Specification 5 Fire-resisting construction

This Specification contains requirements for the fire-resisting construction of building elements.

(1) A part of a building element is exposed to a fire-source feature if any of the horizontal straight lines between that part and the fire-source feature, or vertical projection of the feature, is not obstructed by another part of the building that—

1. has an FRL of not less than 30/–/–; and
2. is neither transparent nor translucent.

(2) A part of a building element is not exposed to a fire-source feature if the fire-source feature is—

1. an external wall of another building that stands on the allotment and the part concerned is more than 15 m above the highest part of that external wall; or
2. a side or rear boundary of the allotment and the part concerned is below the level of the finished ground at every relevant part of the boundary concerned.

(3) If various distances apply for different parts of a building element—

1. the entire element must have the FRL applicable to that part having the least distance between itself and the relevant fire-source feature; or
2. each part of the element must have the FRL applicable according to its individual distance from the relevant fire-source feature.

(4) The requirements of (3) do not override or permit any exemption from S5C3.

(1) Where a part of a building required to have an FRL depends upon direct vertical or lateral support from another part to maintain its FRL, that supporting part, subject to (2), must—

1. have an FRL not less than that required by other provisions of this Specification; and
2. if located within the same fire compartment as the part it supports have an FRL in respect of structural adequacy the greater of that required—
   1. for the supporting part itself; and
   2. for the part it supports; and
3. be non-combustible—
   1. if required by other provisions of this Specification; or
   2. if the part it supports is required to be non-combustible.

(2) The following building elements need not comply with (1)(b) and (1)(c)(ii):

1. An element providing lateral support to an external wall complying with S5C24(1)(b) or C2D12.
2. An element providing support within a carpark and complying with S5C19, S5C22 or S5C25.
3. A roof providing lateral support in a building—
   1. of Type A construction if it complies with S5C15(a), (b) or (d); and
   2. of Type B and C construction.
4. A column providing lateral support to a wall where the column complies with S5C6(1) and (2).
5. An element providing lateral support to a fire wall or fire-resisting wall, provided the wall is supported on both sides and failure of the element on one side does not affect the fire performance of the wall.

(1) A lintel must have the FRL required for the part of the building in which it is situated.

(2) A lintel need not comply with (1) if it does not contribute to the support of a fire door, fire window or fire shutter, and—

1. it spans an opening in—
   1. a wall of a building containing only one storey; or
   2. a non-loadbearing wall of a Class 2 or 3 building; or
2. it spans an opening in masonry which is not more than 150 mm thick and—
   1. not more than 3 m wide if the masonry is non-loadbearing; or
   2. not more than 1.8 m wide if the masonry is loadbearing and part of a solid wall or one of the leaves of a cavity wall.

The method of attaching or installing a finish, lining, ancillary element or service installation to the building element must not reduce the fire-resistance of that element to below that required.

(1) Steel columns — A steel column, other than one in a fire wall or common wall, need not have an FRL in a building that contains—

1. only 1 storey; or
2. 2 storeys in some of its parts and 1 storey only in its remaining parts if the sum of the floor areas of the upper storeys of its 2 storey parts does not exceed the lesser of—
   1. 1/8 of the sum of the floor areas of the 1 storey parts; or
   2. in the case of a building to which one of the maximum floor areas specified in Table C3D3 is applicable — 1/10 of that area; or
   3. in the case of a building to which two or more of the maximum floor area specified in Table C3D3 is applicable — 1/10 of the lesser of those areas.

(2) Timber columns — A timber column may be used in a single storey building if—

1. in a fire wall or common wall the column has an FRL not less than that listed in Table S5C11d, S5C21d or S5C24c as appropriate; and
2. in any other case where the column is required to have an FRL in accordance with Table S5C11a, S5C11c, S5C11g, S5C21a, S5C21c, S5C21g, S5C24a or S5C24b, it has an FRL of not less than 30/–/–.

(3) Structures on roofs — A non-combustible structure situated on a roof need not comply with the other provisions of this Specification if it only contains—

1. lift motor equipment; or
2. one or more of the following:
   1. Hot water or other water tanks.
   2. Ventilating ductwork, ventilating fans and their motors.
   3. Air-conditioning chillers.
   4. Window cleaning equipment.
   5. Other service units that are non-combustible and do not contain flammable or combustible liquids or gases.

(4) Curtain walls and panel walls — A requirement for an external wall to have an FRL does not apply to a curtain wall or panel wall which is of non-combustible construction and fully protected by automatic external wall-wetting sprinklers.

(5) Balconies and verandahs — A balcony, verandah or the like and any incorporated supporting part, which is attached to or forms part of a building, need not comply with Table S5C11c, S5C11g, S5C21c, S5C21g, S5C24b or S5C24e if—

1. it does not form part of the only path of travel to a required exit from the building; and
2. in Type A construction—
   1. it is situated not more than 2 storeys above the lowest storey providing direct egress to a road or open space; and
   2. any supporting columns are of non-combustible construction.

(1) This Clause does not apply to a Class 9b building that is a spectator stand or audience viewing area accommodating more than 100 persons as calculated according to D2D18.

(2) A mezzanine and its supports need not have an FRL or be non-combustible provided—

1. the total floor area of all the mezzanines in the same room does not exceed 1/3 of the floor area of the room or 200 m², whichever is the lesser; and
2. the FRL of each wall and column that supports any other part of the building within 6 m of the mezzanine is increased by the amount listed in Table S5C7.

(1) Shaftsrequired to have an FRL must be enclosed at the top and bottom by construction having an FRL not less than that required for the walls of a non-loadbearing shaft in the same building.

(2) The provisions of (1) need not apply to—

1. the top of a shaft extending beyond the roof covering, other than one enclosing a fire-isolated stairway or ramp; or
2. the bottom of a shaft if it is non-combustible and laid directly on the ground.

(1) If a Class 2 building contains not more than 4 storeys of which—

1. one storey is Class 7 used solely for the purpose of parking motor vehicles or for some other purpose that is ancillary to a Class 2; and
2. the remaining storeys are of Class 2,

the carpark storey is regarded as Class 2 only for the purpose of determining the relevant fire-resisting requirements of this Specification.

(2) If a Class 3 building or a building of Class 2 and 3 contains not more than 3 storeys of which—

1. one storey is Class 7 used solely for the purpose of parking motor vehicles or for some other purpose that is ancillary to the other storeys; and
2. the remaining storeys are of Class 2 or 3,

the carpark storey is regarded as Class 2 or 3 only for the purpose of determining the relevant fire-resisting requirements of this Specification.

(1) In a Class 3 building protected with a sprinkler system complying with Specification 17 and used as a residential care building, any FRL criterion prescribed in Tables S5C11a, S5C11d, S5C11e, S5C11f, S5C11g, S5C21a, S5C21d, S5C21e, S5C21f, S5C21g, S5C24a, S5C24c or S5C24d—

1. for any floor and any loadbearing wall, may be reduced to 60, except any FRL criterion of 90 for an external wall must be maintained when tested from the outside; and
2. for any non-loadbearing internal wall, need not apply if—
   1. it is lined on each side with standard grade plasterboard not less than 13 mm thick or similar non-combustible material; and
   2. it extends—
      1. to the underside of the floor next above; or
      2. to the underside of a ceiling lined with standard grade plasterboard not less than 13 mm thick or a material with at least an equivalent level of fire protection; or
      3. to the underside of a non-combustible roof covering; and
   3. any insulation installed in the cavity of the wall is non-combustible; and
   4. any construction joint, space or the like between the top of the wall and the floor, ceiling or roof is smoke sealed with intumescent putty or other suitable material.

(2) The concession described at (1) does not apply to fire-protected timber building elements.

(1) In a building required to be of Type A construction—

1. each building element listed in Tables S5C11a, S5C11b, S5C11c, S5C11d, S5C11e, S5C11f and S5C11g, and any beam or column incorporated in it, must have an FRL not less than that listed in those Tables for the particular class of building concerned; and
2. any internal wall required to have an FRL with respect to integrity and insulation must extend to—
   1. the underside of the floor next above; or
   2. the underside of a roof complying with Table S5C11g; or
   3. if under S5C15 the roof is not required to comply with Table S5C11g, the underside of the non-combustible roof covering and, except for roof battens with dimensions of 75 mm x 50 mm or less or sarking-type material, must not be crossed by timber or other combustible building elements; or
   4. a ceiling that is immediately below the roof and has a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the roof space between the ceiling and the roof of not less than 60 minutes; and
3. a loadbearing internal wall and a loadbearing fire wall (including those that are part of a loadbearing shaft) must be constructed from—
   1. concrete; or
   2. masonry; or
   3. subject to (2), fire-protected timber; or
   4. any combination of (i) to (iii); and
4. the FRLs specified in Table S5C11c for an external column apply also to those parts of an internal column that face and are within 1.5 m of a window and are exposed through that window to a fire-source feature.

(2) For the purposes of (1)(c)(iii), fire-protected timber may be used, provided that—

1. the building is—
   1. a separate building; or
   2. a part of a building—
      1. which only occupies part of a storey, and is separated from the remaining part by a fire wall; or
      2. which is located above or below a part not containing fire-protected timber and the floor between the adjoining parts is provided with an FRL not less than that prescribed for a fire wall for the lower storey; and
2. the building has an effective height of not more than 25 m; and
3. the building has a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) throughout complying with Specification 17; and
4. any insulation installed in the cavity of the timber building element required to have an FRL is non-combustible; and
5. cavity barriers are provided in accordance with Specification 9.

(3) For the purposes of Table S5C11a and Table S5C11b, external wall includes any column and other building element incorporated within it or other external building element.

A floor need not comply with Table S5C11g if—

1. it is laid directly on the ground; or
2. in a Class 2, 3, 5 or 9 building, the space below is not a storey, does not accommodate motor vehicles, is not a storage or work area, and is not used for any other ancillary purpose; or
3. it is a timber stage floor in a Class 9b building laid over a floor having the required FRL and the space below the stage is not used as a dressing room, store room, or the like; or
4. it is within a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building; or
5. it is an open-access floor (for the accommodation of electrical and electronic services and the like) above a floor with the required FRL.

If a floor in a Class 5 or 9b building is designed for a live load not exceeding 3 kPa—

1. the floor next above (including floor beams) may have an FRL of 90/90/90; or
2. the roof, if that is next above (including roof beams), may have an FRL of 90/60/30.

A roof superimposed on a concrete slab roof need not comply with S5C11 as to fire-resisting construction if—

1. the superimposed roof and any construction between it and the concrete slab roof are non-combustible throughout; and
2. the concrete slab roof complies with Table S5C11g.

A roof need not comply with Table S5C11g if its covering is non-combustible and the building—

1. has a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 installed throughout; or
2. has a rise in storeys of 3 or less; or
3. is of Class 2 or 3; or
4. has an effective height of not more than 25 m and the ceiling immediately below the roof has a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the roof space of not less than 60 minutes.

If a roof is required to have an FRL or its covering is required to be non-combustible, roof lights or the like installed in that roof must—

1. have an aggregate area of not more than 20% of the roof surface; and
2. be not less than 3 m from—
   1. any boundary of the allotment other than the boundary with a road or public place; and
   2. any part of the building which projects above the roof unless that part has the FRL required of a fire wall and any openings in that part of the wall for 6 m vertically above the roof light or the like are protected in accordance with C4D5; and
   3. any roof light or the like in an adjoining sole-occupancy unit if the walls bounding the unit are required to have an FRL; and
   4. any roof light or the like in an adjoining fire-separated section of the building; and
3. if a ceiling with a resistance to the incipient spread of fire is required, be installed in a way that will maintain the level of protection provided by the ceiling to the roof space.

For a building with an effective height of not more than 25 m and having a roof without an FRL in accordance with S5C15, in the storey immediately below that roof, internal columns other than those referred to in S5C11(1)(d) and internal walls other than fire walls and shaft walls may have—

1. in a Class 2 or 3 building: FRL 60/60/60; or
2. in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building—
   1. with rise in storeys exceeding 3: FRL 60/60/60; or
   2. with rise in storeys not exceeding 3: no FRL.

In an open spectator stand or indoor sports stadium, the following building elements need not have the FRL specified in Tables S5C11a, S5C11b, S5C11c, S5C11e and S5C11g:

1. The roof if it is non-combustible.
2. Columns and loadbearing walls supporting only the roof if they are non-combustible.
3. Any non-loadbearing part of an external wall less than 3 m—
   1. from any fire-source feature to which it is exposed if it has an FRL of not less than –/60/60 and is non-combustible; or
   2. from an external wall of another open spectator stand if it is non-combustible.

(1) Notwithstanding S5C11, a carpark may comply with this clause if it is an open-deck carpark or is protected with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 and is—

1. a separate building; or
2. a part of a building—
   1. which only occupies part of a storey, and is separated from the remaining part by a fire wall; or
   2. which is located above or below another classification, and the floor separating the classifications complies with C3D10; or
   3. which is located above another Class 7 part of the building not used for carparking, and the floor separating the parts complies with Table S5C11g for a Class 7 part other than a carpark; or
   4. which is located below another Class 7 part of the building not used for carparking, and the floor separating the parts complies with this clause.

(2) For the purposes of this clause, a carpark—

1. includes—
   1. an administration area associated with the functioning of the carpark; and
   2. where the carpark is sprinklered, is associated with a Class 2 or 3 building and provides carparking for separate sole-occupancy units, each carparking area with an area not greater than 10% of its floor area for purposes ancillary to the sole-occupancy units; but
2. excludes—
   1. except for (a), any area of another classification, or other part of a Class 7 building not used for carparking; and
   2. a building or part of a building specifically intended for the parking of trucks, buses, vans and the like.

(3) For building elements in a carpark as described in (1) and (2), the following minimum FRLs are applicable:

1. External wall:
   1. Less than 3 m from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed:
      1. Loadbearing: 60/60/60.
      2. Non-loadbearing: –/60/60.
   2. 3 m or more from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed: –/–/–.
2. Internal wall:
   1. Loadbearing, other than one supporting only the roof (not used for carparking): 60/–/–.
   2. Supporting only the roof (not used for carparking): –/–/–.
   3. Non-loadbearing: –/–/–.
3. Fire wall:
   1. From the direction used as a carpark: 60/60/60.
   2. From the direction not used as a carpark: as required by Table S5C11d.
4. Columns:
   1. Supporting only the roof (not used for carparking) and 3 m or more from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed: –/–/–.
   2. Steel column, other than one covered by (i) and one that does not support a part of a building that is not used as a carpark—
      1. 60/–/–; or
      2. an ESA/M of not greater than 26m²/tonne.
   3. Any other column not covered by (i) or (ii): 60/–/–.
5. Beams:
   1. Steel floor beam in continuous contact with a concrete floor slab—
      1. 60/–/–; or
      2. an ESA/M of not greater than 30m²/tonne.
   2. Any other beam: 60/–/–.
6. Fire-resisting lift and stair shaft (within the carpark only): 60/60/60.
7. Floor slab and vehicle ramp: 60/60/60.
8. Roof (not used for carparking): –/–/–.

(4) For the purposes of sub-clause (3):

1. ESA/M means the ratio of exposed surface area to mass per unit length.
2. Refer to Specification 17 for special requirements for a sprinkler system in a carpark complying with (3) and located within a multi-classified building.

(1) In a Class 2 or 3 building with a rise in storeys of not more than 3—

1. notwithstanding C2D10(1) and (2) and C3D7, timber framing may be used for—
   1. external walls; and
   2. common walls; and
   3. the floor framing of lifts pits; and
   4. non-loadbearing internal walls which are required to be fire-resisting; and
   5. non-loadbearing shafts, except shafts used for the discharge of hot products of combustion; and
   6. spandrels or horizontal construction provided for the purposes of C3D7; and
2. notwithstanding S5C11(1)(c), for loadbearing internal walls and loadbearing fire walls—
   1. timber framing may be used; and
   2. non-combustible materials may be used; and
3. notwithstanding S5C3(1)(c), timber framing may be used for a part of a building that provides support to a part of a building constructed of timber framing or non-combustible material in accordance with (a) and (b).

(2) A Class 2 or 3 building having a rise in storeys of not more than 4 may have the top three storeys constructed in accordance with (1) provided—

1. the lowest storey is used solely for the purpose of parking motor vehicles or for some other ancillary purpose; and
2. the lowest storey is constructed of concrete or masonry including the floor between it and the Class 2 or 3 part of the building above; and
3. the lowest storey and the storey above are separated by construction having an FRL of not less than 90/90/90 with no openings or penetrations that would reduce the fire-resisting performance of that construction except that a doorway in that construction may be protected by a –/60/30 self-closing fire door.

(3) In a Class 2 or 3 building complying with (1) or (2) and fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17, any FRL criterion prescribed in Tables S5C11a, S5C11d, S5C11e, S5C11f and S5C11g—

1. for any floor and any loadbearing wall, may be reduced to 60, except any FRL criterion of 90 for an external wall must be maintained when tested from the outside; and
2. for any non-loadbearing internal wall, need not apply if—
   1. it is lined on each side with 13 mm standard grade plasterboard or similar non-combustible material; and
   2. it extends—
      1. to the underside of the floor next above; or
      2. to the underside of a ceiling with a resistance to the incipient spread of fire of 60 minutes; or
      3. to the underside of a non-combustible roof covering; and
   3. any insulation installed in the cavity of the wall is non-combustible; and
   4. any construction joint, space or the like between the top of the wall and the floor, ceiling or roof is smoke sealed with intumescent putty or other suitable material; and
   5. any doorway in the wall is protected by a self-closing, tight fitting, solid core door not less than 35 mm thick.

(1) In a building required to be of Type B construction—

1. each building element listed in Tables S5C21a, S5C21b, S5C21c, S5C21d, S5C21e, S5C21f and S5C21g, and any beam or column incorporated in it, must have an FRL not less than that listed in the Tables for the particular class of building concerned; and
2. if a stair shaft supports any floor or a structural part of it—
   1. the floor or part must have an FRL of 60/–/– or more; or
   2. the junction of the stair shaft must be constructed so that the floor or part will be free to sag or fall in a fire without causing structural damage to the shaft; and
3. any internal wall which is required to have an FRL with respect to integrity and insulation, except a wall that bounds a sole-occupancy unit in the topmost (or only) storey and there is only one unit in that storey, must extend to—
   1. the underside of the floor next above if that floor has an FRL of at least 30/30/30; or
   2. the underside of a ceiling having a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself of not less than 60 minutes; or
   3. the underside of the roof covering if it is non-combustible and, except for roof battens with dimensions of 75 mm x 50 mm or less or sarking-type material, must not be crossed by timber or other combustible building elements; or
   4. 450 mm above the roof covering if it is combustible; and
4. a loadbearing internal wall and a loadbearing fire wall (including those that are part of a loadbearing shaft) must be constructed from—
   1. concrete; or
   2. masonry; or
   3. subject to (2), fire-protected timber; or
   4. any combination of (i) to (iii); and
5. in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building, in the storey immediately below the roof, internal columns and internal walls other than fire walls and shaft walls, need not comply with Tables S5C21e, S5C21f and S5C21g; and
6. in a Class 2 or 3 building, except where within the one sole-occupancy units, or a Class 9a health-care building or a Class 9b building, a floor separating storeys or above a space for the accommodation of motor vehicles or used for storage or any other ancillary purpose, must—
   1. be constructed so that it is at least of the standard achieved by a floor/ceiling system incorporating a ceiling which has a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself of not less than 60 minutes; or
   2. have an FRL of at least 30/30/30; or
   3. have a fire-protective covering on the underside of the floor, including beams incorporated in it, if the floor is combustible or of metal; and
7. in a Class 9c building a floor above a space for the accommodation of motor vehicles or used for storage or any other ancillary purpose, and any column supporting the floor must—
   1. be constructed so that it is at least of the standard achieved by a floor/ceiling system incorporating a ceiling which has a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself of not less than 60 minutes; or
   2. have an FRL of at least 30/30/30; or
   3. have a fire-protective covering on the underside of the floor, including beams incorporated in it, if the floor is combustible or of metal.

(2) For the purposes of (1)(d)(iii), fire-protected timber may be used, provided that—

1. the building is—
   1. a separate building; or
   2. a part of a building—
      1. which only occupies part of a storey, and is separated from the remaining part by a fire wall; or
      2. which is located above or below a part not containing fire-protected timber and the floor between the adjoining parts is provided with an FRL not less than that prescribed for a fire wall for the lower storey; and
2. the building has an effective height of not more than 25 m; and
3. the building has a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) throughout complying with Specification 17; and
4. any insulation installed in the cavity of the timber building element required to have an FRL is non-combustible; and
5. cavity barriers are provided in accordance with Specification 9.

(3) For the purposes of Table S5C21a and Table S5C21b, external wall includes any column and other building element incorporated within it or other external building element.

(1) Notwithstanding S5C21, a carpark may comply with this clause if it is an open-deck carpark or is protected with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 and is—

1. a separate building; or
2. a part of a building, and if occupying only part of a storey, is separated from the remaining part by a fire wall.

(2) For the purposes of this clause, a carpark—

1. includes—
   1. an administration area associated with the functioning of the carpark; and
   2. where the carpark is sprinklered, is associated with a Class 2 or 3 building and provides carparking for separate sole-occupancy units each carparking area with an area not greater than 10% of its floor area for purposes ancillary to the sole-occupancy units; but
2. excludes—
   1. except for (a), any area of another classification, or other part of a Class 7 building not used for carparking; and
   2. a building or part of a building specifically intended for the parking of trucks, buses, vans and the like.

(3) For building elements in a carpark as described in (1) and (2), the following minimum FRLs are applicable:

1. External walls:
   1. Less than 3 m from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed:
      1. Loadbearing: 60/60/60.
      2. Non-loadbearing:–/60/60.
   2. 3 m or more from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed: –/–/–.
2. Internal walls:
   1. Loadbearing, other than one supporting only the roof (not used for carparking): 60/–/–.
   2. Supporting only the roof (not used for carparking): –/–/–.
   3. Non-loadbearing: –/–/–.
3. Fire walls:
   1. From the direction used as a carpark: 60/60/60.
   2. From the direction not used as a carpark: as required by Table S5C21d.
4. Columns:
   1. Supporting only the roof (not used for carparking) and 3 m or more from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed: –/–/–.
   2. Steel column, other than one covered by (i) and one that does not support a part of a building that is not used as a carpark—
      1. 60/–/–; or
      2. an ESA/M of not greater than 26 m²/tonne.
   3. Any other column not covered by (i) or (ii): 60/–/–.
5. Beams:
   1. Steel floor beam less than 3 m from a fire-source feature in continuous contact with a concrete floor slab—
      1. 60/–/–; or
      2. an ESA/M of not greater than 30 m²/tonne.
   2. Any other beam less than 3 m from a fire-source feature: 60/–/–.
   3. Any beam 3 m or more from a fire-source feature: –/–/–.
6. Lift shaft: –/–/–.
7. Fire-resisting stair shaft (within the carpark only): 60/60/60.
8. Roof, floor slab and vehicle ramp: –/–/–.

(4) For the purposes of (3), ESA/M means the ratio of exposed surface area to mass per unit length.

(1) In a Class 2 or 3 building with a rise in storeys of not more than 2—

1. notwithstanding C2D10(1) and (2), timber framing may be used for—
   1. external walls; and
   2. common walls; and
   3. the floor framing of lifts pits; and
   4. non-loadbearing internal walls which are required to be fire-resisting; and
   5. non-loadbearing shafts, except shafts used for the discharge of hot products of combustion; and
2. notwithstanding S5C21(1)(d), for loadbearing internal walls and loadbearing fire walls—
   1. timber framing may be used; and
   2. non-combustible materials may be used; and
3. notwithstanding S5C3(1)(c), timber framing may be used for a part of a building that provides support to a part of a building constructed of timber framing or non-combustible material in accordance with (a) and (b).

(2) A Class 2 or 3 building having a rise in storeys of not more than 2 may have the top storey constructed in accordance with (1) provided—

1. the lowest storey is used solely for the purpose of parking motor vehicles or for some other ancillary purpose; and
2. the lowest storey is constructed of concrete or masonry including the floor between it and the Class 2 or 3 part of the building above; and
3. the lowest storey and the storey above are separated by construction having an FRL of not less than 90/90/90 with no openings or penetrations that would reduce the fire-resisting performance of that construction except that a doorway in that construction may be protected by a –/60/30 self-closing fire door.

(3) In a Class 2 or 3 building complying with (1) or (2) and fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17, any FRL criterion prescribed in Tables S5C21a, S5C21d, S5C21e, S5C21f and S5C21g; and —

1. for any loadbearing wall, may be reduced to 60, except any FRL criterion of 90 for an external wall must be maintained when tested from the outside; and
2. for any non-loadbearing internal wall, need not apply, if—
   1. it is lined on both sides with 13 mm standard grade plasterboard or similar non-combustible material; and
   2. it extends—
      1. to the underside of the floor next above if that floor has an FRL of at least 30/30/30 or is lined on the underside with a fire-protective covering; or
      2. to the underside of a ceiling with a resistance to the incipient spread of fire of 60 minutes; or
      3. to the underside of a non-combustible roof covering; and
   3. any insulation installed in the cavity of the wall is non-combustible; and
   4. any construction joints, spaces and the like between the top of the wall and the floor, ceiling or roof is smoke sealed with intumescent putty or other suitable material.

(1) In a building required to be of Type C construction—

1. a building element listed in Tables S5C24a, S5C24b, S5C24c, S5C24d and S5C24e and any beam or column incorporated in it, must have an FRL not less than that listed in those Tables for the particular Class of building concerned; and
2. an external wall that is required by Table S5C24a to have an FRL need only be tested from the outside to satisfy the requirement; and
3. a fire wall or an internal wall bounding a sole-occupancy unit or separating adjoining units must comply with Specification 6 if it is of lightweight construction and is required to have an FRL; and
4. in a Class 2 or 3 building, an internal wall which is required by Table 5C24c or S5C24d to have an FRL must extend—
   1. to the underside of the floor next above if that floor has an FRL of at least 30/30/30 or a fire-protective covering on the underside of the floor; or
   2. to the underside of a ceiling having a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself of not less than 60 minutes; or
   3. to the underside of the roof covering if it is non-combustible, and except for roof battens with dimensions of 75 mm x 50 mm or less or sarking-type material, must not be crossed by timber or other combustible building elements; or
   4. 450 mm above the roof covering if it is combustible; and
5. in a Class 2 or 3 building, except where within the one sole-occupancy unit, or a Class 9a health-care building, or a Class 9b building, a floor separating storeys, or above a space for the accommodation of motor vehicles or used for storage or any other ancillary purpose, and any column supporting the floor, must—
   1. have an FRL of at least 30/30/30; or
   2. have a fire-protective covering on the underside of the floor including beams incorporated in it and around the column, if the floor or column is combustible or of metal; and
6. in a Class 9c building a floor above a space for the accommodation of motor vehicles or used for storage or any other ancillary purpose, and any column supporting the floor, must—
   1. have an FRL of at least 30/30/30; or
   2. have a fire-protective covering on the underside of the floor including beams incorporated in it and around the column, if the floor or column is combustible or of metal.

(2) For the purposes of Table S5C24a and Table S5C24b, external wall includes any column and other building element incorporated within it or other external building element.

(1) Notwithstanding S5C24, a carpark may comply with this clause if it is an open-deck carpark or is protected with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 and is—

1. a separate building; or
2. a part of a building, and if occupying only part of a storey, is separated from the remaining part by a fire wall.

(2) For the purposes of this clause, a carpark—

1. includes—
   1. an administration area associated with the functioning of the carpark; and
   2. where the carpark is sprinklered, is associated with a Class 2 or 3 building and provides carparking for separate sole-occupancy units, each carparking area with an area not greater than 10% of its floor area for purposes ancillary to the sole-occupancy units; but
2. excludes—
   1. except for (a), any area of another classification, or other part of a Class 7 building not used for carparking; and
   2. a building or part of a building specifically intended for the parking of trucks, buses, vans and the like.

(3) For building elements in a carpark as described in (1) and (2), the following minimum FRLs are applicable:

1. External walls:
   1. Less than 1.5 m from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed:
      1. Loadbearing: 60/60/60.
      2. Non-loadbearing: –/60/60.
   2. 1.5 m or more from a fire-source feature to which it is exposed: –/–/–.
2. Internal walls: –/–/–.
3. Fire walls:
   1. From the direction used as a carpark: 60/60/60.
   2. From the direction not used as a carpark: 90/90/90.
4. Columns:
   1. Steel column less than 1.5 m from a fire-source feature—
      1. 60/–/–; or
      2. ESA/M not greater than 26 m²/tonne.
   2. Any other column not less than 1.5 m from a fire-source feature: 60/–/–.
   3. Any other column not covered by (i) or (ii): –/–/–.
5. Beams:
   1. Steel floor beam, less than 1.5 m from a fire-source feature, in continuous contact with a concrete floor slab—
      1. 60/–/–; or
      2. an ESA/M of not greater than 30 m²/tonne.
   2. any other beam: 60/–/–.
   3. more than 1.5 m from a fire-source feature: –/–/–.
6. Roof, floor slab and vehicle ramp: –/–/–.

(4) For the purposes of (3), ESA/M means the ratio of exposed surface area to mass per unit length.