Comparative Equivalence List

Definitions

Essential Safety Measures (2004 onwards)

Essential Services (1994 to 2004)

To maintain structural stability during a fire and restrict the spread of fire. It must be provided with the fire resistance level specified in the BCA and have all openings protected with doors, windows, shutters, panels or other means rated to provide the required fire resistance level.

Indicates the suitability or otherwise, of building materials, etc. in the ability to resist spread of flame and the generation of smoke. Building owners must ensure that any new material introduced to their premises conforms to the requirements of the Building Code of Australia.

To provide fire resistance wall, covering, etc that are built into the structure during construction.

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To provide protecting a non fire rated opening in a required fire resisting element with the required fire protection.

The fire door must close upon the loss of power supply or due to an approved sensing device (e.g heat detectors / fire alarm / sprinkler system) and must close cleanly without impairment in its operation. No unauthorised means should be used to hold the door open.

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Are provided where access to shafts containing ventilation equipment, pipes, garbage chutes or other services, is required for maintenance purposes.

A glazed opening provided with a fire rating in a fire rated wall to maintain the fire resistance of the building element or structure.

Constructed and installed in compliance to the regulations, they must operate automatically and close at a rate between 0.25 and 0.3 metres per second and maintain their integrity for the time period as required by BCA.

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Provided in certain circumstances to provide some level of resistance to the spread of fire and smoke and has much the same requirements as a fire door.

Service penetrations into fire rate structures are to be maintained to keep the integrity of its fire resistant level.

Assist in keeping the integrity and protection of structural elements and fire/smoke resistant elements in the event of fire.

Constructed in smoke walls to restrict the passage of smoke between smoke compartments or walls, or from within a smoke lobby (i.e from passing from one side of the doorway to the other).

Capable of closing automatically (heat activated device) fully within 35 seconds or manually from either stage side to prevent the passage of smoke and fire from the stage area to the audience area. Non-combustible, inhibiting smoke penetration around its perimeter when fully lowered or with specified early fire hazard indices and protection by a deluge sprinkler system across its total width.

MEANS OF EGRESS:

To provide an unobstructed pathway for occupants traveling to an exit. The passage to an exit has to be the width and height as specified by the Building Code of Australia.

To provide an unobstructed pathway for occupants traveling from an exit to road or open space. The path to road or open space has to be the width and height as specified by the Building Code of Australia.

To enable safe exit from the building for residents/staff (fire doors are to be at entrance/exit points to these elements). These have to be fire resistant at the level specified in the Building Code of Australia.

To provide fire resistance wall, covering, etc that are built into the structure during construction to avoid the travel of smoke into the exit paths.

To provide a means of egress from any part of a building

To enable safe exit from the building. With minimum obstruction in an exit path and the exit door to be opened in a single downward/push action.

SIGNS:

To assist the residents/staff in identifying exits and paths of travel to exits. It must be clearly visible (in adequate size letters and symbols) to the person approaching an exit. It should be located in positions where exits are not readily visible, on/above/adjacent to each door providing exit and has emergency illumination in the event of normal power supply failure.

Warning signs, etc that warn users of using the lifts (passenger) in the event of a fire.

Warning signs, etc that warn occupants that it is not the exit path in the event of a fire.

Warning signs, etc that warn occupants within a fire isolated stair on how to re-enter a particular level.

Warning signs, etc that warn occupants that they must not obstruct or impair the function of a required door.

Warning signs, etc that warn occupants that the external exit doors open inwards to avoid exit doors not being able to be opened by snow fall on the out side of the door

Warning signs, etc that warn occupants the operation of fire alarms, fire fighting equipment, location of exits and evacuation procedures.

LIGHTING:

To provide sufficient lighting to allow safe evacuation in an event of an emergency. It must at least illuminate in the event of power failure and enough light in regards to the distance to the exits, use and size in the floor area of the building.

FIRE FIGHTING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT:

This is to provide the fire fighting personnel a supply of water, which is readily accessible and located to provide coverage and a specified minimum flow rate (at all times) to every part of the building.

To enable the residents/staff to undertake initial fire extinguishment. The hose reel length must be to reach every part of the floor or storey on which it is installed. The location of the hose has to be clearly indicated and instructions on how to operate it, displayed on the hose reel. Staff and personnel are required to be trained in the usage of the hose reels.

A full-time automatic fire suppression system that is able to summon the fire brigade automatically.

To enable the residents/staff to attack a fire in its initial stages, with the suitable agents for the likely type of fire. The fire extinguishers must be located in conspicuous and in an accessible position, which are indicated by the appropriate signage. Staff and personnel must be suitably trained in the correct use of fire extinguishers located in the premises.

It is the centre from which fire fighting operations or emergency procedures are directed or controlled. Equipment’s associated with required fire services in the building, and are only used for fire fighting and for the safety or security of the residents/staff.

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Suitable additional provisions must be made if special fire-fighting problems could arise from the nature or quantity of materials stored, displayed, used in a building or stored on the allotment. The location of the building in relation to available water supply for fire-fighting purposes may also require special equipment to be installed in the building

AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS:

• automatic air pressurisation systems for fire- isolated exits
• zone smoke control system
• smoke exhaust system automatic smoke and heat vents (including automatic vents for atriums)
• air handling systems that do not form part of a smoke hazard management system and which may unduly contribute to the spread of smoke
• miscellaneous air- handling systems covered by Sections 5 and 11 of AS/NZS1668.1 serving more than one fire compartment

To provide sufficient time for residents/staff to evacuate before the evacuation route becomes untenable. The purpose is to remove smoke from fire affected area to the outside area and introduce outside air to either fire affected area or non fire affected compartments, in response to the heat or smoke sensing equipment and provide a pressurised atmosphere in fire isolated exits to prevent entry of smoke from the fire compartment.

To ensure that car fumes are adequately removed and under fire and smoke conditions within a car park area, occupants have sufficient time to evacuate before the evacuation route becomes untenable.

Smoke and fire control systems within atriums ensure that occupants have sufficient time to evacuate before the evacuation route becomes untenable. The reason for these additional requirements is that there is an additional fire hazard associated with atriums and for the occupants evacuating them.

AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS:

To detect and provide an early warning of the presence of fire, providing as much time as possible to alert the residents/staff.

To automatically sense the fire in its initial development stage and provide a local alarm and advise the fire brigade and indicate the location of the fire (also has manual means to activate the system) and switch the air handling system to the smoke ventilating phase and activate necessary fire pumps and the closure of smoke and fire isolating doors

OCCUPANT WARNING SYSTEMS:

To alert the residents/staff in the event of an emergency and enable an orderly evacuation of the building. Staff and personnel are required to be trained in identification of the “alert” and “evacuation” signals (audio or visual), and take part in an evacuation exercises.

LIFTS:

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Allows the emergency services personnel to use stretcher facilities in a lift.

Allows the emergency services personnel to gain entry to any floor of the building and proceed in the evacuation of staff and residents and carry out emergency procedures.

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STANDBY POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS:

In the event of a power failure, an emergency power supply will ensure the operation of the safety systems. In terms of a generating set, it is required to provide power within 30 seconds of mains failure.

BUILDING CLEARANCE AND FIRE APPLIANCES:

For buildings constructed in excess of the floor area requirements of the BCA, vehicular access around that building for emergency services from a public road is required. The road has to be load bearing capability with unobstructed height and a min. width of 6 metres and no part of it further than 18 metres from the building.

MECHANICAL VENTILATION:

Safeguards residents/staff from illness or loss of amenity due to lack of air freshness e.g. kitchen exhaust, air condition, evaporative cooling, general exhaust, thermal plants, humidifiers, electric duct heaters, etc.