COMMENTARY ON CLAUSE 13

a) Internal Subdivision Impact: Affects user safety and the use of planned escape routes during a fire.

Types of Planning:

Cellular Planning:

● Divides floor areas into separate rooms with access corridors.

● Risk: Undetected fires could threaten escape routes if not properly managed.

Open Storey Planning:

● Minimal partitions, with potential screens or high furniture.

● Advantage: Early awareness of fire due to visible smoke.

13.1 Compartments

The following factors should be taken into account when planning compartmentation.

a) Fire-Resisting Subdivision:

● Buildings can use fire-resisting walls and floors to limit fire spread.

● Can meet life safety requirements or enhance compartmentation for other purposes.

b) Impact on Escape and Evacuation:

● Fire compartments affect escape routes, evacuation procedures, and the number of stairs/exits.

● Only occupants and contents within a fire compartment are initially at risk.

c) Un compartmented Buildings:

● All occupants and contents are at risk in a fire.

● Larger, higher spaces are slower to fill with smoke, providing more time for evacuation.

13.2 Open spatial (vertical) planning

COMMENTARY ON 13.2

Open Spatial Planning:

● Connects two or more storeys in an uncompartmented space, allowing smoke and heat to spread freely.

● Examples: Split-level floors, spiral floors, balconies, galleries, and vertical connections across multiple floors.

Considerations for Escape:

a) Storey Exits:

● Position exits away from open connections to avoid escape routes near openings.

b) Travel Distances:

● Ensure maximum travel distances to exits are within limits set for equivalent buildings without open spatial planning.

c) Escape Routes in Category A and B Buildings:

● Escape routes should lead away from openings.

● Subsequent routes should not pass within 4.5 meters of the opening.

13.3 Atria

All buildings with an atrium should be designed in accordance with Annex B.

NOTE Design solutions and examples for atria are given in Annex C.

13.4 High fire risk areas

COMMENTARY ON 13.4

a) High Fire Risk Areas:

● Designated for storing/using significant amounts of dangerous substances or preparations.

● Includes substances with fast/ultra-fast fire growth, or classified as explosive, oxidizing, extremely flammable, or highly flammable.

b) Regulatory References:

● Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002.

● Dangerous Substances (Explosive Atmospheres) Regulations 2002.

● Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 for petrol.

c) Consultation:

● Early consultation with relevant authorities is recommended when proposing the storage and use of high-risk substances.

13.5 Process plant and outdoor structures

The recommendations for means of escape (Section 5) and structural design (Section 7) might not be fully applicable for buildings and structures that are purpose-designed to house processes and storage plants. Such structures should meet the additional recommendations in Annex F.

Figure 4 Escape route on associated floor areas

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13 Internal subdivision and spatial/visual orientation