Part C2 Fire resistance and stability

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements C1P1 to C1P9 are satisfied by complying with—

1. C2D2 to C2D15, C3D2 to C3D15 and C4D2 to C4D17; and
2. in a building containing an atrium, Part G3; and
3. for a building containing an occupiable outdoor area, Part G6; and
4. for additional requirements for Class 9b buildings, Part I1; and
5. for farm sheds, Part I3.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

(1) The minimum Type of fire-resisting construction of a building must be determined in accordance with Table C2D2, except as allowed for—

1. certain Class 2, 3 or 9c buildings, in C2D6; and
2. a Class 4 part of a building located on the top storey, in C2D4(2); and
3. open spectator stands and indoor sports stadiums, in C2D8.

(2) Each building element must comply with Specification 5 as applicable.

(1) The rise in storeys is the sum of the greatest number of storeys at any part of the external walls of the building and any storeys within the roof space—

1. above the finished ground next to that part; or
2. if part of the external wall is on the boundary of the allotment, above the natural ground level at the relevant part of the boundary.

(2) A storey is not counted if—

1. it is situated at the top of the building and contains only heating, ventilating or lift equipment, water tanks, or similar service units or equipment; or
2. it is situated partly below the finished ground and the underside of the ceiling is not more than 1 m above the average finished level of the ground at the external wall, or if the external wall is more than 12 m long, the average for the 12 m part where the ground is lowest.

(3) In a Class 7 or 8 building, a storey that has an average internal height of more than 6 m is counted as—

1. one storey if it is the only storey above the ground; or
2. 2 storeys in any other case.

(4) For the purposes of calculating the rise in storeys of a building—

1. a mezzanine is regarded as a storey in that part of the building in which it is situated if its floor area is more than 200 m² or more than ⅓ of the floor area of the room, whichever is the lesser; and
2. two or more mezzanines are regarded as a storey in that part of the building in which they are situated if they are at or near the same level and have an aggregate floor area more than 200 m² or more than ⅓ of the floor area of the room, whichever is the lesser.

(1) In a building of multiple classifications, the Type of construction required for the building is the most fire-resisting Type resulting from the application of Table C2D2 on the basis that the classification applying to the top storey applies to all storeys.

(2) In a building containing a Class 4 part on the top storey, for the purpose of (1), the classification applying to the top storey must be—

1. when the Class 4 part occupies the whole of the top storey, the classification applicable to the next highest storey; or
2. when the Class 4 part occupies part of the top storey, the classification applicable to the adjacent part.

A building may be of mixed Types of construction where it is separated in accordance with C3D8 and the Type of construction is determined in accordance with C2D2 or C2D4.

A building having a rise in storeys of 2 may be of Type C construction if—

1. it is a Class 2 or 3 building or a mixture of these classes and each sole-occupancy unit has—
   1. access to at least 2 exits; or
   2. its own direct access to a road or open space; or
2. it is a Class 9c building protected throughout with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification 17 and complies with the maximum compartment size specified in Table C3D3 for Type C construction.

For the Type of construction required by C2D4, a Class 4 part of a building requires the same FRL for building elements and the same construction separating the Class 4 part from the remainder of the building as a Class 2 part in the same Type of construction.

(1) An open spectator stand or indoor sports stadium may be of Type C construction and need not comply with the other provisions of this Part if it contains not more than one tier of seating, is of non-combustible construction, and has only changing rooms, sanitary facilities or the like below the tiered seating.

(2) In (1), one tier of seating means numerous rows of tiered seating incorporating cross-overs but within one viewing level.

(1) Lightweight construction must comply with Specification 6 if it is used in a wall system—

1. that is required to have an FRL; or
2. for a lift shaft, stair shaft or service shaft or an external wall bounding a public corridor including a non fire-isolated passageway or non fire-isolated ramp, in a spectator stand, sports stadium, cinema or theatre, railway station, bus station or airport terminal.

(2) If lightweight construction is used for the fire-resisting covering of a steel column or the like, and if—

1. the covering is not in continuous contact with the column, then the void must be filled solid, to a height of not less than 1.2 m above the floor to prevent indenting; and
2. the column is liable to be damaged from the movement of vehicles, materials or equipment, then the covering must be protected by steel or other suitable material.

(1) In a building required to be of Type A or B construction, the following building elements and their components must be non-combustible:

1. External walls and common walls, including all components incorporated in them including the facade covering, framing and insulation.
2. The flooring and floor framing of lift pits.
3. Non-loadbearing internal walls where they are required to be fire-resisting.

(2) A shaft, being a lift, ventilating, pipe, garbage, or similar shaft that is not for the discharge of hot products of combustion, that is non-loadbearing, must be of non-combustible construction in—

1. a building required to be of Type A construction; and
2. a building required to be of Type B construction, subject to C3D11, in—
   1. a Class 2, 3 or 9 building; and
   2. a Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 building if the shaft connects more than 2 storeys.

(3) A loadbearing internal wall and a loadbearing fire wall, including those that are part of a loadbearing shaft, must comply with Specification 5.

(4) The requirements of (1) and (2) do not apply to the following:

1. Gaskets.
2. Caulking.
3. Sealants.
4. Termite management systems.
5. Glass, including laminated glass, and associated adhesives, including tapes.
6. Thermal breaks associated with—
   1. glazing systems; or
   2. external wall systems, where the thermal breaks—
      1. are no larger than necessary to achieve thermal objectives; and
      2. do not extend beyond one storey; and
      3. do not extend beyond one fire compartment.
7. Damp-proof courses.
8. Compressible fillers and backing materials, including those associated with articulation joints, closing gaps not wider than 50 mm.
9. Isolated—
   1. construction packers and shims; or
   2. blocking for fixing fixtures; or
   3. fixings, including fixing accessories; or
   4. acoustic mounts.
10. Waterproofing materials applied to the external face, used below ground level and up to 250 mm above ground level.
11. Joint trims and joint reinforcing tape and mesh of a width not greater than 50 mm.
12. Weather sealing materials, applied to gaps not wider than 50 mm, used within and between concrete elements.
13. Wall ties and other masonry components complying with AS 2699 Part 1 and Part 3 as appropriate, and associated with masonry wall construction.
14. Reinforcing bars and associated minor elements that are wholly or predominately encased in concrete or grout.
15. A paint, lacquer or a similar finish or coating.
16. Adhesives, including tapes, associated with stiffeners for cladding systems.
17. Fire-protective materials and components required for the protection of penetrations.

(5) The following materials, when entirely composed of itself, are non-combustible and may be used wherever a non-combustible material is required:

1. Concrete.
2. Steel, including metallic coated steel.
3. Masonry, including mortar.
4. Aluminium, including aluminium alloy.
5. Autoclaved aerated concrete, including mortar.
6. Iron.
7. Terracotta.
8. Porcelain.
9. Ceramic.
10. Natural stone.
11. Copper.
12. Zinc.
13. Lead.
14. Bronze.
15. Brass.

(6) The following materials may be used wherever a non-combustible material is required:

1. Plasterboard.
2. Perforated gypsum lath with a normal paper finish.
3. Fibrous-plaster sheet.
4. Fibre-reinforced cement sheeting.
5. Pre-finished metal sheeting having a combustible surface finish not exceeding 1 mm thickness and where the Spread-of-Flame Index of the product is not greater than 0.
6. Sarking-type materials that do not exceed 1 mm in thickness and have a Flammability Index not greater than 5.
7. Bonded laminated materials where—
   1. each lamina, including any core, is non-combustible; and
   2. each adhesive layer does not exceed 1 mm in thickness and the total thickness of the adhesive layers does not exceed 2 mm; and
   3. the Spread-of-Flame Index and the Smoke-Developed Index of the bonded laminated material as a whole do not exceed 0 and 3 respectively; and
   4. when located externally, are fixed in accordance with C2D15.

(1) The fire hazard properties of the following internal linings, materials and assemblies within a Class 2 to 9 building must comply with Specification 7:

1. Floor linings and floor coverings.
2. Wall linings and ceiling linings.
3. Air-handling ductwork.
4. Lift cars.
5. In Class 9b buildings used as a theatre, public hall or the like—
   1. fixed seating in the audience area or auditorium; and
   2. a proscenium curtain required by Specification 32.
6. Escalators, moving walkways and non-required non fire-isolated stairways or pedestrian ramps subject to Specification 14.
7. Sarking-type materials.
8. Attachments to floors, ceilings, internal walls, common walls, fire walls and to internal linings of external walls.
9. Other materials including insulation materials other than sarking-type materials.

(2) Paint or fire-retardant coatings must not be used to achieve compliance with the required fire hazard properties.

(3) The requirements of (1) do not apply to a material or assembly if it is—

1. plaster, cement render, concrete, terrazzo, ceramic tile or the like; or
2. a fire-protective covering; or
3. a timber-framed window; or
4. a solid timber handrail or skirting; or
5. a timber-faced door; or
6. an electrical switch, socket-outlet, cover plate or the like; or
7. a material used for—
   1. a roof insulating material applied in continuous contact with a substrate; or
   2. an adhesive; or
   3. a damp-proof course, flashing, caulking, sealing, ground moisture barrier, or the like; or
8. a paint, varnish, lacquer or similar finish, other than nitro-cellulose lacquer; or
9. a clear or translucent roof light of glass fibre-reinforced polyester if—
   1. the roof in which it is installed forms part of a single storey building required to be Type C construction; and
   2. the material is used as part of the roof covering; and
   3. it is not closer than 1.5 m from another roof light of the same type; and
   4. each roof light is not more than 14 m² in area; and
   5. the area of the roof lights per 70 m² of roof surface is not more than 14 m²; or
10. a face plate or neck adaptor of supply and return air outlets of an air handling system; or
11. a face plate or diffuser plate of light fitting and emergency exit signs and associated electrical wiring and electrical components; or
12. a joinery unit, cupboard, shelving, or the like; or
13. an attached non-building fixture and fitting such as—
    1. a curtain, blind, or similar decor, other than a proscenium curtain required by Specification 32; and
    2. a whiteboard, window treatment or the like; or
14. timber treads, risers, landings and associated supporting framework installed in accordance with D3D30 where the Spread-of-Flame Index and the Smoke-Developed Index of the timber does not exceed 9 and 8 respectively; or
15. any other material that does not significantly increase the hazards of fire.

Concrete external walls that could collapse as complete panels (e.g. tilt-up and pre-cast concrete), in a building having a rise in storeys of not more than 2, must comply with Specification 8.

Fire-protected timber may be used wherever an element is required to be non-combustible, provided—

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 to have an FRL is non-combustible; and
5. cavity barriers are provided in accordance with Specification 9.

An ancillary element must not be fixed, installed, attached to or supported by the concealed internal parts or external face of an external wall that is required to be non-combustible unless it is one of the following:

1. An ancillary element that is non-combustible.
2. A gutter, downpipe or other plumbing fixture or fitting.
3. A flashing.
4. A grate, grille or similar cover not more than 2 m² in area associated with a building service.
5. An electrical switch, socket-outlet, cover plate or the like.
6. A light fitting.
7. A required sign.
8. A sign other than one provided under (a) or (g) that—
   1. achieves a group number of 1 or 2; and
   2. does not extend beyond one storey; and
   3. does not extend beyond one fire compartment; and
   4. is separated vertically from other signs permitted under (h) by at least 2 storeys.
9. An awning, sunshade, canopy, blind or shading hood other than one provided under (a) that—
   1. meets the relevant requirements of Table S7C7 as for an internal element; and
   2. serves a storey—
      1. at ground level; or
      2. immediately above a storey at ground level; and
   3. does not serve an exit, where it would render the exit unusable in a fire.
10. A part of a security, intercom or announcement system.
11. Wiring.
12. Waterproofing material installed in accordance with AS 4654.2 and applied to an adjacent floor surface, including vertical upturn, or a roof surface.
13. Collars, sleeves and insulation associated with service installations.
14. Screens applied to vents, weepholes and gaps complying with AS 3959.
15. Wiper and brush seals associated with doors, windows or other openings.
16. A gasket, caulking, sealant or adhesive directly associated with (a) to (o).

(1) In a building required to be of Type A or B construction, externally located bonded laminated cladding panels must have all layers of cladding mechanically supported or restrained to the supporting frame.

(2) An externally located bonded laminated cladding panel need not comply with (1) if it is one of the following:

1. A laminated glass system.
2. Layered plasterboard product.
3. Perforated gypsum lath with a normal paper finish.
4. Fibrous-plaster sheet.
5. Fibre-reinforced cement sheeting.
6. A component of a garage door.