Part E1 Fire fighting equipment

Fire hose reels in buildings allow occupants to fight a fire. The fire may be in its infancy, and early control or extinguishment may reduce the hazard, allow more time for evacuation and prevent structural damage.

See the explanation of this term in A1.0(3)(c).

As set out in EP1.1, fire hose reels must be installed when necessary, and be appropriate to a number of factors, including:

• the size of the fire compartment which is a measure of the size of any potential fire;
• the function of the building will affect the fire load in the building;
• the fire-safety systems which can affect the rate of fire spread (eg if a sprinkler system is installed in a building, it should extinguish the fire or reduce its growth rate); and
• the fire hazard which means the danger in terms of potential harm and degree of exposure arising from the start and spread of fire, and the smoke and gases generated by a fire.

E1.4 provides a number of examples where fire hose reels must be installed if the proposal being considered involves a solution which uses the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

If a Performance Solution is used, it may be appropriate to assess it using E1.4 for guidance purposes. However, it is stressed that compliance with E1.4 is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved.

Fire extinguishers in buildings allow occupants to fight fires. Extinguishment may complete all the functions listed in EP1.1 above.

Fire extinguishers should be located in plain view, along normal paths of travel and near exits where possible. They should not be located in hazardous places.

This expression’s use in EP1.2 indicates that the BCA recognises that not all buildings need fire extinguishers; and fire extinguishers are used for specific purposes, as set out in AS 2444.

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.

As set out in EP1.2, fire extinguishers must be installed when necessary, and be appropriate to a number of factors, including:

• the function or use of the building will affect the fire load in the building;
• the fire-safety systems in the building which can affect the rate of fire spread (eg if a sprinkler system is installed in a building, it should extinguish the fire or reduce its growth rate); and
• the fire hazard which means the danger in terms of potential harm and degree of exposure arising from the start and spread of fire, and the smoke and gases generated by a fire.

Table E1.6 provides a number of examples where fire extinguishers must be installed if the proposal being considered involves a solution which uses the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

If a Performance Solution is being used, it may be appropriate to assess it using Table E1.6 for guidance purposes. However, it is stressed that compliance with Table E1.6 is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved.

The intent of installing a fire hydrant system is to provide adequate water, under sufficient pressure and flow, to allow the fire brigade to fight fires.

Under its Application provision, EP1.3 only applies to buildings located in an area serviced by a fire brigade. This is primarily because the pressures and flows from a fire hydrant are such that hydrants should only be used by the fire brigade.

It is expected that designers will meet any special fire brigade requirements, which may cover such matters as the types of couplings and special flows and pressures to suit a particular nozzle.

The use of the expression “to the degree necessary” in EP1.3 indicates that the BCA recognises that not all buildings need fire hydrants.

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.

As set out in EP1.3, a fire hydrant system must be installed when necessary, and be appropriate to a number of factors, including:

• the need to meet the requirements of the local fire brigade (because of the pressures and flows), fire hydrants should only be used by the fire brigade;
• the floor area of the building which is a measure of the size of any potential fire; and
• the fire hazard which means the danger in terms of potential harm and degree of exposure arising from the start and spread of fire, and the smoke and gases generated by a fire.

E1.3 provides a number of examples where fire hydrants must be installed if the proposal being considered involves a solution which uses the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

If a Performance Solution is used, it may be appropriate to assess it using E1.3 for guidance purposes. However it is stressed that compliance with E1.3 is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved.

A sprinkler system is only one type of automatic fire suppression system. EP1.4 is not limited to sprinkler systems. If it can be demonstrated that another automatic fire system can control the development and spread of a fire, it may comply with EP1.4. Its activation must be “automatic” and must not depend on human intervention.

Automatic fire suppression systems, such as sprinkler systems, are normally used in a building to contain and extinguish fire. When an automatic fire suppression system operates, it not only controls or limits the fire development, but statistics show that, in most cases, the fire is extinguished before the fire brigade arrives at the building.

An automatic fire suppression system is regarded as part of a building’s life safety package because:

• if the system extinguishes the fire before it fully develops, the fire will not endanger the occupants; and
• if the system limits or controls the spread of a fire, it allows occupants more time to evacuate to a safe place.

The use of the expression “to the degree necessary” in EP1.4 indicates that the BCA recognises that not all buildings need an automatic fire suppression system.

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.

As set out in EP1.4, an automatic fire suppression system, such as a sprinkler system, must be installed when necessary, and be appropriate to a number of factors.

When implementing, the likely size and intensity of a fire should be taken into consideration. This can be as measured by:

• the size of the fire compartment which is a measure of the size of any potential fire;
• the function or use of the building will affect the fire load in the building;
• the fire hazard which means the danger in terms of potential harm and degree of exposure arising from the start and spread of fire, and the smoke and gases generated by a fire; and
• the height of the building, because once a building gets above a certain height it becomes extremely difficult (and eventually impossible) for the fire brigade to undertake external rescue or firefighting from ladders and the like. The height also affects evacuation time.

E1.5 provides a number of examples where a sprinkler system must be installed if the proposal being considered involves a solution which uses the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

If a Performance Solution to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in Part E1 is being used, it may be appropriate to assess it using E1.5 for guidance purposes. However, it is stressed that compliance with E1.5 is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved.

A fire in a building under construction represents a significant public safety, health and amenity risk. Accordingly, there is a need for firefighting in such buildings.

This Performance Requirement recognises the fact that a significant number of fires occur in buildings during their construction or major refurbishment. Statistics indicate that a number of fires have been started by sparks. The fire has then spread because services were turned off for construction purposes.

The use of the expression “to the degree necessary” in EP1.5 indicates that the BCA recognises that not all buildings need firefighting services during construction.

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.

As set out in EP1.5, firefighting services must be installed in buildings under construction when necessary, and must be appropriate to a number of factors, including:

• the fire hazard which means the danger in terms of potential harm and degree of exposure arising from the start and spread of fire, and the smoke and gases generated by a fire; and
• the height the building has reached during its construction which is a measure of the extent to which the fire brigade can fight any fire from the outside of the building.

E1.9 provides a number of examples where firefighting services must be installed if the proposal being considered involves a solution which uses the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

If a Performance Solution to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in Part E1 is being used, it may be appropriate to assess it using E1.9 for guidance purposes. However, it is stressed that compliance with E1.9 is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved.

EP1.6 requires that a part of a building be set aside for the fire brigade to co-ordinate its search and rescue, and firefighting operations during a fire. These areas are referred to as “fire control centres”.

The use of the expression “to the degree necessary” in EP1.6 indicates that the BCA recognises that not all buildings need a fire control centre.

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.

As set out in EP1.6, co-ordination facilities must be installed when necessary, and be appropriate to a number of factors, including:

• the function or use of the building will affect the fire load in the building;
• the floor area of the building which is a measure of the size of any potential fire; and
• the height of the building which is a measure of the extent to which the fire brigade can fight any fire or carry out rescue operations from the outside of the building and the evacuation time.

E1.8 provides a number of examples where a fire control centre must be installed if the proposal being considered involves a solution which uses the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

If a Performance Solution to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in Part E1 is being used, it may be appropriate to assess it using E1.8 for guidance purposes. However, it is stressed that compliance with E1.8 is not compulsory if alternative means can be found to satisfy the appropriate authority that the Performance Requirements will be achieved.