the role of the building surveyor in checking smoke control systems · 2018-06-21 · a building...
TRANSCRIPT
3 Key TopicsI. Why do we have smoke control in buildings?
Why we are responsible?
II. How do we provide smoke control? How do we ensure smoke control systems are installed and operating correctly?
III. What are the expected results? What is our role? Things to look out for? And key discussion points on the industry…
* Note the Circle of Influence and Ignorance Grows Larger. Not everyone knows everything and leaves gaps. Be Mindful of this.
Start with Who? Lots of contributors to a design
team
Who is responsible?
Coordinate with?? Everyone!!
Have a strong understanding of each discipline’s design intent
Be aware of the circle of influence and ignorance (inclusive of the client / developer)
More people involved, the greater the risk key details fall through the cracks
Building Surveyor’s Role Defined? The combination of experience, tertiary qualifications and
professional liability insurance means that the building surveyor is comparable to other building professionals, such as architects and engineers.
High degree of professionalism and integrity required in order to protect the public.
Ensure consistency with planning permits and design documentation
Conduct ‘critical stage’ inspections of building work as it progresses. The role of the building surveyor is to inspect whether the building work complies with the Act, Regulations and the NCC.
Role continues to evolve and our responsibilities increase via private certification
Photo taken from the UK (Building Surveying), note here the building surveyor must be registered with the Building Commission to provide certification services.
Building Surveyor’s Role Defined? Australia• In Australia, a Building Surveyor is a professional who is tasked with
understanding the building control process. A Building Surveyor has the authority to assess building plans to ensure that they comply with the Building Code of Australia, the Australian Standards referenced within it and any other relevant Building Acts or other legislation or requirements of the jurisdiction the building is in. Building Surveyors are either private or municipal.
• Building Surveyors have an impact on the design, planning and functionality of buildings as part of their responsibility to ensure that buildings are safe, accessible and energy efficient. A Building Surveyor is involved for the length of a building project, from the start until the end, and conduct inspections in order to sign off on every stage of the construction. Only one Building Surveyor can be appointed to a building project, and at the end of the building work it is the responsibility of the Building Surveyor to issue the occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection.
• In addition, a Building Surveyor can also conduct inspections for a variety of reasons, such as compliance audits for insurance or dilapidation reports.
Get the Design Right from the Beginning Design fire size
Stack and wind effects
Temperature effect of fire
HVAC and ventilation systems
Climate
Expansion of ducts
Compartmentalization Strategy to NCC
Liaise with the Fire Engineer, Architect and Mechanical Engineer to ensure a strategy in compliance with NCC / AS1668 and practicality for the building under consideration
I. Why smoke control??
Protect End user – life safety
Safe Evacuation
For Fire Fighter access
Reduce Property Loss
To clear smoke after a fire – smoking purging
Our Right to Live and Work Safely in the Buildings we occupy
We all have family, friends and colleagues we care about.
Our professional duty of care & integrity
Perspectives on Smoke Control: Grenfell, UK
London Fire article
Narrow stairwell was sole escape path and was inundated with black smoke
Smoke poured into the stairwell via the ‘stack’ effect which forms strong currents of air, both upward and downward, in chimney like internal spaces
Majority of Residents did not want the disruption of fire sprinkler retrofit. Is it their decision… what was in the best interest of ALL??
Coanda effect also at play where hot gases from fires tend to be attracted to nearby surfaces (external view)
Why no stair pressurization, smoke control system?? Better use of $$ in the building upgrade. Article here doesn’t mention this http://bit.ly/2rlIhWt
I. Why smoke control??
Perspectives on Smoke Control: Little Time!
Fires Spread Quickly: Christmas Tree
• 00.00 Household is asleep
• 00.30 Fire ignites and grows in downstairs
• 1.04 Fire spreads and smoke begins to fill In the room.
• 1.35 Smoke layer descends rapidly and temperature exceeds 88 deg
• 1.50 Smoke detector sounds an alarm.
• 2.30 Temperature becomes 205 deg
• 2.48 Smoke pours into other rooms
• 3.03 Temperature in the room becomes more than 260 deg
• 3.20 Upstairs,corridors,all the rooms are filled with smoke
• 3.41 Flashover occurs , temperature becomes 760 deg
• 3.50 Two minutes after the alarm sound, only the second exit will be the way out
• 4.33 Flames will be apparent from the outside , the first evidence of fire visible from outside.
I. Why smoke control??
Perspectives on Smoke Control: Success
Successful Test
Important to Visualise how the systems will be tested during design and construction
Keep it simple
FIP makes clear which zones are actively removing smoke
Proven successful results via smoke test
I. Why smoke control??
II. How do we provide reliable smoke control systems in buildings?? Refer NCC Section E2
Refer AS1668.1 - 2015
Design Team Communication and Briefing / Understanding
Compile Design Certifications - Keep the strategy practical
Confirm Commissioning and Testing of Systems which encompass ‘Smoke Control’
Ensure accountability for ALL is shared
Building Surveyor: Ensure you have a clear understanding to ensure you have performed a due diligence check on the design team, don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek design verification throughout the design process, i.e. don’t wait until the end.
Where are the Smoke Pathways?
Air and service ducts connecting floors
HVAC / Ventilation Systems
Extract Duct systems
Gaps between wall and floor constructions
Stairwells
Lift Shafts
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Air Handling Systems / Ductwork
Stability, Integrity, Insulation
Maintain FRL
Mechanical Fire Dampers, Motorized, Intumescent, Smoke, Air Dampers to suit smoke control strategy
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Fire Protect Openings To maintain the integrity of
building elements compromised by mechanical ventilation
Protection of Ducts, openings and equipment
Breakaway joint at damper if duct supports fail
Separation of dampers – meat in structure
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: General Requirements
Location of openings
Direction of Smoke Exhaust
Location of Make-Up Air
Noise
Fire Door Pressure Differential
Control / Indication
Documentation
Testing & Commissioning
Baseline Data, Test Results & Documentation!
Fire Rated Essential Power Supply
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Kitchen Exhaust Keep running on fire signal
Flame and Spark Arrestance Systems required for Hood Filter. Check with Supplier
Ensure kitchen exhaust ductwork passes through to discharge point within fire rated shaft
Suitable access to be provided every 3m or at any change in direction for kitchen exhaust duct (to allow cleaning for grease build up thus to minimize the risk of fire within the duct in future)
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: System Shut down
System Shut Down
Don’t spread the flame / smoke
FIP to provide signal to Fan Equipment to shut down on Fire Signal
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Zone Pressurization
Pressurize floors that are non-fire affected
Exhaust floors that are fire affected
Provide <100N force on a door to open the escape path from a fire affected compartment to an escape path
Provide suitable airflow (confirmed via velocity confirmation) across the escape door from a fire affected floor.
Confirm fire and volume control dampers are scheduled as “Open” or “Closed” in a schedule to be provided by the mechanical contractor in compliance with the zone pressurization strategy. Again, ask to witness this.
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Hot Layer Smoke
Exhaust smoke from the hot smoke layer to maintain the smoke layer above egress paths
Based on a single axisymmetric plume, which is confined to one reservoir
Smoke plumes spilling across multiple reservoirs are not considered
Single fan permitted for multiple compartments
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Protection of Exits
Stairwell (Vertical)
Escape Corridor (Horizontal)
Ensure to avoid over pressurisation
Noise to not exceed 80+ dBA
Relief path or fan speed control
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Air Purge Systems
Fire duct must be constructed to resist water impingement from any sprinkler system
Provide sprinkler system fitted in the area of mechanical extraction
Provide 10ACH minimum
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Lift Shaft Pressurization
Provide when required to aid in smoke control
Lift shafts are a possible path for smoke travel between floors thus risk mitigation via pressurizing
Provide relief at high level or VSD control of fan to avoid over pressurizing the shaft
II. How do we control smoke??
How to control Smoke: Car Park Systems
Fire Brigade to have manual option to isolate off exhaust fan systems serving car parks
Provide min 10ACH in a fire condition. Fan to drive VSD to 100% on fire.
All components of the system shall have a min melting point of 800 Deg C
Fire Dampers shall not be used in any car park extraction system
Ductwork to retain at least 75% of it’s cross sectional area, both in the fire compartment and in adjacent compartments
II. How do we control smoke??
III. What to look out for as a surveyor?
Is the design team engaged to see the project though to completion of construction and testing?
Is the mechanical contractor qualified?
Has the design team coordinated well?
Are there any inconsistencies.
O&M… show me proof!
Design Coordination
Example where an architect shows a fire wall however where it’s not a fire wall. Can lead to confusion…
…Based on above do we have confidence the architect understands the smoke control strategy?? No
If builder were to install to the architectural drawings they may then include for fire dampers in ductwork leaving the plantroom. This would compromise the mechanical design and smoke control system to AS1668.1-2015.
Design correctly and ensure all parties understand the design.
III. What to look out for??
Design Brief Understanding Ensure the mechanical consultant brief
describes the smoke control strategy in compliance with NCC / AS1668
Ensure you have an air schematic to review which aligns with the smoke control brief description
Ensure the architect and design team have also read and understood the design elements for smoke control.
Would recommend extracting elements of the mechanical brief, schematics for your BCA reports to confirm for yourself a clear understanding and to provide integrity in your reports.
III. What to look out for??
Design to AS1851 – Access for Maintenance
Can you get to the damper with relative ease for testing and maintenance? If you can’t on paper than you have to rethink the arrangement.
May be a checklist item worth providing to the design team to ensure they have looked at “accessibility and compliance to AS 1851”
III. What to look out for??
Suitable Access for Reliable Maintenance
Can you get to the damper?
If you can’t get to the damper how are you going to maintain it?
Integrity is already lost.
This is a design and constructability matter where architect, consultants, surveyor, structural engineer are all responsible
AS1682 – Fire Damper Install
III. What to look out for??
Integrity of Fire Damper Installation
What’s the point of having a fire or smoke damper if it’s compromised at install?? No more gaps….??
Electrical, control cabling fire stop seal?
Fire Wall Integrity / Builder workmanship…
III. What to look out for??
Have dampers met wall type?
Does it suit correct wall construction, i.e. masonry or gyp rock?
Does the FRL match?
Is it tested to AS1530 - Fire test to Building Material
III. What to look out for??
Will your damper compromise smoke control?
Intumescent dampers can be used to provide fire isolation however note they are not motorized.
A smoke control strategy may require a damper to open.
Understanding the strategy is key to ensuring an intumescent is not improperly applied to a project.
Typically used for toilet exhaust into fire rated risers.
III. What to look out for??
Site Coordination Mechanical Contractor requests 320x320mm slab builder’s work
penetration
Builder provided 380x380mm thinking “here you go, plenty to be safe”
Mechanical contractor has a duct / damper which slots in at 310x310mm with then gaps to be fire sealed.
Note Fire Dampers are ordered and ductwork fabricated.
Note we have a larger gap than required thus putting a risk on the integrity of the fire damper installation.
Does the builder have an understanding of the smoke control strategy?? No (Design integrity and understanding is a direct reflection of what will happen on site)
Hole to be constructed properly
III. What to look out for??
Are they installed to manufacturer requirements?
Duct to Duct
Grille to Duct
Duct to Grille
Ensure ductwork has suitable access panel to get to fire damper
III. What to look out for??
Let’s review installation instructions in detail. Curtain Blade Fire Damper in Slab
It’s not your job to install to this detail however if familiar with you may be able to spot a correct or incorrect install on site.
Ensure fire mastic seal surround
Size of damper impacts upon clamping method.
Smaller dampers are more difficult given lack of space, access thus are a higher risk to get right.
III. What to look out for??
Vertical Fusible Link Fire Damper Masonry Wall with Metal Expansion Gap
Seals
Fire Dampers must have a clear label with a ‘TOP’ to confirm correct orientation of the weighted damper upon activation
Important: All fire dampers shall be accessible and maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 1851
AS 1851 (stands for Australian Standards 1851) is a set of rules and regulations that ensure building owners are compliant in meeting the safety standards imposed on fire protection systems.
III. What to look out for??
Penetration Seals between Fire Compartments? Fire Stopping must be carried out
between 2 compartments
III. What to look out for??
AS1668.1-2015 Appendix E
System Commissioning Tests
Consultant Reviewed
Contractor Qualification
Certification of Dampers, Equipment
Witness Reports
Have you witnessed the test?
III. What to look out for??
Due Diligence Inspections, Checking Documentation Have you seen written
confirmation from the Mech / Controls contractor?
Have you reviewed the O&M Manual, i.e. spot check certification of dampers
Are as-built drawings in line with shop drawings, design drawings?
Have you witnessed a smoke test?
III. What to look out for??
Surveyor Checklist – Notice of Completion Date and time of inspection
Name, contact details and qualifications of the person conducting the test or inspection
Self certifying paper trail??
AS1668.1-2015 Appendix E – Smoke Control System Commissioning Tests Commissioning tests should be conducted after the construction of the building is
completed and air handling systems have been installed and checked
Repeatability of testing should be considered.
Additional tests to be performed after should emergency power have been used for the initial commissioning testing
Confirm that all essential power suppliers are connected to a dedicated main switch
Test documentation and baseline data – a smoke control diagram of the building should be drawn up including the location of all zone boundaries, all doors in those boundaries and all smoke control system detectors located within the zone. A test schedule and report form should be prepared.
Door sweep test to confirm through velocity through fire isolated exist pressurisation system doors
Check air velocity through each required exist door opening in the fire-affected compartment only.
Door opening force – Where a building Is equipped with a zone pressurisation system, check the door opening force to each exit door at each compartment in turn selected as the fire-affected compartment whilst the air conditioning system operating in the fire mode and the door to the exist on an adjacent compartment is fully open.
Check noise levels do not exceed 80 dBA in the escape path
Measure pressure differentials (+20 – 80 Pa) between fire affected and non-fire affected compartments
Further Items to look out for…
Diesel pump room ventilation – No fire dampers allowed on intake or discharge
Ensure Appropriate labelling for Fire Essential VSDs
Single Compartment AHU not required to shut down regardless of airflow volume, used to be 1000L/s
Ascertain risk in glazing systems and other building elements where leakage is prone
Be careful if you are asked to take over a Certification job from a fellow Surveyor. Sounds dodgy. There must be a reason. Noted risk in hand balling someone’s work.
Old buildings are inherently going to have risk. Do we bring up to standard?
D&C risk. Who’s responsible?
Design Brief on Life Safety accepted by ALL
Surveyor Checklist – Smoke Control (High Level)
Review mechanical consultant design brief & incorporate into your BCA report
Review design documentation for coordination
Confirm contractor qualifications
Witness Airside commissioning & witnessing of smoke control system testing
Check your insurances and risk exposure on the project
AS1668.1- 2015 Baseline Checklist
Design Documentation
Operating and maintenance instructions
Smoke Control Operating Instructions
Smoke Control Schematic Diagram
Results from Testing and Commissioning including procedure used
Fire and Smoke Damper Schedule
Insurance, Liability, PI• Have your broker review your
contracts BEFORE signing them• Risk review the project team, i.e.
are consultants engaged through construction and do their qualifications match the project (inclusive of the builder and sub-contractors)
• Weight up the risks you are taking on vs. the builder, client
• Plug: Contact Lee O’Connor for an informed discussion. 0431 433 505
• www.proactiveinsurance.com.au
New Ideas / Thoughts – Let’s Discuss
Impact re: effects of competitive markets and squeezing profit margins
Impact re: Climate Change?
Impact re: Terrorism and considerations of ‘worst case’ design scenarios….
Existing Buildings…is there a market to upgrade correctly?? Does the developer / owner have a duty of care for a building they bought 20 years ago??
Other thoughts…
Further Discussion Points