Prefabricated pod installations go by many names and have become a common sight in office fitouts. However, #BCA compliance requirements for pods are often misunderstood or overlooked. Fortunately, the NSW Department of Customer Service has released a fact sheet outlining the minimum #BCA requirements that #architects #designers #builders and #certifiers need to ensure are met. Key compliance requirements that need need to be verified include:
โ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐จ - Ensuring the wall, ceiling and floor linings of the pod achieve the required fire hazard properties (this aims to limit the use of materials which are are quick to ignite and could cause unsafe conditions in the event of a fire);
โ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐จ๐จ - Access to and and egress from the pods needs to be assessed to ensure the pod complies with minimum widths, circulation spaces door, doorways in and out of pods are provided with a seamless (step / ramp free) threshold, achieve the required luminance contrast and are fitted with door handles that can be operated using single downward or pushing action by all occupants.
โ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐๐๐จ - Fire safety measures including sprinklers, detectors, occupant warning systems (where required in the building) need to be extended inside the pod and care needs to be taken to ensure the location of the pod does not obstruct existing / proposed fire services within the office space surrounding it
โ ๐๐๐ฃ. ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฉ - The minimum room height (typically 2.4m in an office) needs to be achieved in the pod. This can prove difficult for existing buildings where the head height in an office may only be 2.4m to start with, meaning a room height within the pod of less than 2.4m is inevitable and should be assessed by a qualified BCA Consultant and/or Fire Engineer to determine if the height within the room is able to comply with the BCA Performance Requirement.
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