Is Fire Shutter a DTS Solution in the BCA?
Firas Naji
Senior Building Surveyor - Fire Safety (Grade A1 Unrestricted All Classes of Building) @ Campbelltown City Council | Town Planner & Building Code (BCA) Consultant @ Silver End Pty Ltd
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Hello everyone,
I'm reaching out to gather opinions on a specific issue regarding compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA). If a bedroom window in a Class 1a dwelling is located within 900 mm of the side boundary, it requires protection. Can a fusible link fire shutter system be used as a Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) solution according to the BCA?
In reviewing the BCA, I noticed that "fire shutters" are not explicitly mentioned in Volume 2. This absence, as shown in the screenshot from Volume 2, suggests that fire shutters are not applicable. Does this imply that a performance solution is required instead?
The main question is whether there are fire shutters that are considered compliant under the DTS provisions of Volume 2 of the BCA and AS1905.2-2005. I reached out to one of the suppliers, to confirm if their fire shutters have CodeMark certification, which would indicate DTS compliance with BCA Volume 2.
Alternatively, if their shutters are only compliant with BCA Volume 1, how would they meet the requirements of Clause 9.23(3)(a) in Volume 2? Could these shutters be classified under "other construction with FRL of not less than -/60/-," as highlighted below?
I also requested a copy of their AS1530.4 test report to verify whether it specifies the maximum width of the tested fire shutter. This would help us determine if it matches the required window width and confirm if the report states that the fire shutter meets the performance requirements of P2.3.1, "Spread of Fire," in BCA Volume 2.
Unfortunately, instead of receiving the test report and CodeMark certificate, I was sent various documents and brochures that did not provide a definitive answer. I'm reaching out to see if any of you have encountered a similar scenario or have relevant experience. Your insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
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Disclaimer
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Regards
Firas Naji
03 August 2024
Fire Systems Senior Project Engineer
7 个月Interesting!
Director at ITS / Unrestricted Building Certifier NSW (no conditions) conventional pathway (not mutual recognition) / BCA Consultant / Access Consultant
7 个月Hi Firas, great work with engaging with the community on interesting relevant topics. This one is fairly straight forward and the answer is no, fire shutters are not DTS under BCA volume 2. You will notice that BCA volume 2 limits the installation active fire safety systems and for good reason. There are generally no legislated (and policed) maintenance regimes for class 1a fire service maintenance, so I would put this forward, even if approved as part of a performance solution how exactly would you ensure that the system is maintained to achieved lifelong functionality? If you need any assistance on these matters or would similar topics like this explored we will be offering workshops on both class 1-10 and class 2-9 space in the coming months. You can get in contact by visiting us at www.inthesquare.com.au
Entrepreneur | Sales & Marketing Specialist | Built Multi Million Dollar Retail Brand.
7 个月fire safety compliance challenges existing paradigms. bca compliance gray areas open dialogs.
Director | Registered Professional Fire Engineer | PhD, MSc, BSc, CPEng, NER, PE (VIC & NSW), MIEAust, BDC & PRE (NSW)
7 个月Thanks for sharing! I believe fire shutters are compliant as long as they achieve the required FRL, and tested under AS1530.4 - I don’t think the test standard refers to the applicable NCC BCA!
Senior Consultant, Essential Safety Measures. Sydney. Australia.
7 个月In my view it is good to have them. However upon activation of this system there should be some type of indication that there is a fire around this area. Audible alarms are there but no harm in installing a strobe light to get ones attention.