MFPE 2014
CHAPTER 5
CRITICAL ASSETS AND FUNCTIONS
Scope
5.1.
This chapter details the Defence design requirements for passive and active fire safety
measures for New Construction, alterations, additions or Change-in-Use for the following critical
buildings or parts which have been classified as CF1 and CF2 – and CF3 elements identified as
having an intolerable loss in a fire event – in the Building Criticality Assessment Form at annex 1A:
a.
computing equipment;
b.
electronic equipment;
c.
data / document storage;
d.
sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIF); and
e.
laboratories.
Notes
The requirements of this chapter do not apply to the following buildings or parts of buildings:
(1)
Hangar Aircraft Areas;
(2)
Storage Buildings and Workshops not listed above; or
(3)
Explosive Ordnance buildings.
Refer to chapters 8, 10 and 15 for the respective requirements.
5.2.
Critical buildings or assets not listed above must have a specific fire safety strategy
developed by the project team. Fire safety strategies are to be submitted via the Project Director to
DEEP for formal agreement.
Aim
5.3.
The aim of this chapter is to detail additional levels of fire protection for critical buildings to
protect valuable Defence critical equipment, contents or function so that the impact of fire loss on
Defence operational capability is minimised.
References
5.4.
Reference is necessary to the following documents:
a.
National Construction Code Volume One – Building Code of Australia (BCA);
b.
AS 1670.1—Fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems—System design,
installation and commissioning—Fire;
c.
AS 2118—Automatic fire sprinkler systems;
d.
AS 2419—Fire hydrant installations—System design, installation and commissioning;
e.
AS 4118.1.1—Fire sprinkler systems—Part 1.1: Components—Sprinklers and
sprayers;
f.
AS 4587—Water mist fire protection systems – System design, installation and
commissioning;
g.
AS/NZS 1668.1—The use of ventilation and air-conditioning in buildings—Fire and
smoke control in multi-compartment buildings; and
h.
AS ISO 14520.1—Gaseous fire extinguishing systems—Physical properties and
system design – General requirements.
MFPE 2014
5-2
General
5.5.
This section details the Defence policy for passive and active fire safety measures for critical
rooms, areas or functions located within buildings or parts of buildings.
5.6.
The general principles applied to these types of facilities are to provide:
a.
fire and smoke separation of primary and redundant elements or separate critical
assets / functions from each other and from non-critical parts;
b.
fire suppression to protect the building, contents and to:
c.
1.
prevent exceeding the extent of tolerable loss;
2.
protect primary and redundant elements from a single fire event (if essential to
locate in the same fire compartment);
3.
protect separate critical assets / functions from a single fire event;
4.
minimise restoration times; and
smoke management where it will reduce smoke damage and restoration time.
Note
Gas flooding or water mist systems shall be in addition to any required sprinkler system.
Fire and smoke separation
5.7.
Fire and smoke separation shall be provided between any ancillary or non-critical area and a
critical asset / function.
5.8.
Fire and smoke separation should also be provided:
a.
between primary and redundant elements;
b.
between separate critical assets / functions within a building; and / or
c.
to reduce the critical asset / function to a tolerable loss in a fire event.
5.9.
The tolerable loss shall be as determined by the Project Sponsor in the criticality
assessment. The requirements of paragraph 5.8 may be varied by the Project Sponsor. This shall be
documented in the project brief (normally Functional Design Brief) and provided to the Building
Certifier as part of the project requirement.
5.10.
Where fire and smoke separation is required it shall be constructed as follows:
a.
when required by the BCA, FRLs are to be in accordance with the BCA requirements
– ie when needed as a fire wall.
b.
when required by this policy, but not required by the BCA, the FRL must be not less
than 120/120/120.
c.
any doorway in that construction must be a self-closing -/120/30 fire door;
d.
any openings in external walls of fire separated areas must be separated and
protected in accordance with clause C3.3 and C3.4 of the BCA;
e.
smoke separation in accordance with the method described in clause 2 of
specification C2.5 and clause 3 of specification C3.4 of the BCA; and
f.
openings for services, penetrations, control joints and the like protected in accordance
with clauses C3.12, C3.13 (for type A construction), C3.15 and C3.16 of the BCA.
MFPE 2014
5-3
Notes
(1)
Fire dampers and smoke dampers shall be installed in accordance with AS
1682 Parts 1 and 2, and AS/NZS 1668.1.
(2)
Fire and smoke dampers can only be installed in the same manner for which
the prototype has been fire tested. It is important that verification confirm the
installation has been in accordance with this prototype testing as part of the
building approval process.
(3)
Current fire test certificates shall be provided for all fire and smoke dampers
installations as part of the building approval process.
Fire suppression
5.11.
Entire buildings greater than 72m 2 that have been classified as critical shall be sprinklered
protected throughout. The installation shall be in accordance with specification E1.5 of the BCA and
AS 2118 as applicable.
5.12.
Sprinklers shall be provided within fire compartments greater than 72m 2 containing critical
assets / functions.
5.13.
Where sprinkler protection for critical areas is required by the MFPE or BCA, then the
sprinkler system must incorporate fast response heads in accordance with AS 4118.1.1. Extended
throw sprinkler heads are not permitted.
5.14.
Floor drainage and leak detection systems must be provided where the discharge of water
will create a hazard – ie electrical – or cause unacceptable loss of the critical asset.
5.15.
Where personnel are not available to respond to an early warning smoke alarm, a gas
flooding system complying with AS ISO 14520.1 – or a water mist system complying with AS 4587 –
shall be considered. When a gas flooding or water mist system is provided it shall be in addition to any
required sprinkler system.
5.16.
Fire strategies proposing gaseous suppression or a water mist system shall be developed by
the project team. Fire strategies are to be submitted via the Project Director to DEEP for formal
concurrence prior to commencing design.
Fire detection
5.17.
All critical areas within a building must be provided with a multi-point aspirating smoke
detection (MASD) system complying with AS 1670.1. The designer shall develop a suitable warning
and shut-down strategy in consultation with the users. This strategy shall form part of the building
operating procedures.
5.18.
For computing equipment / data storage, the MASD should initiate shut-down of electronic
equipment in the early stages of a fire event. The designer should also arrange the MASD to shutdown the ancillary services as appropriate (eg – ventilation) and ensure that the correct sequence and
duration of shut-down occurs to prevent equipment damage.
5.19.
Non-critical parts of the building that are separated from the critical areas must be provided
with a smoke detection system in accordance with the BCA. Where no smoke detection is required by
the BCA a smoke detection system complying with either AS/NZS 1668.1 or AS 1670.1 shall be
provided.
MFPE 2014
5-4
Smoke clearance system
5.20.
The mechanical ventilation system serving the critical parts of the building must be designed
to act as a smoke clearance system to assist the fire brigade operations. The mechanical ventilation
system must:
a.
be capable of providing a minimum of six air changes per hour;
b.
include a means of providing adequate make-up air;
c.
include fire rated fans with metal blades suitable for operation for a minimum of 120
minutes at no less than 200°C;
d.
have the electrical power and control cabling fire rated for a minimum of 120 minutes;
e.
have manual controls for the fire brigade to control the smoke clearance fans. The
controls must be located (adjacent to the fire indicator panel / inside the pump room)
so that it can be readily located by fire-fighters on arrival to the site; and
f.
appropriate signage must be provided to identify the purpose of the smoke clearance
controls.