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Fire Protection - Information Guide and F.A.Q.s
On this page we have included information about Building Classification, Fire Extinguishers & Ratings, these details should assist you in assessing your own building and so then know if you do or do not need an automatic fire alarm, as well as know how many of
what type and size fire extinguishers are required
what type and size fire extinguishers are required
Building Classification
In relation to fire safety - the activities conducted within (and intended purpose of) a building, together with the buildings size and layout, decides it's Building Classification and this classification then dictate's just what fire detection & protection equipment should be provided on site.
HOW BIG MUST A PART OF A BUILDING BE TO HAVE ITS OWN CLASSIFICATION? Every part of a building must be separately classified. However, where a part has a different purpose and is not more than 10% of the floor area of the storey it is on, then it may be considered to be ancillary to the major use. For instance, if a single storey warehouse (Class 8) has an office (Class 5) which takes up only 8% of the floor area, the whole building can be classified as a Class 8. However, if the office takes up 12% of the floor area then the building has mixed uses and the warehouse (Class 8) and office (Class 5) must be classified separately.
Classification is a process for understanding risk in a building (or part of a building) according to its use. Where it is unclear which classification should apply, the approval authority has the discretion to decide.
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On this page we note with each classification the expected requirement for fire extinguishers and other fire detection & protection equipment * this page is a guide only, actual requirements will depend on the approval authority concerned
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CLASS 1 BUILDINGS
Class 1 buildings are houses. Typically they are standalone single dwellings of a domestic or residential nature. They can also be horizontally attached to other Class 1 buildings such as terrace houses, row houses, or townhouses. In these situations they must be separated by a wall that has fire‑resisting and sound insulation properties. The Class 1 classification includes two sub classifications: Class 1a and Class 1b.
A Class 1a building is a single dwelling being a detached house; or one of a group of attached dwellings being a town house, row house or the like. A Class 1b building is a boarding house, guest house or hostel that has a floor area less than 300 m2, and ordinarily has less than 12 people living in it. It can also be four or more single dwellings located on one allotment which are used for short-term holiday accommodation.
Class 1 buildings are houses. Typically they are standalone single dwellings of a domestic or residential nature. They can also be horizontally attached to other Class 1 buildings such as terrace houses, row houses, or townhouses. In these situations they must be separated by a wall that has fire‑resisting and sound insulation properties. The Class 1 classification includes two sub classifications: Class 1a and Class 1b.
A Class 1a building is a single dwelling being a detached house; or one of a group of attached dwellings being a town house, row house or the like. A Class 1b building is a boarding house, guest house or hostel that has a floor area less than 300 m2, and ordinarily has less than 12 people living in it. It can also be four or more single dwellings located on one allotment which are used for short-term holiday accommodation.
CLASS 2 BUILDINGS
Class 2 buildings are apartment buildings. They are typically multi-unit residential buildings where people live above and below each other. Class 2 buildings may also be single storey attached dwellings where there is a common space below. For example, two dwellings above a common basement or car park.
Class 2 buildings are apartment buildings. They are typically multi-unit residential buildings where people live above and below each other. Class 2 buildings may also be single storey attached dwellings where there is a common space below. For example, two dwellings above a common basement or car park.
CLASS 3 BUILDINGS
Class 3 buildings are residential buildings other than a Class 1 or Class 2 building. They are a common place of long term or transient living for a number of unrelated people. Examples include a boarding house, guest house, hostel or backpackers (that are larger than the limits for a Class 1b building). Class 3 buildings could also include dormitory style accommodation, or workers’ quarters. Class 3 buildings may also be “care-type” facilities such as accommodation buildings for children, the elderly, or people with a disability, and which are not considered to be Class 9 buildings.
Class 3 buildings are residential buildings other than a Class 1 or Class 2 building. They are a common place of long term or transient living for a number of unrelated people. Examples include a boarding house, guest house, hostel or backpackers (that are larger than the limits for a Class 1b building). Class 3 buildings could also include dormitory style accommodation, or workers’ quarters. Class 3 buildings may also be “care-type” facilities such as accommodation buildings for children, the elderly, or people with a disability, and which are not considered to be Class 9 buildings.
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DID YOU KNOW? A Class 3 building includes the residential parts of hotels, motels, schools, and hospitals
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CLASS 4 PART OF A BUILDING
A Class 4 part of a building is a dwelling or residence within a building of a non-residential nature. An example of a Class 4 part of a building would be a caretaker’s residence in a storage facility. A Class 4 part can only be located in a Class 5 to 9 building.
A Class 4 part of a building is a dwelling or residence within a building of a non-residential nature. An example of a Class 4 part of a building would be a caretaker’s residence in a storage facility. A Class 4 part can only be located in a Class 5 to 9 building.
CLASS 5 BUILDINGS
Class 5 buildings are office buildings that are used for professional or commercial purposes, excluding Class 6, 7, 8 or 9 buildings. Examples of Class 5 buildings are offices for lawyers, accountants, architects, and government agencies.
Class 5 buildings are office buildings that are used for professional or commercial purposes, excluding Class 6, 7, 8 or 9 buildings. Examples of Class 5 buildings are offices for lawyers, accountants, architects, and government agencies.
CLASS 6 BUILDINGS
Class 6 buildings are typically shops, restaurants and cafés. They are a place for the sale of retail goods or the supply of services direct to the public. Some examples are:
• A dining room, bar, shop or kiosk part of a hotel or motel
• A market or showroom
• A shopping centre
Class 6 buildings are typically shops, restaurants and cafés. They are a place for the sale of retail goods or the supply of services direct to the public. Some examples are:
• A dining room, bar, shop or kiosk part of a hotel or motel
• A market or showroom
• A shopping centre
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IS A SERVICE STATION A CLASS 6 BUILDING? Yes, as they are intended for the servicing of cars and the sale of fuel or other goods. However, the term “service station” does not cover buildings where panel beating, auto electrical, tyre replacement or the like are solely carried out. These would be Class 8 buildings.
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CLASS 7 BUILDINGS
Class 7 buildings include two sub classifications:
Class 7a and Class 7b. Class 7a buildings are carparks.
Class 7b buildings are typically warehouses, storage buildings or buildings for the display of goods (or produce) that is for wholesale.
Class 7 buildings include two sub classifications:
Class 7a and Class 7b. Class 7a buildings are carparks.
Class 7b buildings are typically warehouses, storage buildings or buildings for the display of goods (or produce) that is for wholesale.
CLASS 8 BUILDINGS
A factory is the most common way to describe a Class 8 building. It is a building in which a process (or handicraft) is carried out for trade, sale, or gain. The building can be used for production, assembling, altering, repairing, finishing, packing, or cleaning of goods or produce. It includes buildings such as a mechanic’s workshop. It may also be a building for food manufacture.
A factory is the most common way to describe a Class 8 building. It is a building in which a process (or handicraft) is carried out for trade, sale, or gain. The building can be used for production, assembling, altering, repairing, finishing, packing, or cleaning of goods or produce. It includes buildings such as a mechanic’s workshop. It may also be a building for food manufacture.
CLASS 9 BUILDINGS
Class 9 buildings are buildings of a public nature. Class 9 buildings include three sub classifications: Class 9a, Class 9b and Class 9c.
Class 9a buildings are generally hospitals which are referred to as health-care buildings. They are buildings in which occupants or patients are undergoing medical treatment and may need physical assistance to evacuate in the case of an emergency. This includes a clinic (or day surgery) where the effects of the treatment administered would involve patients becoming unconscious or unable to move. This in turn requires supervised medical care (on the premises) for some time after treatment has been administered.
Class 9b buildings are assembly buildings in which people may gather for social, theatrical, political, religious or civil purposes. They include schools, universities, childcare centres, pre-schools, sporting facilities, night clubs, or public transport buildings.
Class 9c buildings are aged care buildings. Aged care buildings are defined as residential accommodation for elderly people who, due to varying degrees of incapacity associated with the ageing process, are provided with personal care services and 24 hour staff assistance to evacuate the building in an emergency.
Class 9 buildings are buildings of a public nature. Class 9 buildings include three sub classifications: Class 9a, Class 9b and Class 9c.
Class 9a buildings are generally hospitals which are referred to as health-care buildings. They are buildings in which occupants or patients are undergoing medical treatment and may need physical assistance to evacuate in the case of an emergency. This includes a clinic (or day surgery) where the effects of the treatment administered would involve patients becoming unconscious or unable to move. This in turn requires supervised medical care (on the premises) for some time after treatment has been administered.
Class 9b buildings are assembly buildings in which people may gather for social, theatrical, political, religious or civil purposes. They include schools, universities, childcare centres, pre-schools, sporting facilities, night clubs, or public transport buildings.
Class 9c buildings are aged care buildings. Aged care buildings are defined as residential accommodation for elderly people who, due to varying degrees of incapacity associated with the ageing process, are provided with personal care services and 24 hour staff assistance to evacuate the building in an emergency.
CLASS 10 BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES
Class 10 buildings are non-habitable buildings or structures.Class 10 includes three sub classifications: Class 10a, Class 10b and Class 10c.
Class 10a buildings are non-habitable buildings including sheds, carports, and private garages.
Class 10b is a structure being a fence, mast, antenna, retaining wall, swimming pool, or the like.
A Class 10c building is a private shelter. A private shelter is a structure associated with, but not attached to, a Class 1a building.
Class 10 buildings are non-habitable buildings or structures.Class 10 includes three sub classifications: Class 10a, Class 10b and Class 10c.
Class 10a buildings are non-habitable buildings including sheds, carports, and private garages.
Class 10b is a structure being a fence, mast, antenna, retaining wall, swimming pool, or the like.
A Class 10c building is a private shelter. A private shelter is a structure associated with, but not attached to, a Class 1a building.
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MIXED USE BUILDINGS
As buildings can have mixed uses, they can also have mixed (or multiple) classifications. For example, a building may have a basement car park (Class 7a) with ground floor retail space (Class 6) and residential apartments above (Class 2). |
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MULTIPLE BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS
A building (or a part of a building) may be designed to serve multiple purposes and may have more than one classification. This means that it is permissible for a building to be a Class 6/7, or a Class 5/6, or whatever is appropriate. This allows flexibility in how the building might be used over time. For example, if a building is intended for retail shopping, storage or office space it may be designed as a Class 5/6/7. At the design stage, it may not be clear who the final tenant will be (or how they will be using their tenancy) so as long as the design meets the minimum requirements of all the classifications, it could be used for any of the purposes.
A building (or a part of a building) may be designed to serve multiple purposes and may have more than one classification. This means that it is permissible for a building to be a Class 6/7, or a Class 5/6, or whatever is appropriate. This allows flexibility in how the building might be used over time. For example, if a building is intended for retail shopping, storage or office space it may be designed as a Class 5/6/7. At the design stage, it may not be clear who the final tenant will be (or how they will be using their tenancy) so as long as the design meets the minimum requirements of all the classifications, it could be used for any of the purposes.
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Fire Extinguisher - Classification & Rating
First, we'll look at fire classification and extinguisher types. There are several different types of fire extinguisher, each type designed to put out particular burning materials (class of fire)
Materials are classed as follows -
Materials are classed as follows -
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Class A Ordinary Combustibles
Class B Flammable and combustible liquids Class C Flammable gases Class D Combustible metals Class E Electrically energised equipment Class F Cooking oils and fats |
The most common extinguisher in use across the south pacific is (combination purpose) type ABE (white colour band on the extinguisher) simply because ABE extinguishers provide the most versatility, they may be used on three Class's of fire - A, B, and E. Given their wide use they are also the most economical extinguisher type to buy.
CO2 extinguishers (black colour band on the extinguisher) are specifically designed for Class E, electrical fires, and should be placed for use wherever there are significant switchboards and / or electrical / computer equipment. CO2 extinguishers are more costly to buy, however if the need to use them ever arises they will prove more economical in the long term (in comparison to using an ABE)
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Why the comment ? "will prove more economical in the long term (in comparison to using an ABE)"
ABE and CO2 types work on the same principle, deprive the fire of oxygen. They do it in different ways.
ABE's spray out a powder (propelled by nitrogen gas from within the extinguisher) This powder requires an area clean up after use, and it can adhere to and destroy electronic components inside equipment housings. So if you use an ABE to put out a small plug pack fire on a server rack, you are just as likely to also write off all the surrounding electronics. Using an ABE on an electrical switchboard may well put the fire out, however there'll be a reasonable amount of clean up work to get the switchboard back into operation. CO2's spray out carbon dioxide gas, being a gas there's no clean up and no damage to equipment. |
Foam extinguishers (blue colour band on the extinguisher) are most suitable in the case of Class B fires, you'll notice them at locations handling flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, and paint. Foam extinguishers work by creating a layer of foam "floating" over the top of pooled fuel, stopping the fuel vapours reaching open air and so depriving burning fuel of the oxygen it needs to keep burning.
Wet Chemical extinguishers (oatmeal colour band on the extinguisher) are used in the case of Class F fires, cooking oils and fats.
They are a must for cafes, restaurants, any food outlet using deep fryers. Wet Chemical extinguishers work by reaction of the extinguisher content with the fryer oil, a soapy film forms on top of the burning oil depriving the fire of oxygen. The spray from the extinguisher also acts to cool the oil.
They are a must for cafes, restaurants, any food outlet using deep fryers. Wet Chemical extinguishers work by reaction of the extinguisher content with the fryer oil, a soapy film forms on top of the burning oil depriving the fire of oxygen. The spray from the extinguisher also acts to cool the oil.
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Why NOT to use an ABE extinguisher on a deep fryer fire
ABE extinguishers spray out powder in the form of a directional jet, as opposed to the Wet Chemical extinguisher's mist spray. If burning oil is hit with the force of a jet spray it can splash out of its original container and so ignite nearby areas of the kitchen (and perhaps nearby people's clothes) - the fire rapidly goes from a fryer fire to a building fire with possable injury to kitchen staff. Be sure to use only Wet Chemical extinguishers for deep fryer fires.
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Water extinguishers (the extinguisher is all red) have limited use, Class A fires only. ABE type provide better value; a water extinguisher would only be purchased to suit a particular location requirement.
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Now, let's look at extinguisher rating. A rating defines the class (type) of fire and the size of a fire (the extinguisher's performance) that a particular model of extinguisher is capable of putting out.
What do the fire ratings mean?
The letters A, B, E, & F are 4 types of fires that are covered by fire extinguisher ratings, these letters classify a fire by the type of burning material that is keeping the fire going.
Where an extinguisher is classified with more than one letter, it means it is effective on more than one type of fire. A rating of 4A:60B:E means that extinguisher could be used on a class A fire, or a class B fire, or a class E fire (an ABE extinguisher) The number in front of the letter is used to indicate the performance of an extinguisher as outlined in AS/NZ Standard 1850.
For class A fires the numbers range from 1 to 10, for class B 2 to 80, and for class F 1 to 4.
Across the south pacific most countries set local guidelines and regulations by reference to Australia, New Zealand, or United Kingdom standards.
What do the fire ratings mean?
The letters A, B, E, & F are 4 types of fires that are covered by fire extinguisher ratings, these letters classify a fire by the type of burning material that is keeping the fire going.
Where an extinguisher is classified with more than one letter, it means it is effective on more than one type of fire. A rating of 4A:60B:E means that extinguisher could be used on a class A fire, or a class B fire, or a class E fire (an ABE extinguisher) The number in front of the letter is used to indicate the performance of an extinguisher as outlined in AS/NZ Standard 1850.
For class A fires the numbers range from 1 to 10, for class B 2 to 80, and for class F 1 to 4.
Across the south pacific most countries set local guidelines and regulations by reference to Australia, New Zealand, or United Kingdom standards.