Regulations

ENGR 403 – Fire Engineering

Module 26
 Regulations
Suggested readings

z FEDG – Chapter 1, Introduction

z FEDG – Chapter 2, Fire Engineering Design Strategy
z FEDG – Chapter 18, Regulatory Framework in New Zealand

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Introduction

z New Zealand Building Regulations

z Fire Engineering Design
Effect on new and Historical fires
current buildings affect regulations

For example – Ref : FEDG,

Figure 4.2
installation of fire
safety systems
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Design goals

z Design building and activities that do not present

unreasonable probability of fire

z If a fire does occur

‰ All occupants can move to a place of safety in a reasonable
time
‰ Fire Service have time and access for operations
‰ Minimise environmental affects
‰ Prevent fire spread beyond firecell of origin
‰ Minimise damage to building and property
‰ Allow building to be repaired

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Design goals

z Design considerations
‰ Building geometry and intended
use
‰ Location of adjacent properties
‰ Probability of a fire occurring
‰ Fuel load and distribution
‰ Number and location of
occupants
‰ Proximity and likely response of
the Fire Service
‰ Available water supply
‰ Building management practices
that affect fire safety
FEDG, Fig 2.1

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z Traditional regulations have often focussed on

property safety
z The fire safety requirements of modern regulations
(such as the New Zealand Building Code) are
concerned with life safety with some neighbouring
property considerations

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z For 30 years prior to 1992 fire

safety regulations in New
Zealand followed
prescriptive code
‰ NZS 1900 : Fire Resisting
Construction and Means of Egress,
often referred to as “Chapter 5”

z Code told designers how to

build buildings, what
materials to use etc
z Did not give designers much
flexibility
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z In 1992 a performance based Building Code was introduced

z Revolutionary approach within the international community
z Even now many countries do not have performance based regulations
in fire safety
z A performance based regulatory environment allows for specific
engineering design which is used when
‰ Prescriptive design is not applicable
‰ Owner’s requirements go beyond regulations
‰ Additional benefits or cost savings result

z The New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) contains the Objectives,

the Functional Requirements and the Performance criteria for
which all designs must comply
z The key for engineers working on any design is the ability of the
design to satisfy the performance criteria

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z Compliance Documents (Prescriptive methods of attaining the

performance criteria)
‰ Acceptable Solutions (Step-by-step instructions)
‰ Verification Methods (Calculation or test methods)

z Alternative Solutions / Specific Design

‰ Other Documents (Alternative methods other than the compliance
documents to achieve the Performance Criteria)
z Freedom of design
z Innovative solutions
z Complex and unique buildings

VM2
C/AS1-7

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z Fire Safety Requirements in the Building Code:

C1. Objectives
C2. Prevention of fire occurring
C3. Fire affecting areas beyond the fire source
C4. Movement to place of safety
C5. Access and safety for firefighting operations
C6. Structural stability

z Plus
F6. Visibility in Escape Routes
F7. Warning Systems
F8. Signs

10 More information at: http://www.dbh.govt.nz/

 Regulations
z C4 – Movement to a place of
safety
C4.1 Buildings must be provided with:
(a) effective means of giving warning of fire,
and
(b) visibility in escape routes complying with
clause F6.
C4.2 Buildings must be provided with means
of escape to ensure that there is a low
probability of occupants of those
buildings being unreasonably delayed or
impeded from moving to a place of safety
and that those occupants will not suffer
injury or illness as a result.
Note: Fractional effective dose relates to toxic
products etc. that were covered in the previous
11 lectures
Performance
C4.3 The evacuation time must allow
occupants of a building to move to a
place of safety in the event of a fire so
that occupants are not exposed to any of
the following:
(a) a fractional effective dose of carbon
monoxide greater than 0.3:
(b) a fractional effective dose of thermal
effects greater than 0.3:
(c) conditions where, due to smoke
obscuration, visibility is less than 10 m
except in rooms of less than 100 m2
where visibility may fall to 5 m.
 Regulations

z Other regulations and documents

‰ Fire Service Act 1975
‰ Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
(HSNO) Act
‰ Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE)
‰ New Zealand Standards
z Fire detectors
z Sprinklers
z etc

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Other fire design considerations

z Fire during construction

‰ Higher likelihood of fire due to construction process (hot-
work)
‰ Not all active and passive systems installed or functioning

Timber frame building under construction

Building Magazine 01 12 06

13 Tower block fire, Dubai – BBC News

 Regulations
Other fire design considerations

z Fire after earthquake

‰ Higher probability of fire
‰ Active and passive systems can be damaged
‰ Evacuation and Fire Service access may be difficult

‰ Provide adequate earthquake and fire resistance to buildings

‰ Provide earthquake resistance to water and power supplies
‰ Provide seismic restraints to ignition sources, fire safety systems
etc

Fire following the 1995

Hyogoken-Nanbu, Japan
Seismic restraint for a sprinkler system earthquake –
14 www.seismicrestraints.co.nz www.seismo.unr.edu