 or 3, Unsprinklered Excluding accommodation for the aged, people with disabilities, and children |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Class 2 or 3, Sprinklered Excluding accommodation for the aged, people with disabilities, and children |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Class 3 or 9a, Unsprinklered Accommodation for the aged, people with a disability, children and health-care buildings |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Class 3 or 9a, Sprinklered Accommodation for the aged, people with a disability, children and health-care buildings |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b schools, Unsprinklered |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b schools, Sprinklered |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1 ,2, 3 |
Class 9b other than schools, Unsprinklered |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Class 9b other than schools, Sprinklered |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Class 9c, Sprinklered |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1, 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1, 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Notes to Table 3:
To prescribe the fire hazard properties of wall and ceiling linings.
Clause 4 specifies that a material used as a wall or ceiling lining must be a Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 material and used in accordance with Table 3. A material’s group number is determined by testing the material in accordance with AS 5637.1.
For the purpose of the BCA, a Group 1 material indicates the best performing material and a Group 4 material is the worst performing material.
The allowable material group number differences are based on the building classification and the location of the material in the building. It is also dependent on whether the building contains a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) in accordance with Specification E1.5, and whether the material is used as a wall lining or a ceiling lining.
The locations within the building referred to in Table 3 are fire-isolated exits, fire control rooms, public corridors, specific areas and other areas. The definition of specific areas differs according to the use of the building. The specific areas are as follows:
For Class 5 and 6 buildings, the minimum floor dimension and the floor to ceiling height need to be considered when determining “specific areas”. An area is a specific area if the minimum floor dimension/floor to ceiling height ratio is more than 5.
Consider the case of a Class 5 building having a 15 m by 20 m open plan office with a ceiling height of 2.5 m. The building also contains an enclosed office having a floor plan of 3 m by 4 m.
For the open plan office area, as the minimum floor dimension (15 m) divided by the ceiling height (2.5 m) is 6, i.e. more than 5, it would be deemed a “specific area” and therefore wall and ceiling linings in the area would need to comply with the requirements for Class 5 “specific areas”.
For the enclosed office, as the minimum floor dimension (3 m) divided by the ceiling height (2.5 m) is 1.2, i.e. less than 5, it would not be deemed to be a “specific area” and therefore wall and ceiling linings in the enclosed office would need to comply with the requirements for Class 5 “other areas”.
“Other areas” are areas which are not either a fire-isolated exit, a public corridor or a “specific area”.
The requirements differ between the building classifications. These requirements are based on research which indicated that the required egress time differed between the building’s classifications and therefore proposed levels of control needed to be greater.
Clause 4(a) contains requirements dealing with a material’s smoke development rate. The requirements only apply where the wall and/or ceiling lining material is installed in a building that does not have a sprinkler system complying with Specification E1.5 (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system).
Rigid and flexible ductwork in a Class 2 to 9 building must comply with the fire hazard properties set out in AS 4254.1 and AS 4254.2.
To specify requirements for air-handling ductwork.
Air-handling ductwork has the potential to cause the rapid spread of fire throughout a building. It is important that the materials used in its construction are appropriate to avoid this potentially dangerous situation. The particular requirements are covered by AS 4254.
Materials used as—
floor linings and floor coverings must have a critical radiant flux not less than 2.2; and
wall and ceiling linings must be a Group 1 material or a Group 2 material in accordance with AS 5637.1.
To specify requirements for lift cars.
Lift cars are small, enclosed spaces, with minimal ventilation and no active fire suppression equipment. They also have no immediate means of egress. The materials used in their construction must be appropriate to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. The particular requirements are outlined in AS 1735.2. The appropriate Occupational Health and Safety Authorities also enforce these requirements.
Additionally, floor linings and floor coverings must have a critical radiant flux of not less than 2.2, and the wall linings and ceiling linings must be either a Group 1 material or a Group 2 material, which are similar to those required in public corridors.
Materials and assemblies in a Class 2 to 9 building not included in Clauses 3, 4, 5 or 6 must not exceed the indices set out in Table 4.
Material or assembly location | Flammability Index | Spread-of-Flame Index | |
---|---|---|---|
Fire control rooms subject to Specification E1.8 and fire-isolated exits , other than a Sarking-type material used in a ceiling or used as an attachment or part of an attachment |
N/A | 0 | 2 |
Class 9b buildings used as a theatre, public hall or the |
N/A | 0 | 5 |
Class 9b buildings used as a theatre, public hall or the |
N/A | 0 | 3 |
Escalators, moving walkways or non-required non-fire-isolated stairways or pedestrian ramps subject to Specification D1.12. |
N/A | 0 | 5 |
Sarking-type material: In a fire control room subject to Specification E1.8 or a fire-isolated exit or fire control room used in the form of an exposed wall or ceiling. |
0 | N/A | N/A |
Sarking-type material: |
5 | N/A | N/A |
Other materials or locations and insulation materials other |
N/A | 9 | 8 if the Spread-of-Flame Index is more than 5 |
Notes to Table 4: