Tips for Fire Protection in High Rises with Fire Rated Access Panels in NSW

Minimize the damage

A fire could start in countless ways inside a building. From an electrical error in the refrigerator to a leftover burning cigarette on the balcony of the building, even the smallest of incidents can cause a major fire. 

The Australian building regulations and codes cannot prevent the occurrence of fires in the building, but they can greatly help reduce the damage caused by the fire by enforcing different strategies, such as building design, materials used inside the building and various other specifications.

For instance, the use of combustible materials in cladding the building has been one of the primary reasons for the spread of some of the major fires in recent times in Australia. Therefore, enforcing the appropriate use of building materials including access panels ensure that the building is self-sustained in controlling the fire before it becomes rampant,  in the event of an emergency. 

Effective fire protection is not just about restricting or preventing the fire from spreading, but it is also about preventing the spread of dangerous gases and smoke. Effective fire-rated wall access panels (FRW) from Trafalgar Access can allow better access and functionality during a fire. 

Passive and active fire protection

The two basic fire protection strategies include passive fire protection and active fire protection.

1) Active fire protection is defined as the installation of visible systems that provide active protection for the fire. These systems include fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, exit signs, heat and smoke vents, as well as an intercom calling system for any emergency.

2) Passive fire protection can be defined as the installation or use of non-visible elements or systems that are embedded in the building structure to provide protection from fire or to prevent the fire from spreading furthermore. The strategy usually involves the floors and walls separating each apartment or occupancy units from the adjoining units.

The most important aspect of passive fire protection is compartmentalization. It simply means the construction of fire-resistant barriers inside the building structure to prevent the controlled spread of fire. Firewalls, fire barriers, smoke barriers and fire partitions all together form an integral aspect of compartmentation. Moreover, effective fire rated ceiling access panels from Trafalgar Access can allow better access and functionality during a fire. 

BCA and NCC

BCA or Building Code Australia has certain special provisions related to the fire safety elements and systems used in high rise residential buildings.

The Class 1A structure of a building is classified as a single house or dwelling, like a detached home, or more than one attached dwellings, that are separated by the fire-resistant wall. For example, villa units, townhouses, terrace houses and row houses. Such dwellings require a special type of fire-rated wall access panels (FRW) set up.

The Class 1B structure of a building is classified as a guest house, boarding facility, hostel etc. that has an all-encompassing area of no more than 30 square meters on all the floors and a maximum of 12 people reside in the building. The structure is not built below or above another building class or dwelling other than the private garage. Such building structures require efficient fire rated ceiling access panels for better efficiency and functionality.

Fire rated access panels in NSW by Trafalgar Access are built to provide efficiency and functionality. While fire protection in buildings is important, fire rated access panels are more significant given that they could allow easy access and functionality even during emergencies.

For information on fire-rated wall access panels, visit Trafalgar Access today.