Q: Can an electrician carry out installation of passive fire works if they don’t have a passive fire licence?
A: Yes, if the person holds an electrical mechanic licence.
Q: Can a person with a fire walls licence complete a Form 15 for design and specification?
A: Yes, if they are deemed a competent person by the building certifier.
Q: Will a 10mm hole in a fire wall require patching?
A: Yes, as per the CSR repair manual.
Q: Does a 10mm hole in a fire wall deem the wall uncertifiable?
A: The CSR test report only allows for a hole of up to 5mm. Apart from this it will require repair.
Q: What licence is required to certify intumescent paints?
A: Passive fire penetrations and joint seals licence.
Q: What is the maximum span of L500?
A: 1.5m.
Q: Can I put a JD McDonald bin chute in a shaftliner wall?
A: No.
Q: How to treat D1 and D2 cables through ceiling?
A: 1 layer TBA batt fixed to the furring channel (Minimum 75mm plasterboard screw with a penny washer 25mm attached to head), add an additional layer of TBA batt fixed to the first batt with pigtails with 200mm centres. 1 Layer of 12mm firefly penowrap or 25mm TBA firefly insulated peno wrap for 300mm/500mm each side butted up to the face of the intubatt or 600mm on topside only. (300 for -/120/120, 500 for -/180/180. Firetherm intumastic for caulk.
Q: Whats the linear gap needed for IBS to copper pipe through L500?
A: 10mm gap either side and put the IBS 5mm down from the surface.
Q: 45 Degree uPVC pipe, 250mm through underside of slab?
A: Build 4 layers of L500 into a triablge to extend slab out untill collar can sit flush to the surface.
Q: A 100mm Copper or steel sprinkler pipe penetrating concrete slab with annular gap of 50mm around pipe. Mortar and IBS to be used to seal, does IBS need to finish 40mm above surface?
A: IBS foam strip, covered in AN mastic
Q: Spacing between promat fire collars?
A: The flanges cannot overlap, The services running through one collar cannot share the same pentration through the separrating elemnent as servies running through another collar. IF the collars are fixed to a prodcut which is protecting a 'multiple penetration system' as per AS1530.4 and clause 4.9 AS 4072.1 then the distance from service to service must be a minumum of 40mm.
Q: uPVC pipes in riser are to close together?
A: Use TBA intubatt with firefly RF collars to treat the penetrations as spacing is not an issue
Q: Multiple large mains cable penetrations through masonry block wall, required to be rellocated but hard to move?
A: Build bulkhead to enclose penetrations. Use TBA Intubatt system and treat penetrations using typical TBA Intubatt system
Q: How to enclose a fire rated door, but still allow it to be uncovered later?
A: Build maxilite panel system to isolate the door.
Q: Framing for shaftliner system finishes further than adjacent frame. Concerned if extra layer of fire rated plasterboard is needed to be added to protect framing?
A: Extra layer of fire rated plasterboard added to stud frame, which extends the protection.
Q: Party wall in roof space stops short and must be extended. Wall is a twin brick cavity fire wall. Top bricks are not secure and can fall. Aircon duct above fire wall?
A: Solution one. TBA Firefly Titan Curtain.Useful as a flexible barrier. Tricky: Fixing top and bottom. Solution two. Shaftline Wall System. Useful given head and base fixing. Tricky: install. Solution 3. Stud wall system. Easy Construction. Tricky: Install.
Q: Cinema wall to be constructed, up to the underside of a tin roof?
A:
Q: Steel protection to fire rated ceiling and beams and columns. Large open hole where ceiling is as this used to be a stairwell. Need to protect all of the steel but have it look neat?
A: Use maxilte to treat the steel and protect it from fire. Apply CAFCO300 to the steel beam face. Fyrecheck to underside.
Q: Penetrations are very close the the wall and limit the available space required to implement the solutions?
A: TBA double batt system installed to either top side or underside of ceiling.
Q:What is an alternative solution?
A: Alternative solution is the same as a performance solution. Performance solutions use evidence and information to achieve compliance and meet performance requirements.
Q: How to allow space for pipes for cast in collars, when spacing is an issue?
A:
Q: How to treat a mechanical duct into plaster board wall when its not screwed off properly at the top?
A:
Q: How to allow space for pipes for cast in collars, when spacing is an issue?
A: L500 plate underneath and put collars on.
Q: What is a bounding wall?
A:
Q: Is a bounding wall one way only?
A: A bounding wall is two way
Q: Has anyone seen in the code or anywhere, where we cannot certify a penetration if it is in a non-compliant wall?
A: Well, C3.15 relates to penetrations in building elements requiring an FRL. I guess if the non-compliance means the FRL is compromised, that is the case?
Q: What re the requirements for annual inspection of pentrations in queensland?
A: In regards to the requirement for annual inspections this comes from Regulation 54(2) of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008: The occupier of a building must ensure each prescribed fire safety installation for the building is inspected and tested at intervals in compliance with QDC, part MP6.1. QDC mandatory part 6.1 (MP6.1), found here, requires passive fire safety installations to be maintained in accordance with schedule 1 which requires 6-monthly inspections of fire and smoke doors and shutters in Class 5, 6, 9a or 9c buildings and yearly in all other building classes (i.e. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9b). As such, under Regulation 54(2) of the BFSR these are the frequencies that passive fire protection inspections must be conducted under law. All structural features that are fire safety installations such as passive fire systems are required to comply with this section of the Act at all times, not just those in the tables above.
Q: What is a critical defect?
A: In regards to critical defects, we unfortunately do not have examples of critical defects. However, Regulation 49 of the BFSR provides the meaning of critical defect as follows:
49 Meaning of critical defect
A defect in a prescribed fire safety installation for a building is a
critical defect if—
(a) the defect is likely to render the installation inoperable;
and
(b) the defect is reasonably likely to have a significant adverse impact on the safety of occupants of part or all of the building if a fire or hazardous materials emergency happens.
Examples of critical defects—
• a defect making a fire detection and alarm system inoperable
• a defect in a pump making the fire hydrants for a building inoperable
Example of a defect that is not a critical defect—
a defect that makes inoperable only 1 of several standard fire extinguishers in a part of a building
As such, in determining whether a defect is a critical defect or not you simply need to consider whether it renders the installation inoperable and whether it could have a significant adverse impact on the safety of occupants in the event of a fire.
The QFES “Approved Critical Defect Notice with Corresponding Explanatory Notes” (found on this website here) does includes some further examples. There is only one example related to passive fire protection but this may assist you in determining under the guidance from Regulation 49 what is and isn’t a critical defect. There is some limited advice on the “Approved Critical Defect Notice with Corresponding Explanatory Notes” (available on the QFES website here, under the heading “Building Industry Professionals”). Also, AS 1851-2012 includes its own definitions of critical defect as well as non-critical defect and non-conformance. However, there is no hard and fast rule because there are so many different types of systems and equipment, building, occupancies etc. It simply comes down to the technician’s judgement each time whether they believe a defect is a critical defect (i.e. whether it meets the required of both Section 49(a) and (b)).
Q: In the annual inspection of penetrations under AS 1851-2012, are All penetrations to be inspected or only the accessible ones?
A: Inaccessible penetrations do not need to be serviced under AS 1851-2012 and therefore there is no need for baseline data for them under AS 1851-2012. If the baseline data is being prepared for another purpose then that would be different but if it is solely for the purpose of conducting servicing to AS 1851-2012 then baseline data for inaccessible penetrations is not required as they are not being serviced and baseline data for those penetrations would not be used.
Q: Is there a requirement to be licensed with a QBCC licence to certify penetrations?
A: There is a QBCC certify licence for “Passive fire protection – fire collars, penetrations and joint sealing”. See pages 10, 11 and 16 of the QBCC Fire Occupational Licences Booklet here.
Q: What is a ‘survey’ in the context of an inspection?
A: Survey is a term used in AS 1851-2012 and defined as:
“Visual inspection, typically conducted from floor level, to identify if the fire protection system or equipment has been inappropriately altered, damaged or compromised by changes in the occupancy, environment or building” (see Clause 1.5.18 of AS 1851-2012). In Queensland, however, it should be noted that the QBCC Regulation provides its own definition for the purposes of its licences as follows:“survey, for schedule 2, parts 21 to 30B, schedule 2A and schedule 2B, means the visual inspection of a fire protection system to identify if the system has been altered, damaged or compromised.” (see the QBCC Regulation 2003, Schedule 3 Dictionary, here) Essentially, a less specific version of the AS 1851-2012 definition.‘Survey’ in this instance is a particular action rather than a document in itself. This can be seen in specific AS 1851-2012 items such as Table 2.4.2.3, Items 3.25 ‘Survey—Occupancy’, 3.26 ‘Survey—Storage heights, encapsulation’, etc. Although you may choose to create a document to assist you to record the detailed results, the outcome of each such action is a pass or fail for the relevant AS 1851-2012 item.
Q: What is a fire safety audit?
A: A fire safety audit, unlike a survey is not part of a regulated function and therefore what this is will be determined by the entity that requires it (typically a client). However, as you have mentioned, there is an Australian Standard AS 4655-2005 Fire Safety Audits which has a scope as follows:
This Standard sets out minimum requirements for the structured auditing of fire safety measures in a facility against nominated audit criteria, including those relating to life safety. It covers requirements for the general principles of auditing, audit program management, the fire safety audit process and responsibilities, reporting, fire safety audit levels and audit team competence.
We would consider that AS 4655 would be a suitable basis for a fire safety audit. However, as the process is undefined it becomes a matter of negotiation with the client to determine if this standard is to be followed and to what extent.
It should also be noted that undertaking a fire safety audit is somewhat unusual. It is typically only required if the building is subject to some sort of order and the relevant information is not available or if an existing building is acquired and/or there is a significant change of use and it needs to be determined what fire protection systems are included, to what requirements and whether they continue to be suitable for the intended use. Given the rarity of fire safety audits, FPA Australia does not have any documentation for this. AS 4655-2005 itself will probably be your best source of information on how to conduct an audit and what information should to be provided in any report.
Q: Whats the difference between a fire safety audit and a survey?
A:
Q: Is a special QBCC licence required to complete a fire safety audit?
A: The definition of certify under the QBCC regulations (see Schedule 3 Dictionary of the Regulation here) is:
Certify means—
(a) for schedule 2, parts 21 to 30B and schedule 2A—to give advice or a report, including a certificate, stating that a fire protection system complies with Australian and international standards, Building Code of Australia requirements and manufacturer’s specifications after conducting a survey of the system; and
(b) for schedule 2, part 6—to give advice or a report, including a certificate.
Meanwhile, the scope of work under the Fire Safety Professional licence includes (see Regulation, Part 30B(2):
(2) The inspection of, or reporting on, buildings (including existing, temporary or special structures) against fire performance legislation, such as the Building Code of Australia and the Building Act 1975.
This could be read that the certify licence is sufficient to do provide advice or a report (like an audit) for the specific class (e.g. fire pumps; passive fire protection – fire doors and shutters; etc.) whereas the Fire Safety Professional licence is needed to provide a whole of building report/audit. However, this is purely speculation. To confirm what would be required you will need to seek the advice of the QBCC.
Q: What standards include baseline data requirements?
A: “Recently” published standards that now include baseline data requirements include:
• AS 1670.1:2015
• AS 1670.4:2015
• AS 1905.1:2015 (sort of, it’s not called baseline data and isn’t really a new requirement but there is the manual/schedule of evidence required by 6.3.3)
It’s also included (to various extents) in current draft revisions of standards:
• AS 2118.1 (some direct references but mainly commissioning information, block plan, etc. would be baseline data)
• AS 2419.1 (sort of, not called baseline data but commissioning essentially identifies what would be considered baseline data)
• AS/NZS 2293.1
• AS/NZS 2293.2
AS 2118.1 and the AS/NZS 2293 standards may possibly be released sometime this year. I do not expect AS 2419.1 to be released in 2017.
Q: Can an electrician install passive fire penetrations without a relevant passive fire licence – ‘Penetrations and Joint Sealing’
A: QBCC is of the vew that Item 20 of Schedule 1 of the Queensand Building and Construction Regulation 1018 would apply under these circumstances. The fire-rated penetration work would be “electrical work” for the purposes of the Electrical Safety Act 2002, and accordingly, would not require a QBCC licence for the pupose of the Queensland Building ad Construction Commission Act 1991.
Q: Why isnt Boss fire rated foam suitable to fill big holes?
A: The Boss Pyrogard fire foam product should only be used for lineal joint sealing up to 50mm and back filling of fire doors. This product shouldn’t be used for service penetrations either.
Q: What product can be used for cables penetration a mortar hole in slab.
A: Yes, Promaseal AN sealant. The cone has to be 50mm wide and 40mm high from the face of the penetration.
Q: Cats or dogs?
A: Ill let you decide.
Q: What form do I need for airports in Australia?
A: Standard Design Certificate – January 2018 edition or Standard Installation Certificate – January 2018 edition
Note: Note: with this one^ maybe a hyperlink to our templates in the folder: Sharepoint -> templates policies and procedures -> forms
Q: Can I treat polypropylene PE MDPE LDPE pipes?
A: Generally, there are limited, if not no tests that achieve a suitable FRL for these penetrations
Note: with this one, I added the PE MDPE and LDPE in the name as well as polypropylene to ensure that the question asker can find their answer, regardless of what it is. ONLY HDPE is tested. And it is a type of polypropylene pipe.
Q: How do I treat beverage beer line penetrations?
A: If the pipe is a python beverage line, the following test: FSP0626 from Promat may be useful. Check the exact pipe type to ensure it matches the application.
Note: again with this, added the word beverage and beer as the line has multiple uses. Ensures that they can find the answer.
Q: How do I treat a blank SNAP cast in floor waste collar?
A: As per fire test FR 5670, seal base with 0.4mm galvanised steel plate, FRL -/240/240
Q: If a building is sprinklered, does this mean that the penetrations on the walls only need to be smoke sealed instead of fire sealed?
A: If a wall has a FRL then any penetration through wall would need same FRL. For example if wall has FRL -/90/90 then penetration in that wall would also require FRL -/90/90 . This applies even in fire sprinklered buildings, it’s BCA under Dts (see clause below).
Fire engineering may override but I’ve never seen that
Q: What is the treatment of short run in slab conduits
A: Install 30mm Maxilte plate and caulk cables to corridor side only.
Q: Can a blocklayer or bricklayer install a speed panel fire rated wall?
A: No.
