Standards Australia is the nation’s peak non-government standards organisation with a long lasting commitment to the development of standards in the Building and Construction sector.
National Construction Code: Out of Cycle Amendment
The Australian Building Codes Board has been working on an out of cycle amendment to the National Construction Code.
Some important Australian Standards are being considered as part of this proposed amendment to the National Construction Code.
AS 5113:2016, Fire propagation testing and classification of existing walls of buildings
This standard sets out procedures for the fire propagation testing and the classification of external walls of buildings.
The Australian Building Codes Board is seeking feedback on a new verification method in the National Construction Code dealing with avoidance of fire spread in buildings. AS 5113:2016 is referenced as part of the verification method.
AS 2118.1:2017, Automatic fire sprinkler systems – General systems
The new edition of AS 2118.1, Automatic fire sprinkler systems – General systems is also being considered as part of this amendment.
AS 2118.1 specifies requirements for the design, installation and commissioning of automatic fire sprinkler systems in buildings and provides for occupancy classification. The standard was revised to reflect recent advances in technology and to refine the clarity and conciseness of the content.
Key changes to AS 2118.1 include:
1 New provisions for redundant water supply criteria with more relevant criteria
2 Expanded the scope to allow for the application of a broader range of commonly used sprinkler system products
3 Provided clarity in clauses to simplify the application of the document
4 Provided cost effective alternatives to certain requirements to align with overseas standards
5 References to other standards and third party documents reviewed for consistency
New Publication for Fire Hydrant Standard
AS 2419.1:2017, Fire hydrant installations – System design, installation and commissioning
The availability of fire hydrants is essential to fire protection. Fire hydrants may be used to control the spread of fire, protect neighbouring properties and extinguish a fire controlled by an automatic fire protection system.
Fire hydrant systems need to be regularly inspected, tested and maintained to ensure continued readiness for use. In developing a fire hydrant design, the resources available to the attending fire brigade or fire service need to be considered to ensure the design developed is appropriate.
AS 2419.1 specifies requirements for the design, installation, commissioning and testing of fire hydrant installations. It applies to on-site fire hydrant installations but does not apply to fire hydrant installations in special hazard areas.
The standard was restructured and refined to clarify certain provisions for fire hydrant design. Key changes to the standard include:
1 Improved clarity of requirements over the 2005 version
2 Adopted current practice with regard to design, installation, materials, commissioning and water conservation
3 Improved clarity on fire hydrant systems that are more appropriate for regional and rural areas
4 Improved readability of the standard by restricting the document and by grouping all common information in to the same section
5 Enhanced informative sections for easier interpretation
6 Incorporated additional provisions to address the increasing risks associated with the ever changing built environment
Progress for Emergency Management Standard
AS 3745:2010, Planning for emergencies in facilities
The development and implementation of emergency plans and procedures are essential for the effective and efficient management of any emergency in a facility and a statutory requirement in many jurisdictions.
AS 3745, Planning for emergencies in facilities outlines the minimum requirements for the establishment, validation and implementation of an emergency plan for a facility to provide for the safety of occupants of that facility and its visitors leading up to, and during an evacuation.
A project to amend AS 3745 is currently underway. The amendment introduces specific content and implements updates and improvements.
The amendment is part of a broader plan to revise AS 3745 once the amendment has been completed.
Key changes to the standard are planned to include:
- New definitions for first-attack firefighting equipment, first-response emergency equipment and responding emergency services
- Clarification on Figure 3.1, Structure of the Emergency Plan for the list of training arrangements
- Additional items for minimum diagram requirements in Clause 3.5.5 for paths of travel and the location of the facility.
- Additional items for optional diagram elements in Clause 3.5.6 for Automatic External Defibrillator(s), Electrical switchboard location(s), Solar power isolation point(s) and the name of the facility.
- Definitions added for “escape, hide, act, see/tell methodology” and “lockdown” in Clause 4.2.6.3, Evacuation Options
Other Recent Publications
Other key standards that have been published in the Building and Construction sector include:
AS 2047:2014/Amdt 2-2017, Windows and external glazed doors in buildings
- In the recent work program that has been published for the AS 4420 series, the test standards have been amalgamated into a single joint publication, AS/NZS 4420.1:2016. This amendment to AS 2047 was to ensure that the reference to the test methods were accurate.
- AS 4586:2017, Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials
- The key change is to the test procedure described in AS 4586:2013 Appendix D, Oil-Wet Inclining Platform Test Method. The purpose of this change was to better align with the relevant international standard.
- AS 7240.6:2017, Fire detection and alarm systems – Carbon monoxide fire detectors using electro-chemical cells
- This standard is identical to, and has been reproduced from, ISO 7240 6:2011, Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 6: Carbon monoxide fire detectors using electro-chemical cells. The objective of this standard is to specify requirements, test methods and performance criteria for point-type fire detectors using an electrochemical-cell carbon-monoxide sensor, for use in fire detection and alarm systems.
For more information, go to www.standards.org.au
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