NCC 2022 Volume Three - Plumbing Code of Australia
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B4

Part B4 Fire-fighting water services

Part B4 Fire-fighting water services

Introduction to this Part

This Part sets out requirements for any part of a fire-fighting water service from the point of connection or other acceptable source(s) of supply to the fire-fighting equipment, including hydrants, hose reels, sprinkler services, automatic fire suppression systems and wall drencher systems.

Objectives

The Objective of this Part is to—

  1. safeguard people from illness, injury or loss (including loss of amenity) due to the failure of a fire-fighting water installation; and
  2. ensure that a fire-fighting water installation is suitable; and
  3. conserve water and energy; and
  4. safeguard the environment; and
  5. safeguard public and private infrastructure; and
  6. ensure that a fire-fighting water installation is designed and is capable of being maintained so that throughout its serviceable life it will continue to satisfy Objectives (a) to (e).

Functional Statements

Fire-fighting equipment must be provided with adequate water for its intended purpose.

Performance Requirements

A fire-fighting water service must ensure that the water supply flow and pressures to fire-fighting equipment are to be based on a minimum 95th percentile system performance for the correct functioning of the fire-fighting equipment.

(1) A fire-fighting water service must ensure access for maintenance of mechanical components and operational controls.

(2) A fire-fighting water service must ensure the system can be isolated for testing and maintenance.

VIC B4P2 Access and isolation2019: BP4.1

Delete subclause B4P2(2) and insert B4P2(2) as follows:

(2) A fire-fighting water service must ensure the system can be isolated for testing and maintenance and have adequate provision for required flow testing (drainage).

Water storage supplying fire-fighting systems must be sized suitably for the level of risk and supply arrangements.

A fire-fighting water service must avoid failure or uncontrolled discharge.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements B4P1 to B4P4 are satisfied by complying with B4D2 to B4D6.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

NCC Blurbs

(1) Fire-fighting water services for Class 2 to Class 9 buildings and structures must comply with the requirements of Part E1 of Volume One of the NCC.

(2) The installation of a fire-fighting water service must be in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.1.

(3) When installed in Class 1 or Class 10 buildings and structures, an automatic fire sprinkler system must be in accordance with AS 2118.1, AS 2118.4, or AS 2118.5 as appropriate.

(4) Fire-fighting water service work must be in accordance with—

  1. AS/NZS 1530.3,
  2. AS 4118.1.1,
  3. AS 4118.1.2,
  4. AS 4118.1.3,
  5. AS 4118.1.4,
  6. AS 4118.1.5,
  7. AS 4118.1.6,
  8. AS 4118.1.7,
  9. AS 4118.1.8,
  10. AS 2941,
  11. AS 2118.2,
  12. AS 2118.3,
  13. AS 2118.8,
  14. AS 2118.10; and
  15. AS 1851 as appropriate.
NCC Title

General requirements

NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
General requirements

Fire-fighting water services for Class 2 to Class 9 buildings and structures must comply with the requirements of Part E1 of Volume One of the NCC.

Explanatory information

NCC Volume One requires the installation of fire-fighting equipment including fire hose reels, fire hydrants and automatic fire suppression systems in certain types of buildings.

The installation of fire-fighting water services in Class 1 buildings is not required by NCC Volume Two, however, where these services are installed voluntarily, they must be in accordance with Part B4.

(1) Automatic fire sprinkler systems must be in accordance with—

  1. AS 2118.1 for general systems; or
  2. AS 2118.4 for accommodation buildings not exceeding four stories; or
  3. AS 2118.5 for home fire sprinkler systems.

(2) Automatic fire sprinkler systems for combined sprinkler and hydrant systems in multi-storey buildings must be in accordance with—

  1. AS 2118.1 for general systems; or
  2. AS 2118.6 for multi-storey buildings; or
  3. FPAA101H for buildings which are less than 25m in effective height and contain Class 2 and Class 3 parts.

Explanatory information

For residential fire sprinklers to FPAA101D Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Design - Drinking water supply, see Part B1 Cold water services.

Fire hydrants must be in accordance with AS 2419.1.

Fire hose reels must be in accordance with AS 2441.

Fire-fighting water services in designated bushfire prone areas must be in accordance with AS 3959.

Explanatory information: Cross-volume considerations

NCC Volumes One and Two deal with a number of areas of on-site construction which are relevant to fire-fighting water services. These include, but may not be limited to, those listed in Table B4.

Table B4 Cross-volume considerations
Item NCC Volume One Class 2 to 9 buildings NCC Volume Two Class 1 and 10 buildings
Excavations for pipework adjacent to a building and footings B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Termite management for attachments to buildings and penetrations through a slab B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Penetrations for pipework through a vapour barrier B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Pipework in timber bearers and joists of solid timber or engineered wood products B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Fittings, fixtures and pipework installations in steel framed construction B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Penetrations through a fire-resisting wall or floor C1 Fire resistance Performance Requirements and C4 Protection of openings H3 Fire safety
Fixtures and fittings in a wet area F2 Wet areas and overflow protection  H4 Health and amenity
Service pipework external to the building and penetrations through roof cladding in a bushfire prone area G5 Construction in bushfire prone areas H7 Ancillary provisions and additional construction requirements
Flues, chimneys, pipes, gas storage, domestic fuel tanks, cooling or heating appliances or other services C4 Protection of openings H3 Fire safety
Pipework sound insulation F7 Sound transmission and insulation H4 Health and amenity