2022 NCC Seminars: Volume One - Protection of openings

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[Music]  

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Hello my name is Graham Moss, Principal Building Surveyor for the Australian Building Codes Board

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this video is a brief overview of changes to Part C4 protection of openings  found in Section C of NCC 2022 Volume One.  

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The first change I want to talk about today  is C4D10 which is in NCC 2019 known as C3.9.

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This is the provision that stops fire isolated  exits from having penetrations except for the  

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few things that would be necessary, for  example in this photograph here we have  

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a hydrant riser which is necessary to meet  particular requirements of the NCC and so  

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of course it's allowed to have that hydrant  riser penetrate into the fire isolated exit.

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C3.9 or C4D10 also allows electrical  wiring so you can put lights in there, of course  

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pressurization ducting is something else that's  been allowed for a long time to penetrate a fire  

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isolated exit. For 2022, we've added fire service  test drain pipes because it's common practice to  

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put the test drain out in the basement car park  or somewhere else outside of the fire isolated  

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exit so that the water drained from that test  pipe can be dealt with in a place that's not a  

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fire isolated exit. Apparently this is a common  performance solution

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so we've included this sensible inclusion in NCC 2022.

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This next change is to do with C3.16 construction joints or C4D16 in 2022.

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here's what it looks like in NCC 2019, C3.16  in 2019 is quite restrictive because when you use

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a tested system to achieve an FRL, what you put on  site needs to be identical to the tested prototype

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this doesn't align with other provisions, like Schedule 5, which applies concurrently  

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and Schedule 5 lets you use a different  arrangement that has been certified by  

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the accredited testing laboratory, it doesn't  have to be identical with the prototype.

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So for 2022 that flexibility is introduced  for construction joints also in C4D16.

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There's another change in Section C to cover and  that's in Specification 5 which is known in

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NCC 2019 as specification C1.1, now this change is to  do with Class 2 and 3 timber framing concession  

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that's the concession which lets you build  a three-story Class 2 or 3 with timber

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framing even though other provisions say C1.9(a) would require some elements to be non-combustible.

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So for 2022 we've added the subclause (c)  shown by the orange arrow on this slide  

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notwithstanding Spec 5 C3(1)(c) timber framing may  be used. Now I'll show you what specification  

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5 Clause 3(1)(c) is on the next slide but before we  get there I just want to show you something about  

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that word notwithstanding, now notwithstanding  is a word that's used quite often in the NCC  

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and some people get confused by it so I'm going to  give you a little tip today when you see the word  

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notwithstanding simply think despite what it says  in because that's what it means notwithstanding.  

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So despite what it says in Specification 5 Clause  3(1)(c) timber framing may be used for a part of  

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the building that provides support to a part  of the building constructed of timber framing  

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what does Specification 5 Clause 3(1)(c) say well  here it is, this is fire protection for support  

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of another part that's an existing provision  found in Specification C1.1 Clause 2.2 and  

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that's that part of the BCA in Spec C1.1 that  says if you are supporting something that needs  

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to be non-combustible, then the thing that you  support it with has to also be non-combustible  

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now considering the timber framing concession if  you have an external wall that would need to be  

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non-combustible but because that concession can  contain timber framing if you support that with a  

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brace wall an internal brace wall then under Spec  5C3(1)(c) it would be required to be non-combustible  

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so of course we've included this additional  concession as a clarification for NCC 2022 because  

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it's always been intended that timber framing can  be used throughout when that concession is used.