Technical Specifications
FPA Australia's Technical Specifications for Automatic Fire
Sprinkler Systems Design and Installation for both FPAA101D
(Drinking Water Supply) and FPAA101H (Hydrant Water Supply) were
published in December 2018.
These Technical Specifications are referenced in the National
Construction Code 2019 (NCC 2019).
FPA Australia released in May 2020 Guide to Technical
Specifications: FPAA101D and FPAA10H - Automatic Fire Sprinkler
Systems Design and Installation - Drinking Water Supply and Hydrant
Water Supply (the Technical Specifications' Guide).
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Background and context
Recent tests have shown that fires in modern buildings burn at a
rate eight times faster than 50 years ago. A coronial inquest into
a 2012 apartment fire in Bankstown NSW prompted the NSW Coroner to
recommend investigation of a fit-for-purpose, cost effective
sprinkler system for Class 2 and 3 buildings.
In response to this recommendation, Fire & Rescue New South
Wales (FRNSW) funded research and testing conducted by CSIRO in
conjunction with FRNSW and FPA Australia staff and members to
investigate and test such systems.
FPA Australia Technical Specifications FPAA101D and FPAA101H
were developed as a result of this research; reference existing
requirements of current Australian Standards; and, require the use
of listed sprinkler heads within the scope of their listing.
One of the key ways a more cost effective system was achieved
was by adapting the system design to use existing water supplies in
the building - either the domestic water supply or the hydrant
system water supply.
These Technical Specifications formed part of a successful
Proposal for Change (PFC) to the National Construction Code (NCC)
Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provisions to require sprinkler systems in
Class 2 and 3 buildings with 4 storeys or more and an effective
height of not more than 25 m. This proposal was submitted and
supported by FPA Australia, FRNSW and the Australasian Fire and
Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC).
The resulting changes to the NCC 2019 provide new DTS Provisions
that mandate sprinkler protection providing appropriate fire
suppression in Class 2 and 3 buildings where no fire suppression
has been previously required.
The main objective and purpose of these new sprinkler systems is
to significantly increase the level of life safety for occupants by
providing automatic fire suppression, therefore increasing the
available safe egress time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents do I need to be
able to apply FPAA101D or FPAA101H?
As mentioned in Background and Context above, FPAA101D
and FPAA101H are now referenced by the NCC 2019. As such, to
understand where they are able to be applied to satisfy the
Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provisions of the NCC, please refer
directly to the NCC. Specifically, Clause E1.5, Specification E1.5
and Specification E1.5a of Volume One of the NCC (Volume One of the
Building Code of Australia) as well as the relevant fire safety
section of the Plumbing Code of Australia, PCA, (Volume Three of
the NCC).
You can access the NCC for free by going to the Australian
Building Codes Board (ABCB) website here and registering for a free
login.
Also as mentioned, FPAA101D and FPAA101H refer to Australian
Standards. In particular, FPAA101D adopts and varies AS 2118.5-2008
and references AS 2118.1:2017 and AS/NZS 3500.1:2018*. FPAA101H
references AS 2118.1:2017, AS 2419.1-2005 and AS 2941-2013.
These Australian Standards can be purchased in hard copy from
FPA Australia using the Australian Standards and NFPA Codes
& Handbooks order form found here.
*Note: FPAA101D actually references AS/NZS
3500.1:2015 due to its development prior to the publication of
AS/NZS 3500.1:2018. Any secondary reference document must use the
NCC referenced version if that secondary reference document is also
a primary reference document of the NCC. Accordingly, AS/NZS
3500.1:2018 is referenced by the NCC and it is that version that
must be applied in applying FPAA101D under the DTS Provisions of
the NCC. See
IB-09 Application of Primary and Secondary Reference Documents
under the Building Code of Australia for more information
regarding these requirements.
Are these Technical
Specifications intended to replace AS 2118.1 or AS
2118.4?
The FPAA101D and FPAA101H sprinkler system specifications are
not intended to be a substitute for existing Australian Standards
AS 2118.1, AS 2118.4 or AS 2118.6.
The new FPAA101 automatic fire sprinkler system designs were
developed for buildings that previously did not require sprinkler
protection.
NCC 2019 DTS Provisions that require sprinkler systems in Class
2 and 3 buildings of 4 storeys or more and an effective height of
not more than 25 m provide the option to use any of the following
documents for the sprinkler system design:
- AS 2118.1
- AS 2118.4
- FPAA101D
- FPAA101H
It is up to the designer or building owner to determine which
system is most appropriate for their building.
So what is the difference
between AS 2118.1 & AS 2118.4 and FPAA101D and
FPAA101H?
The main difference between FPAA101D & FPAA101H and AS
2118.1 & AS 2118.4 is that FPAA101D and FPAA101H extend from an
existing water supply system already required within the building
(either drinking water or hydrant water supply) rather than a
dedicated standalone sprinkler water supply.
Does FPA Australia have any
guidance on how to use FPAA101D and FPAA101H?
Yes. FPA Australia published a comprehensive guide to these
Technical Specification in May 2020.
This guide was produced to:
- Provide detailed information on the background and context of
the development of the Technical Specifications and their adoption
in the NCC;
- Explain how they can be used under the NCC DTS Provisions;
- Provide a clause by clause guide to each of the Technical
Specifications to explain the intent behind, and/or how to
implement, each clause; and
- Answer frequently asked questions about the Technical
Specifications.
Visit here to purchase this
guide.
I have a question about the
Technical Specifications.
FPA Australia understands there may be many questions on how to
apply these new systems. The Technical Specifications' Guide (here) aims to provide
comprehensive guidance on the application of these new systems and
answer frequently asked questions.
If you have a specific question that is not addressed by this
guide then we would encourage you to submit this using the
Technical Query form found here. Please note, as per this
Technical Queries page, we cannot provide consultative advice on
site specific issues.
I would like to recommend improvements to the Technical
Specifications and Guide
FPA Australia is committed to ongoing improvement in all of its
documents, both our Technical Documents and these
Technical Specifications and Guide, to ensure these remain up to
date and easy to apply.
If you have a suggestion for how to improve the Technical
Specifications and Guide, please submit this to technical@fpaa.com.au.
When you make your suggestion, please make sure to:
- Identify what document your suggestions relates to (e.g.
FPAA101D, FPAA101H or Guide);
- Identify the relevant section, clause, figure etc. in the
document that the suggestion relates to and the page that this is
found on;
- Provide information on the matter of concern with the section,
clause, figure etc.; and
- Provide your suggestion for how to address this matter.
Only suggestions with this information will be considered.
Also, please note that - given these are published and/or NCC
referenced documents - immediate changes cannot be readily made or
adopted. However, all suggestions will be retained and considered
during the next revision of these documents.