Part G4 Construction in alpine areas

The Objective of this Part is to safeguard occupants in alpine areas from illness or injury from an emergency while evacuating a building.

A building in an alpine area is to be provided with additional measures in view of the increased difficulties in fire-fighting and maintaining access and means of egress in snow conditions.

An external doorway from a building in an alpine area must be installed so that opening the door is not obstructed by snow or ice.

A building in an alpine area containing external trafficable structures forming part of the means of egress must be constructed so that those structures remain, as far as practicable, useable under snow conditions.

A building in an alpine area must be constructed so that snow or ice is not shed from the building onto the allotment, any adjoining allotment, road or public space in a location or manner that will—

1. obstruct a means of egress from any building to a road or open space; or
2. otherwise endanger people.

A building in an alpine area must have a fire safety system installed to—

1. facilitate fire-fighting operations; and
2. alert occupants in the event of an emergency.

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements G4P1 to G4P4 are satisfied by complying with—

1. G4D2 to G4D8; and
2. for a building containing an occupiable outdoor area, Part G6.

(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 Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part apply to any building constructed in an alpine area in addition to other Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of NCC Volume One.

(2) Where any Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions are in conflict, the provisions of this Part take precedence.

External doors which may be subject to the build-up of snow must—

1. open inwards or slide; and
2. if inward opening, be marked “OPEN INWARDS” on the inside face of the door in letters not less than 75 mm high in a colour contrasting with that of the background; and
3. be constructed so that the threshold is not less than 900 mm above the adjoining surface; and
4. if it serves a corridor or stairway, be positioned in an alcove or recess with—
   1. no horizontal dimensions of the alcove or recess less than twice the width of the door; and
   2. the door positioned to open against a wall such that the distance from any part of its swing to the nearest point of entry of the stairway or corridor is not less than the width of the door.

In a Class 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building or Class 4 part of a building, a system of emergency lighting must be installed in accordance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Part E4—

1. in every stairway (other than those within a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building); and
2. in every public corridor or the like leading to an exit; and
3. externally above every doorway opening to a road or open space; and
4. in any storey of the building if illumination sufficient for safe egress will not be available under conditions of emergency.

External stairways, ramps, access bridges or other trafficable structures serving the building must—

1. have a floor surface that consists of expanded mesh if it is used as a means of egress; and
2. have any required barrier designed so that its sides are not less than 75% open; and
3. for a stairway, have goings (G), risers (R) and slope relationship quantity (2R + G) in accordance with—
   1. Table D3D14; or
   2. Table G4D5; and
4. for a ramp serving as an exit and not serving as an accessible ramp, have a gradient not steeper than 1:12; and
5. where a ramp is also serving as an accessible ramp under Part D4, be in accordance with AS 1428.1.

A building must be so constructed that—

1. if any part of an external wall is more than 3.6 m above the natural ground level — the distance of that part from a boundary other than a road alignment is not less than 2.5 m plus an additional 100 mm for each 300 mm or part thereof by which that part of the wall exceeds a height of 3.6 m; and
2. if an exit doorway discharges into a court between wings of a building and that area may be used for vehicle access to the building, the distance between wings must be not less than 4 m; and
3. where an exit doorway discharges opposite a feature that could entrap snow or an embankment that is more than 900 mm above the threshold of the doorway, a distance of not less than 4 m must be provided between the doorway and the feature.

(1) Every Class 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building must have—

1. a manually operated fire alarm system with call-points complying with AS 1670.1; and
2. fire hydrants installed in accordance with E1D2(2); and
3. fire hose reels installed in accordance with E1D3(2) to (7), except that in a Class 2 or 3 building—
   1. for the purpose of E1D3(2), a sole-occupancy unit is considered to be a fire compartment; and
   2. for the purpose of E1D3(3)(b), a sole-occupancy unit may be served by a single fire hose reel located at the level of egress from that sole-occupancy unit; and
   3. for the purpose of E1D3(6), a fire hose may pass through a doorway in bounding construction referred to in C4D12.

(2) The requirements of (1)(c) do not apply to a Class 8 electricity network substation.

Every Class 2, 3 or 9 building must display a notice clearly marked “FIRE ORDERS” in suitable locations near the main entrance and on each storey, explaining—

1. the method of operation of the fire alarm system and the location of all call-points; and
2. the location and methods of operation of all fire-fighting equipment; and
3. the location of all exits; and
4. the procedure for evacuation of the building.