BC Update: No.57 - Proposed amendments to Compliance Documents for fire safety, warning systems and ventilation

5 March 2007: The Department has released a public discussion document proposing minor changes to Compliance Documents for Building Code Clauses:

• C Fire Safety
• F7 Warning Systems
• G4 Ventilation.

The Department is seeking your comments by 13 April 2007. Copies of the document and submission forms are on the Department’s website at www.dbh.govt.nz/fire-safety, or call 0800 242 243.

The Department is proposing that Type 5 fire alarms (instead of Type 4) should be installed in certain new buildings with sleeping accommodation, such as residential apartments and hotels.

Type 5 fire alarms sound in a single area first, without triggering an immediate evacuation of the entire building. This would make false evacuations less common by allowing residents of individual units to remove the cause of the alarms (for example, burnt toast). If the cause were not dealt with in a certain period, the alarm would sound throughout the building.

The proposal would also require such buildings to have ‘analogue addressable’ alarm systems. These systems are wired in a different way from current practice. Firefighters and maintenance personnel would find it easier to monitor such systems from control panels.

The Department is proposing to improve the Acceptable Solution for smoke stop doors and to make several other minor technical amendments to fire-related Compliance Documents.

The Department is proposing to amend the Compliance Document for Clause G4 Ventilation to improve natural and mechanical ventilation in apartments with only one external wall. The proposal would make such apartments healthier and better ventilated.

Public consultation closes on 13 April 2007.