NBC2004: College of Engineering Warehouse Fire Safety Report Analysis

This report, based on the NBC2004 Building and Construction Studies assignment, focuses on ensuring fire safety in a proposed warehouse development at Morrow Road, Gisborne, Victoria. The report meticulously examines various aspects of fire safety design, construction processes, and the implementation of BCA codes to ensure the warehouse's operational safety. It addresses the fire resistance of tilt-up concrete walls and steel roof members, emphasizing compliance with NCC Section C for fireproof materials and the potential use of fireproof paint as a contingency measure. Furthermore, it details the installation of firefighting equipment, including hose reels, hydrants, and sprinkler systems, along with their required pressures and flow rates. The report also discusses the importance of appropriate fire exit signage and the number of exits in the warehouse to comply with BCA codes. The conclusion summarizes the key aspects of fire safety, emphasizing the importance of fire detection, firefighting, and adherence to NCC standards, including sanitary facility provisions, to ensure efficient and safe warehouse operations. The report includes a bibliography citing relevant codes and references.

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies 1
NBC2004 – BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION STUDIES
Student’s Name
College of Engineering and Science
Semester 1 – 2018

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies 2
Executive Summary
In this report, BCA codes for various aspects of the warehouse design and
construction are implemented to make the Proposed Warehouse Development at Morrow
Road, Gisborne, Victoria safe in its operations. Construction processes, fire safety, health and
amenity, and inspection aspects have been discussed in detail.

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies 3
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................1
2.0 Fire Safety Design...........................................................................................................................2
3.0 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................2
4.0 Bibliography....................................................................................................................................3
Appendix................................................................................................................................................i

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies 1
1.0 Introduction
This report aims to establish the levels of Fire Resistance for the Proposed Warehouse
Development at Morrow Road, Gisborne, Victoria. Fire incidences have proved destructive in
previous events in Australia. In facilities such as a warehouse where the fire loads per square
metre are high due to the storage of a wide range of flammable products as well as large fire
compartments, fire safety can not be compromised. Adequate provisions must be taken into
consideration during the design stage of a new project. In existing developments, fire
resistance audits must be carried out and various modifications and provisions must be
updated to keep the premise to fire resistance standards.

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies 2
2.0 Fire Safety Design
The tilt-up concrete walls and steel roof members need to be structurally accurate and
with high levels of integrity. The 150mm thick walls used need to be fireproof as per Section
C of the NCC for a class 7&8 listing for a warehouse1. This has not been shown in the
drawings hence should be added. In addition to fireproof walls, fireproof paint could be
added as a contingency plan to stop the spread of fire from one warehouse to the next. The
walls must be painted as per Section C of the NCC for a class 7&8 listing for a warehouse
with primer and final finish as per the code.
Firefighting equipment needs to be added in this development to ensure all areas are
covered. Fire hose reels need to be installed at a rate of 1 per 30 metres radius while hydrants
at the peripheral of the development and parking areas at a rate of 1 per 60 metres radius of
coverage as per the BCA code AS 24192. The hose reel and hydrant fire pump sets should be
designed to attain a pressure of at least 5 bar as per the BCA code AS 2419. The
recommended flow rate at the furthest hose reel and hydrant is 0.4 litres per second and 2000
litres per minute respectively. Sprinkler system with smoke detectors, connected to the
smoke alarms need to be installed to automatically fight the fire in the event of occurrence at
a time that the warehouse is not occupied especially at night. The sprinkler pumps should be
designed to supply water at 4 bar to the furthest sprinkler head at a recommended flow rate of
1 litre per second. The sprinkler control valve should be set to operate automatically when the
pressure in the system falls below the set pressure such as when a sprinkler head breaks. The
recommended type of sprinkler head is the pendant with a k-factor of 200. The arrangement
of the sprinkler heads should ensure a minimum of 12 square metres per sprinkler head. This
ensures all the areas in the warehouse is covered.
1 Board Anthony, National Construction Code of Australia: Volume One Amendment
(Canberra, ACT, Australia 2016)
2 Ching. Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2018 International
Building Code. (John Wiley & Sons, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2018)

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies 3
The number of exits in a warehouse must conform to the BCA E4.2 and BCA E.4.5.
The fire escape route for a warehouse should have several exits at every 25 metres. This
development has been designed adequately for escape routes as exits have been provided at
intervals listed in the Codes. However, fire exit signage has not been designed for. The
signage should be installed at recommended intervals along the escape routes to direct the
occupants in the event of a fire. The signage should have a light with battery backup if the
fire occurs and power has been switched off.
3.0 Conclusion
To sum up, in addition to fireproof walls, fire detection and fire fighting is also an
important aspect in warehouses designs. Construction methods as per NCC should be
practiced all the time including the sanitary facility provisions for a warehouse to run
efficiently and safely.
4.0 Bibliography
Anthony, Board National Construction Code of Australia: Volume One Amendment
(Canberra, ACT, Australia 2016)

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies 4
Cottrell, Ching. Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2018
International Building Code. (John Wiley & Sons, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2018)

NBC2004 – Building and Construction Studies i
Appendix
Firefighting Layout