Mechanical Services CompliancePresented by

David Cooley, Milestone Certifiers and Derek Olsen, M.AIRAH, Olsen Environment

Sponsored by

Welcome to AIRAH WA’s Division Event

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November 10, Sydney

Luna Park, Sydney

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Presenting:David Cooley,

Milestone Certifiers

Mechanical Works – When do you need a Building Permit?

Presenter – David Cooley

Milestone Certifiers BCA Consultants

www.milestonebc.com.au

Mechanical Service Compliance

The Approval Process in Western Australia

– WA Building Act 2011 & WA Building Regulations 2012

– WA Building Act binds the Crown (i.e. Government)

– Certain types of work exempt from requirement for a building permit

• Key messages:

– BCA certification by registered building surveyors

– “Complete” applications required before certification

– WA Approvals system is a hybrid of Private & Public input

– Local Government (and some State Government Agencies) become a Permit Authority – issue

permits, enforcement, maintain records

– More info go to https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-commission/building-approvals

What they set out to achieve:

We ended up with:

In some peoples opinion..................................

Building Commission

Design - Certified

Engages Registered Building Surveyor to assess plans and issue a

Certificate of Design Compliance

Submits Application for Building Permit to the permit authority with all

plans, specifications, technical documents and fees

Issues Building Permitwithin 10 business days

or the application may be deemed refused and permit fee refunded

Applicant(owner/builder)

Local Government

Further information requested within 10

business days. Clock stops

Clock starts again -

within 10 days to issue

Building Permit

Further information

supplied within 21

days

Construction - Certified

Registered Building Surveyor inspects and issues Certificate of Construction Compliance. Applicant applies to the Permit Authority for an Occupancy

Permit

Issues Occupancy Permitwithin 10 business days

or the application may be deemed refused and permit fee refunded

Applicant(owner/builder)

Permit Authority

Further information

requested within 10 business days.

Clock stops

Clock starts again – within

10 business days to issue Occupancy

Permit

Further information

supplied within 21 days

Provides Notice of Completion to Permit Authority within 7 days of construction being completedBuilder

• Permit authority fee - varies on type of permit. Typically certified Class 2 to 9 charges are 0.09% i.e. $30M project cost Council receives $27K (rather than an Administration fee as in other States)

• State Fees – Building Services Levy 0.09% for projects >$45K

• State Fees - Construction Training Fund: 0.2% for projects >$20K

• BCA Certifiers Fee -

- Negotiable & determined by market

Statutory Fees

When is a Building Permit Required?

The WA Building Act (Sect. 3) defines “building work” as —(a) the construction, erection, assembly or placement of a building or an incidental structure; or(b) the renovation, alteration, extension, improvement or repair of a building or an incidental structure; or(c) the assembly, reassembly or securing of a relocated building or a relocated incidental structure; or(d) the changing of ground levels of land for the purposes of work of a kind mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) to an extent that could adversely affect land beyond its boundaries; or(e) site work on any land for the purposes of, or required because of, work of a kind mentioned in —

(i) paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d); or(ii) paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of demolition work; or

(f) other ‘prescribed work’,but does not include work of a kind prescribed for the purposes of this definition as not being building work

When is a Building Permit Required?

The WA Building Regulations (Reg. 6A) further states that “Building work” defined in the Act can include:

For the purposes of paragraph (f) of the definition of building work in section 3, the installation of a roof mounted evaporative cooling unit on a building or incidental structure is prescribed work.

The intent of this requirement is to address bushfire risk in bushfire prone areas so that the overall building design can meet AS 3959 in terms of BAL 12.5 and above for non combustible covers or perforated sheet with openings no greater than 2mm over evaporative coolers. At BAL 40 no evaporative coolers permitted.

Exemptions for a Building Permit

WA Building Regulations, Schedule 4 — Building work that does not require building permit (Remote Locations)

• Includes remote areas in Western Australia such as Kent, Laverton, Meekatharra, Menzies, Wiluna, Yilgarn etc;

*It is also important to remember that whilst a Building Permit is not required in these remote areas (or any area), the buildings must however still meet the Building Code

Part 5 of the WA Building Act

Part 5 of the Building Act also provides for exemptions from the requirement to obtain certain permits under the building approval process for particular buildings and incidental structures based on their level of risk.

However these exemptions do not remove the requirement for approvals under other legislation if required, for example planning or health. To determine whether an exemption applies for your particular circumstance, contact the permit authority

Exemptions for a Building Permit

• Temporary buildings – no longer than 1 month *unless members of the public would use;

• Buildings incidental to infrastructure (proposed to be used in the construction, operation and maintenance of road, rail, port, harbour, airport water, sewerage, electricity, oil or gas - *unless it is residential, or members of the public would use;

• Buildings incidental to shipping and boating facilities - *unless it is residential, or members of the public would use;

• Buildings incidental to mining operations - *unless it is residential, or members of the public would use;

• Buildings incidental to exploiting petroleum and other resources - *unless it is residential, or members of the public would use;

• Buildings incidental to industrial plant - *unless it is residential, or members of the public would use

Exemptions for a Building Permit

Other exemptions include:Item Description of building work for which building permit is not required

1. Construction, erection, assembly or placement of a freestanding Class 10a building that —(a) has a floor area not exceeding 10 m

2; and

(b) is no more than 2.4 m in height; and(c) is not located in wind region C or D as defined in AS 1170.2.

2. Renovation, alteration, improvement, repair or maintenance of a building or incidental structure if the building work —(a) will not adversely affect the structural soundness of the building or incidental structure and does not include —

(i) an increase or decrease in the floor area or height of the building or incidental structure; or(ii) underpinning or replacement of footings; or

(iii) the removal or alteration of any element of the building or incidental structure that is contributing to the support of any other element of the building or incidental structure; and

Exemptions for a Building Permit

Item Description of building work for which building permit is not required

2. (b) is done using materials commonly used for the same purpose as the material being replaced; and(c) will not change the use or classification of the building or incidental structure; and(d) will not adversely affect the safety and health of the occupants or other users of the building or incidental structure or of the public; and

“(e) will not affect the way in which the building or incidental structure complies with each building standard that applies to the building or incidental structure”; and

(f) is not work of a kind to which section 76, 77, 78 or 79 relates; and(g) is not subject to an order, agreement or permit under the Heritage Act.

3. Construction, erection, assembly or placement of a temporary office, shed or sanitary facility to be used by a builder in connection with building work carried out on the land on which the office, shed or sanitary facility is, or is proposed to be, located.

4. Construction, erection, assembly or placement of a fence, screen or similar structure, other than a fence forming part of a barrier to a private swimming pool……..……..

Exemptions for a Building Permit

Item Description of building work for which building permit is not required

5. Construction, erection, assembly or placement of a mast, antenna or similar structure that —(a) is not located in wind region C or D as defined in AS 1170.2; (b) if attached to a building —

(i) is no more than 2 m in height above the highest point of attachment to the building;

(ii) …

6. Construction, erection, assembly or placement of a retaining wall that —(a) retains ground no more than 0.5 m in height; and(b) …….

7. Construction, erection, assembly or placement of a pergola associated with a Class 1 building that —(a) is no more than 2.4 m in height; and(b) is not located in wind region C or D as defined in AS 1170.2; and

(c) covers an area not exceeding 20 m2

8. Construction, erection, assembly or placement of a water storage tank with a capacity of 5 000 L or less

Exemptions for a Building Permit

Item Description of building work for which building permit is not required

9. Building work for a park home or annexe as those terms are defined in the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995 section 5(1).

10. Attachment of photovoltaic panels or solar hot water systems to the roof of a Class 1 or Class 10a building that is not located in wind region C or D as defined in AS 1170.2.

11. Building work for which a building licence was not required under the former provisions if, before commencement day —(a) the on-site building work had commenced; or(b) a contract to carry out the building work was entered into

12. Building work for buildings owned or occupied by, or under the control or management of the Crown in right of the State or a department, agency or instrumentality of the Crown in right of the State that —(a) commences before 30 June 2017; and(b) has, when it commences, an estimated value of less than $50 000

Maintenance

What about maintenance and plant upgrades?

• Changing like for like, and replacement of end of life mechanical plant would not require a Building Permit;

• Cosmetic upgrades do not require a Building Permit (new painting, tiling etc)

*If however the new mechanical plant ‘will affect the way in which the building or incidental structure complies with each building standard that applies to the building or incidental structure’, such as upgrading a new smoke exhaust system, or stairwell pressurisation system, or changes to a building that may affect any existing Fire Engineered Alternative Solutions - then a Building Permit is required;

Mech. Upgrade - Example

A HVAC system upgrade to an existing shopping centre:• New works involve only the HVAC upgrade because of end of life of

the existing mechanical plant;• Existing building does not have smoke exhaust for tenancies &

interconnected malls larger than 2,000m2• The new HVAC system is to meet AS1668.2-2012 and Section J

implications for Energy Efficiency. Any new structural works also require certification – all IFC drawings forming part of a certified new Building Permit;

• However there is no trigger to upgrade the non compliant smoke exhaust as it will be assumed that the building complied with the applicable building legislation at the time of its original construction

• Triggers for any upgrade to meet current Code are –– Change in use, or the Permit Authority deems the building unsafe and

serves an Order. Otherwise the ‘new works’ are considered in isolation

Evidence of Compliance

What does the mechanical services designer need to certify?

• Statement of design compliance to justify compliance with applicable Australian Standard i.e. AS1668.2-2012, or AS/NZS 1668.1-2015 – the Standard adopted by the current Building Code;

• If works would trigger compliance with the BCA Energy Efficiency provisions – also Part J5;

• Provide a full set of Issued for Construction drawings & Specification as part of any certified package for Building Permit

Registration of Engineers

Who is able to certify mechanical services?

• Without licensing and registration of other Services disciplines in WA (except contractors such as Builders, Plumbers & Painters), the BCA Certifier currently accepts accountability for their design i.e. Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers. These industries are self regulated;

• Victorian Building Authority – does have a registration system for all of its Services Engineers as an example

Registration of Engineers

Maintenance of Essential Services

Does maintenance and fire testing need to be completed? – YES introduced late 2015

Division 2A — Maintenance48A. Maintenance of buildings(1) In this regulation —relevant building standards, in relation to a part of a building, means —(a) if one or more building permits have been granted in respect of the part — the building standards in the edition of the Building Code identified in the applicable certificate of design compliance for the most recent of those building permits; or(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply but one or more building licences were issued under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960 in respect of that part —

(i) the building standards in the edition of the Building Code that applied at the time the most recent building licence was issued; or(ii) if no edition of the Building Code applied at the time the most recent building licence was issued — each requirement in relation to the technical aspects of the construction of the part applicable at that time;

or(c) otherwise — each requirement in relation to the technical aspects of the construction of the part applicable to the part at the time of its construction;safety measures means measures relating to the following —(a) building fire integrity;(b) means of egress;(c) signs;(d) lighting;

Maintenance of Essential Services

(e) fire fighting services and equipment;(f) air handing systems;(g) automatic fire detection and alarm;(h) occupant warning systems;(i) lifts;(j) standby power supply systems;(k) building clearance and fire appliances;(l) glazed assemblies, balconies, balustrades, refrigerated chambers, strong rooms, vaults;(m) bushfire protection measures;(n) building use and application.

(2) The owner of an existing building that is a Class 2 to Class 9 building must ensure that —(a) the safety measures in each part of the building are capable of performing to a standard set out in the relevant building standards for the part; and(b) the mechanical ventilation, hot water, warm water and cooling water systems are adequately maintained to safeguard people from illness or injury; and(c) the building’s services in each part of the building continue to perform to a standard of energy efficiency that is equal to or greater than the standard in the relevant building standards for the part.

Penalty: a fine of $5 000.

What really happens

• The Building Commission have set the Permit rules – albeit vague when it comes to a mechanical services upgrade;

• The Building Commission will refer you to the Local Permit Authority;

• If asked, the Permit Authority will request a Building Permit in most cases because they receive a fee;

• For Building works over $20,000, the Building Permit Application Form technically requires a registered builder to lodge the Form. There is currently no exemptions for Mechanical Contractors, as the exemptions only apply to incidental structure such as the installation of fire sprinklers, free standing partitioning, safety systems, timber decking and glazing.

Registered Builders

Registered Builders

Mechanical Works – When do you need a Building Permit?

Presenter – David Cooley 0400 844 388

Milestone Certifiers BCA Consultants

www.milestonebc.com.au

Presenting:Derek Olsen, M.AIRAH,

Olsen Environment

Stairwell Pressurisation and Smoke Control

Presenter – Derek Olsen M.AIRAH

Agenda

• Smoke Hazards

• Smoke Management Systems

• Stairwell Pressurisation Overview

• Stairwell Pressurisation Validation Requirements

• Testing and Validation Process

• What Problems Do We Face?

• Coordination & Roles and Responsibilities

What is a smoke Hazard

The Consequences of fire – “The killing Fumes”

• Most fire deaths are not caused by burns, but by smoke inhalation– Particles - Penetrate the respiratory system’s protective filters and

lodge in the lungs

– Vapors – Fog like droplets of liquid absorbed through the skin

– Toxic Gases – Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide (Plastics), Phosgene (Vinyl)

– Lack of Oxygen – Hot Air Kills

Case Study• 1980• 85 deaths. • The fire was almost completely limited to the casino on the ground floor• 75 percent of the deaths were on upper floors because of smoke

inhalation.

Smoke Management Systems

• HVAC system automatic shutdown

• Purge system (AHU / RAF)

• Smoke exhaust (extraction) system

• Opposed air flow method (Tunnels)

• Smoke Containment

• Pressurisation system

• AS 1668 Part 1 : 1998

Smoke Management Systems

Automatic Shutdown

• ie Air Handlers

• Dampers installed between all fire compartments served automatically close on receipt of fire alarm

1

Smoke Management Systems

Opposed Airflow

• To push smoke in a desirable direction

• Typically used in tunnel and atrium configurations

1

Smoke Management Systems

Smoke Exhaust

• To transport smoke out of enclosures

• Mechanically assisted smoke exhaust system

• Large open areas such as Lobby or Shopping Malls

1

Smoke Management Systems

Purge System

• Air flowing through all compartments without re-circulation.

• Smoke-spill air in each fire compartment is discharged to atmosphere directly

• Outdoor air supplied to all compartments at a rate less than the smoke-spill air

1

2

Smoke Management SystemsPurge System

Smoke Management SystemsPurge System

Smoke Management Systems

Pressurisation (Sandwich)

1

2

345

SPF

NFAF

FAF

NFAF

SAF EX

EGRESS

20Pa?

Testing Procedures

Validation Requirements

• Inspection of the system Stairwell doors close and latch correctly.

• Minimum Zone to Zone Pressure Differential

• Door Opening Force

• Minimum Door Air Velocity

• Recovery Time

• Noise levels.

• Manual and automatic control start / stop.

• Indication lights, fault, run, ready and display time.

• Fan shut down on smoke intake and auto restart.

• Documentation and sign off.

Testing Pre-Start

Testing Procedures – Door Force

Testing Procedures – Door Force

SPF

NFAF

FAF

NFAF

SAF EX

EGRESS

=> 1.0 m/s

Testing Procedures – Door Air Velocity

SPF

NFAF

FAF

NFAF

SAF EX

EGRESS

Testing Procedures – Zone Press Diff

Testing Procedures – Zone Press Diff

Check above and below

=> 20Pa to <= 100 Pa

Testing Procedures – Zone Press Diff

Measurement

Problems?1. Building Preparedness

– External & Internal Envelopes– Penetrations– Floor to floor leakage

2. Controls point to point3. Controls static pressure sensor

– Location (Internal or External)– Range– Dirty

4. FIP Point to point5. Problematic Doors

– Under Seals– Latches– Door Closer

6. Tenants and Construction Personnel7. After Hours8. Building Tightness9. No Floor Relief Dampers10. Elevators – Service Shafts11. Crazy Air – Stair Corridors12. Weather Factors

– Egress Door– Static Pressure Sensors

Coordination• TAB Contractor

• Mechanical Contractor Supervisor

• Mechanical Electrical Contractor

• Controls Contractor

• Fire Contractor

• Builders Supervisor

• Security Guards

• Builders Tradesman

• Property Manager

• Owners Representative

• ICA

• Local Authority Representative

Coordination

Thankyou

Questions

Thank you for your attendance

Please join us for refreshments

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