Building Classification in Victoria State - Assignment Example

Building and construction Question 1: Building classification in Victoria State BCA, or The Building Code of Australia, is an organ responsible for building classification and safety assessment (Hargroves and Smith 2005 62). In classifying buildings, the BCA follows the single or multiple criteria on the basis of the usage, occupancy so as to manage the safety and standardization of the building industry referring to the Australian standards (AS), and other related legislations controlling the building industry in the respective states and territories. In our case we shall lay focus on the BCA building classification code for the Victoria state. class of the building Category Description 1 1 a 1 b A single dwelling unit with : - the house not attached Several units attached but separated by a fire-resistant wall They include row houses, terrace houses and town houses with dwellers related in a way Includes buildings with: Total floor area less than 300 m2 With a residence capacity not exceeding 12 people Not located over or below other units of residence Boarding houses, and guest rest houses with related dwellers 2 They are buildings with more than one single-occupier units each as a separate dwelling units 3 3 a 3 b 3 c 3 d 3 e 3 f These are residential buildings other than the type 1 and 2 with long term living for many dwellers that are not related. Lodgings, boarding houses, gust houses, and backpacking accommodation Includes all residential areas of hotels and motels School residence (dormitories, hostels etc) Special care residence such as for children, the aged or the disabled Health care residence for the staff Prison or detention centre residence 4 This includes a dwelling unit in a building classified as type 5 to 9 and is the only dwelling unit in the building. 5 Includes buildings specifically used for commercial purposes or for professional use but not classified as type 6 to 9 6 6 a 6 b 6 c 6 d These are buildings used for the purpose of retail commercial purpose in which goods and services are sold to the public directly. Include food joints, restaurants and all milk and soft drink bars These are the dining rooms, and retail shops In this category we have the body care buildings like barber shops and salons, laundry houses for the public and undertaker houses for cemetery services A public market building, showrooms and fuel service stations 7 7 a 7 b They are public utility structures. Include parking spaces for cars Storage facilities for goods (such as cereal houses, warehouses and depots), buildings for displaying goods for wholesale trade 8 This class of buildings includes buildings housing machinery and equipment for processes and other procedural activities. They include industrial laboratories, process houses such as factories, assembly houses, repair and maintenance structures and other related process houses where goods produced are for trade or sale. 9 9 a 9 b 9 c They include special function structures as used in schools and health care services. These include buildings for health care with the medical labs included These are buildings for assembly, workshops and school laboratories Special care building for the aged 10 10 a 10 b These are buildings or structures not meant for dwelling Includes such non-habitable structures as car garages, carports, or sheds. They are usually enclosed Includes free standing buildings and structures that are usually not enclosed such as fences swimming pools and retaining walls. Question 2: Checklists to be used in assessing a class 1 building Assessment of the class 1 buildings in Victoria is based largely on the regulations concerning thermal performance of the building, its building stock and activity of the building and the constraints on its performance as similarly noted by Duyshart (1997 151). The following chart can be used to assess a residential house whose occupants are nuclear relationship. Main area of assessment Sub-areas of assessment Remarks Building profile Number of structures and floor area Nature of the house(s) Nature of floor construction Nature of the wall construction Glazing of the windows and doors if applicable Insulation type and application of the same Orientation of the glazing Activity of the building -Averages of the floor areas and their distribution -whether attached or split -Concrete as per the 1991 legislation or otherwise Type of glazing used How this affects the immediate neighborhood or the users of the building Thermal efficiency profile Thermal improvements made on the structure such as increase in floor area, increasing the floor: wall areas, increased concrete use on the floor and a lowered glass: floor area ratio Thermal efficiency distribution of the building Thermal efficiency with regard to building characteristics Effect of the structural orientation If any when they were made Comparison with the notable features that affect thermal efficiency Must be able to meet the Solar Passive Design Principles Energy and greenhouse gas estimates The overall perspective from the stock of the residential building Consideration of the Kyoto regulations on greenhouse gas emissions The above is used to assess a building in general terms. However an assessment is aimed at establishing the efficiency of the building to its activity. This includes the performance, building scenario and appliance stock data. For this case we shall consider a performance assessment. Assessing the building performance However in the assessment the following key assumptions are made when using the model approach to performance assessment during the pre regulation time (Billington, Bright and Waters 2007 8-23). 1. The floor is fully carpeted except for the kitchen and the water closets which are instead tiled 2. The walls have the R1.5 insulation for framed types with timber floors and R1.0 for the framed with concrete floors 3. roofs and ceilings lacked ceiling 4. windows were assumed to be made of standard aluminum metal with vertical blinds Question 3: PART 1 Compliance report for a storey building Classification Type 2 Number of storey 2 Effective height 4.8m Type of construction Type A (concrete) Building profile -number of structures and floor area -nature of the house(s) Nature of floor construction Nature of the wall construction Glazing of the windows and doors if applicable Insulation type and application of the same Activity of the building 2 storey total floor area determined as design procedure A storey house Concrete Concrete with wood panels for insulation Not specified Gloss paint and wood paneling The activity of the building is strictly residential Thermal efficiency profile Thermal improvements made on the structure such as increase in floor area, increasing the floor: wall areas, increased concrete use on the floor and a lowered glass: floor area ratio Thermal efficiency distribution of the building Thermal efficiency with regard to building characteristics Effect of the structural orientation The ratio of floor area to wall area are quite high -The building top roof is a combination of the heap and gable roof which is favorable for thermal control The building characteristics are able to meet the Solar Passive Design Principles Energy and greenhouse gas estimates The overall perspective from the stock of the residential building Consideration of the Kyoto regulations on greenhouse gas emissions The building materials are recommended for residential building because of their safety The emissions are likely to be mainly from the cooking in the building but within recommended levels Part 2: Compliance report on TIV building at Champion Rd, Williamstown Classification Class 5, 8, 9, and 10 Number of storey 8 Effective height 19.6m Type of construction Type A (concrete) Building profile -number of structures and floor area -nature of the house(s) Nature of floor construction Nature of the wall construction Glazing of the windows and doors if applicable Insulation type and application of the same Activity of the building 8 storey with a total floor area of over 300 square meters A storey house Concrete and wood blocks Mainly concrete with wood panels for insulation It is of varied type ranging from tinted in the main library, reflecting on the main administration block, clear glass in lecture rooms to mosaic type in the gallery Main activity is learning and administrative purposes Thermal efficiency profile Thermal improvements made on the structure Thermal efficiency distribution of the building Thermal efficiency with regard to building characteristics Effect of the structural orientation The ratio of floor area to wall area is quite high and an increased use of concrete has improved thermal efficiency Thermal efficiency distribution is not up to date given the high rise and the increased glass area -The building top roof is a combination of ceramic tiles and concrete which is favorable for thermal control The building characteristics are able to meet the Solar Passive Design Principles Energy and greenhouse gas estimates The overall perspective from the stock of the residential building Consideration of the Kyoto regulations on greenhouse gas emissions The building materials are recommended for school building The emissions are likely to be mainly from the cooking in the building but within recommended levels Question 4: My home audit report on fire protection requirements based on current BCA Document Deemed to satisfy provisions satisfied Rise in storey are 2 according to clause C1.2 Building classification is 1 a as a private residential house for nuclear purpose. The effective height of the building is 4.8 meters. Total floor area is below 300 square meters Smoke hazard management according to EP2.2 in which smoker sensors have been installed in the main living rooms including the bedrooms, living/dining room, study and in the kitchen. Access by a fire engine as provided for in CP9 is assured given the wide access road and a lockable gate Presence of a fire hydrant pump with strategic tapping points which makes access to the water in the event of a fire be easy and at desirable pressure Presence of electricity supply Each separate room is separated by a solid fire wall that can stop spread of fire, allow reasonable hibernation of more than 2 hours and can allow identification of fire source by the brigade. Fire warning alarms are strategically placed for quick access from the ground and the upper floor The French windows provide extra exit point on the wall to add to the double-leaf main entrance door, the kitchen door and the balcony door from each separate bedroom. Given that the house is in the designated fire-prone state of Victoria new legislation have necessitated changes on the now ten year old house so as to comply with the AS3959 which gives prescriptions for house construction in such areas. Compliance to current regulation in Victoria Given that the house was done in 1988 the compliance to the Victoria Building Regulations (VBR) part 11 which address the Essential Services and Maintenance (ESM) of all buildings in the fire prone area of Victoria several issues are found to be pending and have legal implications if not handled in time. The following checklist was used: Annual ESM report Only one annual report was traced dated December 1999 Maintenance of the essential service element The last time the essential service and maintenance was done was not immediately established Display of ESM reports at conspicuous point The displayed report was dated December 1999 and no other ESM report was available Installation of an automatic sprinkler system An attempt had been made to install the system but it was not in working condition at the moment. Record of response from past experiences No record was available in spite of the recent bushfires in the neighborhood Although regulatory requirements have it that the missing fire protection devices and records be in place as International Association of Fire Chiefs and National Fire Protection Association (2009 257) insist, the main challenge is their compatibility with the original house design as has been the case with most pre-regulation structures in the state of Victoria. A trial with the automatic sprinkler said it all. However it is general agreement that there is need to have functioning fire notification devices, to use standardized safety devices and to use recommended inspection procedures for ease of state management and reporting of the emergency. References Billington, M. J. Bright, K. and Waters, J. R. 2007. The Building Regulations: Explained and Illustrated. 13th Ed. Wiley-Blackwell. PP 8-23 Duyshart , B. 1997. The digital document: a reference for architects, engineers, and design professionals. Architectural Press. p 151 Hargroves, K. and Smith, M. H. 2005. The natural advantage of nations: business opportunities, innovation, and governance in the 21st century. Earthscan. P 62 International Association of Fire Chiefs and National Fire Protection Association. 2009. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice. 2nd Ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p 257 Read More