Bushfire Testing Seminar FPA Australia in Partnership with Warringtonfire Pty Ltd

It was great to be back at the Warringtonfire Lab last week. On this occasion, I wasn't getting my hands dirty building Test Specimens. I was there to gain further knowledge in the construction of buildings in bushfire areas, compliance realm. What a fantastic and constructive day it was too. I got to learn new things and network/catch up with faces both new and old.

Throughout the day we got to hear presentations from Dr Maria Kornikova - FPA Australia (Bushfire Regulatory Requirements), Stephen Halliday - GM Testing Warringtonfire (AS 1530.8.1 & AS 1530.8.2 Test Procedures), Omar Saad - Fire Assessments Manager Warringtonfire (Assessment Procedures), Boris Iskra - Forrest and Wood Products Australia (Building with Timber in Bushfire Areas). All of which were extremely informative.

The highlights of the day were the 2 live BAL-29 Decking Fire Tests carried out to the Test Method AS 1530.8.1 Tests on Elements of Construction for Buildings Exposed to Simulated Bushfire Attack - Radiant Heat & Small Flaming Sources. This is the Test Method referenced within AS 3959-2018 for testing products/systems for use in areas designated as Bushfire Attack Levels up to and including BAL-40. The First Test was to demonstrate a Typical Pass & the Second Test was to demonstrate a Typical Fail, however, things didn't quite go as planned!

FIRST TEST Masis Altun Senior Test Engineer the RPO overseeing the test with Ali lighting the crib.

FIRST TEST - Cuong removing the Radiant Heat Shields at the start of the Test

FIRST TEST - Post Test explanation by Steven Halliday of why this Decking Product passed the requirements of AS 1530.8.1 and would have Achieved a BAL-29 Classification.

SECOND TEST - This Generic Decking Product was expected to fail sensationally and turn into a flaming mass, yet it did not. To everyone's surprise, this product looked like it was destined to pass the criteria of AS 1530.8.1 due to the fact that there was no obvious/spectacular flaming during the initial radiant heat exposure period of the test. Unfortunately failure can still occur over time, even after the radiant heat source is removed/shielded. This specimen still had a small amount of flaming visible on the exposed side at 60 minutes. Result - BAL-29 Fail due to continued flaming on the exposed side at 60 minutes.

This was a prime example of why actual fire testing is such an important part of the compliance requirements of the National Construction Code and why nothing should be pre-judged or assumed. One of the things which I've learnt over the years, is that sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised and other times you can be unpleasantly shocked. This is why, it doesn't matter what someone THINKS a product or system can do when exposed to fire. All that matters in a coroners court is what you can prove a product can do. In the case of Fire Protection Compliance in Australia a BAL - Classification or an FRL can only be determined in a Report from a NATA Accredited Testing Laboratory which is accredited for the specific referenced Test Method which you require for your Design, Application and Sign-off. So before you accept any compliance documentation from a NATA ATL, please check on the NATA website to ensure the ATL is accredited for the specific test method you require: www.nata.com.au

Overall, I had a fantastic day, and loved catching up with these 2 diamonds, whom I've not seen for over a Year. Maria Kornakova Manager Bushire Services - FPA Australia and Tracy Horsley Sales Executive - Warringtonfire Pty Ltd.

#fireprotection #passivefireprotection #architects #architecturaldesign #designbuild #buildingdesign #certification #surveying #firesafety #fireengineering #bushfire #BPAD #constructionsite #constructionmanagement #facade Ian Weir Leigh Gesthuizen Louise Kempster Jonathan Duler Jonathan Barnett Wayne Tucker Fallon Kempster Jordan Kempster Tim Law Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) Warringtonfire Warringtonfire Australia, A Jensen Hughes Company Peter Collina Alif Mohd Mandeep Kamal Anthony Rosamilia Omar S. Boris Iskra Namrata Moharana Amer Magrabi DAVID LONERGAN Ian Findlay Nick Kuzewicz Craig Tyrrell Imran Ahamed Keith Nicholls Society of Fire Protection Engineers - Central Savannah River Area Society of Fire Protection Engineers - Great Plains Chapter Association of Australian Certifiers Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Rescue Victoria Kent Fire and Rescue Service FireRescue Magazine Fire Safety Research Institute The Institution of Fire Engineers Resilient Building Council Australian Bushfire Building Conference Bushfire Protection Association Australia California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) California Fire Chiefs Association California Fire Safe Council California Wildfire Prevention Organization NSW Rural Fire Service Not in service Rural Fire Service Association