Working with Fire Safety Schedules? Make sure the Fire Safety Schedule for your project doesn't contain the below wording for Fire Stopping of service penetrations:
๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ... ๐ข๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐
As awareness of Passive Fire Protection increases in the industry, terms such as 'tested prototype' and 'tested system' are becoming more prevalent. An example of this use can be seen in Fire Safety Schedules, which are included as part of building approvals and list both the active and passive fire safety systems required in the building along with the applicable standard(s) of performance for the measure.
Whilst on face value, requiring Fire Stopping of service penetrations to be in accordance with a tested prototype may seem harmless, the reality is that this can significantly reduce available fire stopping systems, noting that:
โถ A large portion of compliant fire stopping systems for service penetrations on the market vary from the tested prototype as it is not practical nor is it necessary to include all possible variations to a service / system (e.g. changes to pipe materials and/or sizes, wall construction, or cable types/configurations etc.) in a single fire test; and
โท Variations to tested prototypes are permitted under the National Construction Code, provided the variations are assessed and documented in a Report prepared by an Accredited Test Lab (such as Resolute Testing Laboratories, CSIRO and Warringtonfire) which details the construction and requirements of the varied system along with the FRL it has been assessed to achieve in accordance with Section 4 of AS 4072.1-2005.
Noting the above, we recommend reviewing Fire Safety Schedules as early as possible on projects to ensure this wording isn't included and unnecessary defects are avoided.
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