Third Party Peer Review of a fire safety engineering design

The purpose or intent of this Third Party Peer Review is to assist the Relevant Building Surveyor in determining if the Fire Engineered building design demonstrates that the building and building work will comply with the Building Act and Regulations and in-line with the Building Code of Australia.

A third party Fire Safety Engineer has been engaged as a peer to the Design Fire Safety Engineer to examine and critically appraise the Fire Engineering Brief and Report. The process includes documenting the findings that considers if:

• the Building Design demonstrated compliance with the NCC using both Performance Solutions and or Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions; &.

• an established fire engineering process was used as the basis of providing suitable and appropriate evidence; &

• a document was provided and accepted by the Relevant Stakeholders.

Certification

The purpose or intent of Certification is to advise the Relevant Building Surveyor that the design demonstrates that the building and building work will comply with the Building Act and Regulations and in-line with the Building Code of Australia.

If the fire safety engineering design satisfies the reviewing Fire Safety Engineer, Certificate of Compliance for Proposed Building Work in-line with the Building Act and Regulation 126 [1] [2] can be provided.

Process

The process for Third Party Certification involves a review, questions and update until both parties are satisfied with the process and documentation of the outcome. This can take time and may require some rework of the Fire Engineering Brief and Report.

This process can be a lot smoother when both engineers have an opportunity to discuss at earlier stages of the FEB.

We recommend allowing time in your design process for review and finding out as early as possible from your Relevant building Surveyor whether they require Third Party Review or Certification for the Building Permit.

Please contact Alyce for a fee for Third Party Certification

References:

[1] Building Act 1993 Section 238(1)(a) Building Regulations 2018 Regulation 126 Certificate of Compliance for Proposed Building Work

[2] Victorian Government Gazette, No S 255, 31 May 2018, Certificate of Compliance for Proposed Building Work.

Fire Engineering

Fire Engineering is the practice of designing buildings for safety from fire. Buildings are constructed per legislation and regulations and are subject to regular inspection and Audit by a Fire Safety Engineer.

Fire Engineering involves fire protection engineering and fire safety engineering.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash, Photo by Romain Dancre on Unsplash

Fire Protection Engineering

A Fire Protection Engineer designs the Fire Protection services and systems, for example, sprinkler, manual suppression systems, alarm and detection systems.

Fire Safety Engineering

Most buildings will benefit from Fire Safety Design using Performance Solutions. The Fire Safety Engineering process develops a Fire Safety Strategy. The strategy consists of meeting the required Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions and Performance Requirements.

The Fire Safety Engineer creates an alternative building design for the BCA's fire safety requirements, contributing to developing the building's alternative strategy.

Fire Safety Design is developed through the engineering analysis application and accepted by the relevant authority having jurisdiction. Most commonly, the Building Surveyor and they will sometimes ask for Third Party certification.

Compliance to the BCA

There are two ways to achieve compliance with the BCA.

1.      The First is Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS). This means following the 'recipes' in the Building Code required for your building type and class.

2.      The second option develops an optimal alternative strategy through a combination of DtS with Performance Solutions, which meets the Building Code's Performance Criteria.

Diagram by Alyce verheijden

Benefits of Alternative Building Strategy.

Every building that is constructed as a building strategy, and the designer is the one who makes the decision. The decision is to follow the DtS requirements resulting in benchmark design.

The Building Designer may select to engage many specialist sub-consultants to develop an alternative strategy.

If the fire safety requirements differ from the DtS, we can help develop that strategy using performance solutions.

Benefits from Performance Solution include:

• Extended exit distances;

• Reduced Fire Resistance Levels of the structure;

• Reduced distance to an FSF (Fire Source Feature); and

• Reduced Sprinklers.

Optimal performance solutions depend on building analysis; the Fire Safety Engineer must provide evidence to be accepted by the Authority having Jurisdiction. Usually, the Building Surveyor may also require acceptance from the Fire Brigade or Third-Party Certification.

To provide evidence, the FSE must consider;

• Structure

• Human behaviours

• Fire behaviour

• Fire service system

• Passive fire protection system

What is the best time to Optimise Performance Solutions?

The earlier you engage the Fire Safety Engineer in the Design Process, and the more information you provide, the happier you will be with the outcome.

 The building design process roles and responsibilities are summarised in the following diagram.

DIAGRAM BY WARREN CENTRE
Lange, D., Torero, J. and Johnson, P., 2020. The Roles Report. 1st ed. Sydney: The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering, p.28.

Call us

Integrated Fire Service do Fires Safety Engineering and Fire Protection Engineering.
Give us a call. Ask for Alyce.

Fire Safety Audit

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

What is a Fire Safety Audit?

In simplest terms, a Fire Safety Audit checks that the building matches the Approved Building Design. It’s an annual inspection and review of Fire Safety Measures and is part of the Essential Safety Measures (ESM) requirement for the building. It includes a review of the building and related documentation such as equipment test reports, training procedures, block plans etc.

A registered Fire Safety Engineer conducts the Fire Safety Audit in accordance with the BCA and the Australian Standards.

When Do I Need a Fire Safety Audit?

• Annual with the ESM – it’s the Regulation.

• When there is a notable problem in one of the fire safety systems.

• When your Fire Safety needs have changed.

• When you want to upgrade, consolidate Fire Safety.

What are the Essential Safety Measures (ESM)?

The required maintenance is detailed in the Approved Design and Occupancy Permit. They include a lot more than Fire Safety.

The Essential Fire Safety Measures related to the Performance Solution includes:

Passive essential fire safety measure includes:

• Any wall, floor or ceiling required to be fire rated.

• The junction of fire-rated elements

• Penetration though fire-rate structures, such as pipes, cables and fire doors.

These measures are reviewed to ensure they are intact and functional. For example, no additional penetration has been added, or no materials have been changed to non-compliance ones.

Active essential fire safety measure includes:

• Sprinkler system

• Detection and alarm system

• Fire hose reels, portable extinguishers

• Fire Hydrant systems

• Smoke hazard management systems

The active essential fire safety measures are tested annually for performance.

There are many more items that could be included, refer to you building ESM schedule. You can find out more about ESM from the VBA in their Essential Safety Measure Maintenance Manual which can be downloaded at https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/consumers/guides/essential-safety-measures

Building Alterations

Any work to a building that affects the ESM required a new Building Permit. This is the Regulation, and it’s important because all ESM are interdependent, they work a system, so it must go through the process and be designed.

For example; putting a wire through a wall can be a problem when it’s a fire-rated wall, so it’s essential to be aware of the ESM in your building and how they are managed.

Get In Touch

If you would like an Annual Fire Safety Audit, update your ESM schedule or plan to make some changes to your building, get in touch.

Ask for Alyce

What is Fire Safety Design?

Most buildings will benefit from Fire Safety Design using Performance Solutions. The Fire Safety Design process develops a Fire Safety Strategy. The strategy consists of meeting the required Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions and Performance Requirements. This is achieved through the process of the Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) and the Fire Engineering Report (FER). A registered Fire Safety Engineer justifies the Performance Solutions and approved by stakeholders.

What is effective Fire Safety Design?

A performance-based design allows you to achieve your desired function, aesthetics, and other goals for your building alternative to the Deemed-to-Satisfied.

This approach enables the building designer to create a more exciting and beautiful building design that enhances occupancy and reduces costs.

Effective Fire Safety Design benefits include:

• Compliance

• Greater flexibility or scope in the design and use of the building

• Timely project delivery

• Meet project goals

• Cost-effective design

• Practical maintenance requirements

What is the Fire Safety Design Process?

 The Fire Safety Design process meets the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

The Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) outlines the building's Fire Safety Strategy. Stakeholder approval of the Fire Engineering Brief is required to ensure the strategy meets all the objectives and goals.

The agreed Fire Safety Strategy is analysed in Fire Engineering Report for Authority acceptance and approval.

These two documents become part of the Approved Building Design.

Working with the Fire Safety Engineer in the early stage of the building concept design accelerates the design solution.

The Fire Safety Engineer's approach includes:

• A holistic review of the building form, materials, use and occupancy.

• Stakeholder feedback and engagement with the process.

• Consultation with authorities and feedback.

• Develop the most effective solution.

The earlier you engage the Fire Safety Engineer in the Design Process, and the more information you provide, the happier you will be with the outcome.

Who is Responsible for Fire Safety Design?

In collaboration with other building designers, the Fire Safety Engineer develops the Performance Solutions to obtain stakeholder acceptance.

Stakeholder	Role / Responsibility
Fire Safety Engineer	Produce the FEB with the fire safety strategy Produce the FER Document the fire safety measures and completion requirements Document the routine servicing requirements and building management obligations
Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS)	Agree work complies to the BCA May requires the Third-Party Peer Review Approve FEB and FER- issue Building Permit
Building Owner	Engage the design team Provide feedback on the FEB before the FER is issued Responsible for building compliance being achieved by engaging a professional team
Design Manager	Provide up to date information on the building. Coordinates all the design team members. Drives the project objectives.
Building designer / Architect	Provides design drawings to all services designers and engineers. Coordinates all service requires back into the documentation. Select materials and details the Passive Fire Protection requirements.

Get in touch

If you require Fire Safety Design using Performance Solutions, please contact us.

Ask for Alyce – (03) 9870 1317

Email alyce@integratedfire.com.au

Why You Need Fire Protection Design

PHOTO BY ALYCE VERHIEJDEN AT SHAPPARTON

Fire Protection Design is Important

The correct Fire Protection Design and subsequent installation, testing, certification and maintenance of the Fires Protection System are mandatory for compliance with the Building Code.

While there is a legal requirement for Fire Protection, the design will have a lasting impact on your ability to get or continue with insurance on your property and assets. It also simplifies WH&S requirements and reduces the ongoing maintenance costs.

A comprehensive Fire Protection Design will save time and money now and in the future, reducing headaches when it comes to managing your facility. Plus, keeping good building documentation records enables a much smoother process to future building changes, no matter how far in the future.

We can help you meet your facilities long term goals, smoothly and efficiently while meeting all the regulatory requirements.

The four goals of fire protection design are:

• Statutory compliance

• Reduce build and ongoing costs

• Property protection

• Fire Safety

 

Buildings Require Fire Protection Design

Every building needs fire protection – there is a range of active and passive fire protection system requirements.

Active fire protection system measures are likely to apply to buildings that are over two stories, greater than 500msq and are not a house. Passive fire protection measures include fire doors, exits and egress.

Fire Protection Design takes place in the Building Design Process. Fire Protection Design is coordinated with the architect, building designer and other engineers. It forms part of the approved building design/building permits.

All fire protection system measures and services need to be installed, commissioned and certified before the building occupancy permit is issued. When completed, all the maintenance and servicing of the Fire Protection System needs to be included in the building maintenance manual and checked and maintained according to the approved design. These Fire Protection Systems are inspected annually with all the other Essential Safety Measures (ESM).

Suppose the installed fire services differ from the approved Fire Protection Design. In that case, all design documentation will need to be updated and re-certified, or the installation changed to meet the approved Design.

Effective Fire Protection Design Provides Many Benefits

To have a well-designed fire protection system, the building must be approached holistically and in collaboration with the design team, owner and installer and certifiers.

The fire protection design process considers the building use, size, geometry and occupancy and existing system/s. Compliance to the building code is the first objective with compliance sitting on a spectrum from minimum legal compliance to extremely safe.

We design and certify Fire Protection Systems that perform and can be implemented cost-effectively to the client’s objectives and ensuring the building is operationally ready.

Our Fire Service Designers prepare a design report with technical drawings and completion requirements.

In our 30 years of fire design protection experience, maintaining the approved building design documentation eliminates rework when building updates are made. We recommend maintaining and archiving the updated design documentation, including sign-offs, certification, compliance, completion, commissioning and maintenance requirements, and timeframes. The reports are also passed on to the appropriate contractors, installer, certifier and added to the maintenance manual.

The Different Types of Fire Protection

Fire Protection includes;

Fire Safety Measure		Designer	Coordinated with other Designers
Fire Sprinkler Systems	Active	Fire Service Designer / Fire Engineer	Building Designer / Architect Hydraulic Engineer Electrical Engineer
Fire Detection and Alarm System.	Active	Fire Service Designer or Fire Engineer or Electrical Engineer	Electrical Engineer and Building Designer/Architect/ Associated Fire Safety Measures designers.
EWIS (Emergency Warning Intercom System)	Active	Fire Service Designer / Fire Engineer	Electrical Engineer Detection Installer
Manual Suppression - Fire Hydrants, Fire Hose reels	Active	Fire Service Designer / Fire Engineer Hydraulic Engineer/Designer	Building Designer / Architect Hydraulic Engineer Electrical Engineer
Fire water Supply - Pumps and tank, mains supply	Active	Fire Service Designer / Fire Engineer Hydraulic Engineer/Designer	Building Designer / Architect Hydraulic Engineer Electrical Engineer Associated Fire Safety Measures designers.
Protection of Openings	Often Passive sometime active	Building Designer/ Architect Fire Service Designer	Building Designer/ Architect Associated Fire Safety Measures designers.
Fire Resistance of Building Elements	Passive	Building Designer/ Architect	Building Designer / Architect Associated Fire Safety Measures designers.
Mechanical Air Handling of fire and smoke control	Active	Fire Service Designer / Fire Engineer Mechanical Services Engineer	Mechanical Engineer Building Designer/ Architect
Exist and egress	Passive (mostly)	Building Designer/ Architect	Building Designer / Architect
Emergency Lighting	Active	Electrical Engineer or Fire Service Designer	Building Designer / Architect
Other - separation of building. Ring road, fire brigade access	Passive and active	Building Designer / Architect and Fire Service Designer	Building Designer / Architect

Who is responsible for fire protection?

Project Stakeholder	Role / Responsibility	Credentials/ registration
Relevant Building Surveyor	Issue building Permit for Approved Design Issue Occupancy Permit or Certificate of Final Inspection	Registered Building Surveyor
Fire Safety Engineer	Design Fire service. Be present for commissioning (if required) Inspect installation per approved design	Registered Fire Safety Engineer
Fire Service Designer	Design Fire service.	Registered Engineer or RBP Mechanical, Hydraulic or Electrical
Fire Service Installer	Develop detailed drawing for installation to the approved design. Advice specialist testers and certifiers. Provide completed installers statement.	Registered Electrician, Registered Plumber (recommend they are specialised in Fire Services)
Builder	Coordinate all documentation and installers, commissioning and Certification, Provide completed installers statement.	Registered Builder (commercial)
Building Manager	Keep all records, drawing, reports and certificates. Manage and implement routine servicing for the life of the building. Provide documentation to consultants when renovating the building.
Other Service Designers	Coordinate associated Fire Safety. Measure with all other building services and Designers.	Industry professional requirements.
Building Designer	Coordinate all service in the building and ensure Passive Fires protection requirement is detailed for the approved design.	Registered Architect, Registered Building Designer or Registered Draftsperson.

Effective Fire Protection Design Services Delivering Benefits

If you are updating your Fire Protection give us a call. The earlier we are involved in the process, the more options you have to develop your most cost-effective design.

Get in touch

Ask for Alyce – (03) 9870 1317

Email alyce@integratedfire.com.au