BCA Compliance - Fundamentals of HVAC Systems - Assignment Example

BCA Compliance PART BASIS OF ASSESSMENT 0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this assessment is to audit the design of the building before costing to meet the BCA requirements. The building is to be used for commercial purposes located in a town center and should meet the BCA Vol. 1standards. For the building to meet the performance standards set in the BCA, the assessment method of Deemed-to-Satisfy approach is to be applied. This approach ensures that every section of the structure meets the performance standards set in the BCA compliance. The building is located in a town center. 1.2 LIMITATIONS Limitations applied to the document are: No consideration for a detailed requirement for the Australian standards Construction safety act have not been looked at A complete architectural design for the structure not available and The provisions made for the disabled. 1.3 DESIGN DOCUMENTATION The report is based on the design brief and the set of preliminary drawings. Drawing1 Building illustration Drawing 2 Front Elevation of completed structure Drawing 3 Ground floor plan Drawing 4 Basement plan PART 2 BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS BCA Classification Class 7a: Car park and warehouse CLASS 7b: for storage, or display of goods or produce for sale by wholesale. Rise in Storey Five(5) Type of Construction Type A Effective Height Less than 25 meters. Fire Compartment Size Floor Area: 3600 square meters Volume: does not exceed the minimum stated in BCA PART 3: BCA ASSESSMENT 3.1 METHODOLODY The design provided is to be audited against the Deemed-to- Satisfy Provisions of the Building Code of Australia, 2010(BCA). The areas discussed have been assessed to meet the performance based solutions: 3.2.0 Fire Resistance For fire stability of the structure, the BCA requires its resistance and stability, the compartments and modes of separation as well as the allowances made for protection against fire. 3.2.1 Fire Resistance and Stability The structure constructed should remain stable during fire to allow evacuation. Its elements should resist any spread of fire. This must comply with the purpose of the structure, intensity of the fire, the fire systems in place, size of the fire compartment and any interventions made by the fire brigade. The material used for the building must limit smoke produced when the building is burning. The fumes produced should not be toxic so as to allow the occupants to evacuate the building. 3.2.2 Compartment and Separation The floor area should be greater than the atria. An open area should be available near the building. This is to be used for evacuation purposes, access by the fire fighting vehicles and free from any kind of storage with exceptions for electricity substation and a pump house. A fire wall constructed must meet the FRL requirements. The materials used should not easily collapse from the heat caused by fire. Since the lift will connect to more than two levels, it should be separated from the structure. 3.2.3 Protection of Openings(BCA VOL 1 195) The building should have a minimum of two exits with a direct access to a road or an open arena. The open space should be within the structure, be accessible and not used as a storage facility. The access road must be free from any obstruction for emergency vehicles, enable pedestrians to easily move between the building and the access road. The maximum area for atria is 5000 square meters. Wall openings should be protected by automatic doorways and windows. Elements of the structure should not allow fire to reach the exit, public corridors, and adjacent buildings. Heat and smoke that arise during fire should be limited to allow the time needed to exit the building, the purpose of the structure, and access to fire systems placed in the structure. 3.3.0 Accessibility and Egress The BCA requirements for access and egress look at the provisions made for escape exits to be constructed and considerations made for the disabled. 3.3.1 Provisions for Escape (BCA VOL 1 153) In general, not less than two exits must be provided in addition to the horizontal one in every storey. The exits should match the travel distance of not more than 20meters, the number and type of occupants, the height of the structure and its usage. The exits must be completely separated form fire in relation to the number of exits provided for in each level. The width of exit path should not be less than 1.25m with a height of not less than1980mm in accordance to the number of occupants. The fire tunnel in the basement should lead to a road or an open area with a discharge point of no more than 20m for the stairways (BCA VOL 1 153). 3.3.2 Construction of Exits (BCA VOL 1 167) The telecommunication, distribution board and ducts need to be installed in the required exits or in any corridor. Landings on the stairway with a stipulated gradient of 1:50 will be appropriate. A ramp should not be constructed at the door thresholds. If the doors installed are swinging doors, they should not extend a space of 500mm to the stairway or ramp. 3.3.3 Access for the Disabled (BCA VOL 1 183) The access provided in the structure should be safe and dignified. The walking surface should not have steep gradients with doors put in place for privacy and avoid cases of the occupants being trapped in the building. Exit doors installed must enable the occupants to safely evacuate the building. The fire tunnel provided should be accessible to the whole building. The tunnel and the levels should be connected by a lift. The exit travel distance required is 40 meters and 20 meters for alternative exits. On the levels, the alternative exits should be 60 meters apart. The access ways should be easily identified at specific locations. They should be constructed in a way that the disabled can maneuver the access way should approach the structure both from the road boundary and the car park. The spacing in the car park for the disabled should be 1 per 100 car parking. An estimate of the number of the occupants the structure will accommodate, its purpose and the floor area need to be considered. 3.4.0 Services and Equipment The BCA requirements focus on the equipment to fight fire, management of the risks related to smoke, lifts installed, exit signs and the warning systems installed. 3.4.1 Fire fighting equipment (BCA VOL1 198) Since the floor area of the structure exceeds 500 square meters, fire hydrants should be installed in every storey. The installation of fire hydrants necessitates installation of horse reels. They should be adjacent to the fire hydrants or within 4m in exit area if not externally situated. The installed horse reel’s capacity should match with the fire compartment available (BCA VOL 198). 3.4.2 Management of Fire Hazards (BCA VOL1 213) Combustion engines, pumps and pipes need not be placed in the fire control center but be accessible. Smoke detection system that meet the AS 1670 codes should also be installed 3.4.3 Installed lifts (BCA VOL 1 235) The number of lifts provided meets the BCA requirements. At least one of the lifts needs a stretcher facility that allows a space greater than 6000mm by 2000mm by 1400mm and allows fire brigade services. Clear warning signs will be placed to bar the occupants from using the lifts during fire breakouts. 3.4.4 Exit signs and warning systems The exit signs should be placed at strategic places where they are easily visible. The words used must be clear and easily understood. 3.5.0 Health and Amenity 3.5.1 Storm Water Since the drainage allotment will not exceed 1000 square meters, the overland flow path should be guided away from the building. The sizes for storm water drains should be as follows: DN90 between the downpipe outlet and the inlet pit DN150 between storm water pits and DN100 between two drains. The material for construction should be approved but not of metal. The size of gutters that will be installed should relate to rainfall intensity expected and end its roof surface area per the downpipes. Prevention of water from entering the structure through eave gutters is required. 3.5.2 Ventilation Windows and any other opening should cover at least 10% of the space of the floor. The ducting on either side of the lift core will be used for electrical, telecommunication and fire fighting services. Distribution boards for each floor will be provided in these areas. Distribution boards for each floor will be provided in these areas. The main air-conditioning plant room is to serve the ground floor with the chillers and exhaust plant located on the service area on the roof. All the offices are to be air-conditioned. Both the inlet and outlets for the air-conditioning will be through the suspended exposed grid ceilings. The chiller units and air handling systems will be located on the roof with secondary plant and equipment located in designated areas for each floor. The shop is also to be air-conditioned using the same equipment as for the offices. 3.6.0 Ancillary Provisions 3.6.1 Electrical Switch Room The Electrical Switch Room will house the main distribution board. Power will enter the building in this area and be distributed from this area to secondary distribution boards on all floors. The main power supply will enter the building in the basement level. The main switching gear and distribution board is located in the basement. The main switch board that maintains emergency equipment operating during an emergency should be constructed separately with an FRL greater than 120/120/120. The door fitted should be automatic with an FRL greater than /120/130. The switch board should be enclosed to protect it from vehicles. 3.6.2 Kitchen Although not shown on the sketch, a kitchen is required, which is to be equipped with hot water, a sink, bench top refrigerator, microwave oven and a small cook top. The kitchen is to be equipped with hot water, a sink, bench top refrigerator, microwave oven and a small cook top. An electrical power input greater than 8 kW should be supplied top the cooking apparatus with an exhaust hood that complies with AS/NZS 1668.1. 3.6.3 Air Extractions The air conditioning (A/C) plant area in the warehouse is to service the shops; no air conditioning is required in the warehouse. The exact nature of the material to be stored is therefore not known, however no toxic or hazardous material will be permitted. The toilet areas and kitchens will need to be provided with an air extraction system. The exhaust air will need to be taken up to the roof area. A dual-duct system will be appropriate fro the structure. This will serve heating and cooling purposes for the structure (McDowall 99) 3.6.4 Roof The roof area is to accommodate all services such as air-conditioning room and an emergency power generator as well as the lift motor room. Therefore, the material for constructions should be reinforced concrete. A clear unobstructed walkway of a minimum of 1500mm is to be provided on the North, East and South elevations. The area containing the plant and equipment is to be roofed with suitable openings provided to cater for air intake and exhausts for air-conditioning units. 4.0 Conclusion The design provided has been assessed according to the Building Code of Australia, 2010(BCA). The structure is capable of complying with the Code. Works Cited Australian Building Codes Board, BCA 2010, Building Code of Australia, Class 2 to Class 9 Buildings Volume One. McDowall, Robert, Fundamentals of HVAC systems: SI edition, USA: Elsevier, 2007. Print. Read More