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Extract from the New ZealandBuilding Code:Clauses C1-C6 Protection from FireClause A3 Building Importance Levels

This document contains extracts of the New Zealand Building Code Clauses C1–C6 Protection fromFire and A3 Building Importance Levels. The full Building Code is contained in Schedule 1 of theBuilding Regulations 1992. These regulations can be downloaded from www.legislation.govt.nzPeople using this document should check on a regular basis whether new versions have beenpublished. The current version can be downloaded from www.dbh.govt.nz/compliance-documentsUsers should make themselves familiar with the preface to the New Zealand Building CodeHandbook, which describes the building controls system in New Zealand and the Building Code.Defined words (italicised in the text) are explained in the Building Code Clause A2 Interpretation.Enquiries about the content of this document should be directed to:Department of Building and HousingPO Box 10-729, Wellington.Telephone 0800 242 243Fax 04 494 0290Email: info@dbh.govt.nzRegulations are available from www.legislation.govt.nz

Clauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EC1—Objectives of clauses C2to C6 (protection from fire)Limit on applicationProvisionsThe objectives of clauses C2 to C6 are to:(a) safeguard people from an unacceptablerisk of injury or illness caused by fire,(b) protect other property from damagecaused by fire, and(c) facilitate firefighting and rescueoperations.D epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012I1

N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EClauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6C2—Prevention of fireoccurringProvisionsFunctional requirementC2.1 Fixed appliances using controlledcombustion and other fixed equipmentmust be designed, constructed, andinstalled in buildings in a way that reducesthe likelihood of illness or injury due tofire occurring.PerformanceC2.2 The maximum surface temperatureof combustible building materials closeto fixed appliances using controlledcombustion and other fixed equipmentwhen operating at their design level mustnot exceed 90 C.C2.3 Fixed appliances using controlledcombustion and other fixed equipmentmust be designed, constructed andinstalled so that there is a low probabilityof explosive or hazardous conditionsoccurring within any spaces in or aroundthe building that contains the appliances.2ID epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012Limit on application

Clauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EC3—Fire affecting areas beyondthe fire sourceProvisionsLimit on applicationFunctional requirementC3.1 Buildings must be designed andconstructed so that there is a lowprobability of injury or illness to personsnot in close proximity to a fire source.C3.2 Buildings with a building heightgreater than 10 m where upper floorscontain sleeping uses or other propertymust be designed and constructed so thatthere is a low probability of external verticalfire spread to upper floors in the building.Clause C3.2 does not apply toimportance level 1 buildings.C3.3 Buildings must be designed andconstructed so that there is a lowprobability of fire spread to other propertyvertically or horizontally across a relevantboundary.D epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012I3

N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EClauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6C3—Fire affecting areas beyondthe fire source (continued)ProvisionsLimit on applicationPerformanceC3.4 (a)
 materials used as internal surfacelinings in the following areas of buildingsmust meet the performance criteria specifiedbelow:Area of building4IClause C3.4 does not apply todetached dwellings, within householdunits in multi-unit dwellings, oroutbuildings and ancillary buildings.Performance determined under conditions describedin ISO 9705: 1993Buildings not protectedwith an automatic firesprinkler systemBuildings protectedwith an automatic firesprinkler systemWall/ceiling materials insleeping areas where careor detention is providedMaterial Group Number 1-SMaterial Group Number1 or 2Wall/ceiling materials inexitwaysMaterial Group Number 1-SMaterial Group Number1 or 2Wall/ceiling materials inall occupied spaces inimportance level 4 buildingsMaterial Group Number 1-SMaterial Group Number1 or 2Internal surfaces of ductsfor HVAC systemsMaterial Group Number 1-SMaterial Group Number1 or 2Ceiling materials in crowdand sleeping uses excepthousehold units andwhere care or detentionis providedMaterial Group Number1-S or 2-SMaterial Group Number1 or 2Wall materials in crowdand sleeping uses excepthousehold units andwhere care or detentionis providedMaterial Group Number1-S or 2-SMaterial Group Number1, 2, or 3Wall/ceiling materials inoccupied spaces in all otherlocations in buildings,including household unitsMaterial Group Number1, 2, or 3Material Group Number1, 2, or 3External surfaces of ductsfor HVAC systemsMaterial Group Number1, 2, or 3Material Group Number1, 2, or 3Acoustic treatment and pipeinsulation within airhandlingplenums in sleeping usesMaterial Group Number1, 2, or 3Material Group Number1, 2, or 3D epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012

Clauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EC3—Fire affecting areas beyondthe fire source (continued)ProvisionsLimit on application(b)
 floor surface materials in thefollowing areas of buildings mustmeet the performance criteriaspecified below:Area of buildingMinimum critical radiant flux when tested toISO 9239-1: 2010Buildings not protectedwith an automatic firesprinkler systemBuildings protectedwith an automatic firesprinkler systemSleeping areas andexitways in buildings wherecare or detention isprovided4.5 kW/m22.2 kW/m2Exitways in all otherbuildings2.2 kW/m22.2 kW/m2Firecells accommodatingmore than 50 persons2.2 kW/m21.2 kW/m2All other occupied spacesexcept household units1.2 kW/m21.2 kW/m2(c)
 suspended flexible fabrics andmembrane structures used in theconstruction of buildings must haveproperties resulting in a lowprobability of injury or illness topersons not in close proximity toa fire source.C3.5 Buildings must be designed andconstructed so that fire does not spreadmore than 3.5 m vertically from the firesource over the external cladding ofmulti-level buildings.C3.6 Buildings must be designed andconstructed so that in the event of fire inthe building the received radiation at therelevant boundary of the property doesnot exceed 30 kW/m2 and at a distance of1 m beyond the relevant boundary of theproperty does not exceed 16 kW/m2.D epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012I5

N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EClauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6C3—Fire affecting areas beyondthe fire source (continued)ProvisionsC3.7 External walls of buildings that arelocated closer than 1 m to the relevantboundary of the property on which thebuilding stands must either:(a)
 be constructed from materials whichare not combustible building materials, or(b)

for buildings in importance levels 3 and4, be constructed from materials that, whensubjected to a radiant flux of 30 kW/m2, donot ignite for 30 minutes, or(c)
 for buildings in Importance Levels 1 and2, be constructed from materials that, whensubjected to a radiant flux of 30 kW/m2, donot ignite for 15 minutes.C3.8 Firecells located within 15 m of arelevant boundary that are not protected byan automatic fire sprinkler system, and thatcontain a fire load greater than 20 TJ or thathave a floor area greater than 5,000 m2must be designed and constructed so thatat the time that firefighters first apply waterto the fire, the maximum radiation flux at1.5 m above the floor is no greater than4.5 kW/m2 and the smoke layer is not lessthan 2 m above the floor.C3.9 Buildings must be designed andconstructed with regard to the likelihoodand consequence of failure of any firesafety system intended to control firespread.6ID epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012Limit on application

Clauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EC4—Movement to place of safetyProvisionsLimit on applicationFunctional requirementC4.1 Buildings must be provided with:(a)
 effective means of giving warning offire, and(b)
 visibility in escape routes complyingwith clause F6.C4.2 Buildings must be provided withmeans of escape to ensure that there isa low probability of occupants of thosebuildings being unreasonably delayed orimpeded from moving to a place of safetyand that those occupants will not sufferinjury or illness as a result.PerformanceC4.3 The evacuation time must allowoccupants of a building to move to a placeof safety in the event of a fire so thatoccupants are not exposed to any ofthe following:(a)
 a fractional effective dose of carbonmonoxide greater than 0.3:(b)
 a fractional effective dose of thermaleffects greater than 0.3:(c)
 conditions where, due to smokeobscuration, visibility is less than 10 mexcept in rooms of less than 100 m2 wherevisibility may fall to 5 m.C4.4 Clause C4.3(b) and (c) do not applywhere it is not possible to expose morethan 1 000 occupants in a firecell protectedwith an automatic fire sprinkler system.C4.5 Means of escape to a place of safetyin buildings must be designed andconstructed with regard to the likelihoodand consequence of failure of any firesafety systems.D epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012I7

N E W Z E A L A N D BU I L D I N G C O D EClauses C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6C5—Access and safety forfirefighting operationsLimit on applicationProvisionsFunctional requirementC5.1 Buildings must be designed andconstructed so that there is a lowprobability of firefighters or otheremergency services personnel beingdelayed in or impeded from assistingin rescue operations and performingfirefighting operations.C5.2 Buildings must be designed andconstructed so that there is a lowprobability of illness or injury to firefightersor other emergency services personnelduring rescue and firefighting operations.PerformanceC5.3 Buildings must be provided withaccess for fire service vehicles to ahard-standing from which there is anunobstructed path to the building within20 m of:(a)
 the firefighter access into the building,andPerformance requirements inclauses C5.3 to C5.8 do notapply to backcountry huts,detached dwellings, withinhousehold units in multi-unitdwellings, or to outbuildings,and ancillary buildings.(b)
 the inlets to automatic fire sprinklersystems or fire hydrant systems, wherethese are installed.C5.4 Access for fire service vehicles inaccordance with clause C5.3 must beprovided to more than 1 side of firecellsgreater than 5,000 m2 in floor area thatare not protected by an automatic firesprinkler system.C5.5 Buildings must be provided with themeans to deliver water for firefighting toall parts of the building.C5.6 Buildings must be designed andconstructed in a manner that will allowfirefighters, taking into account thefirefighters’ personal protective equipmentand standard training, to:(a)
 reach the floor of fire origin,(b)
 search the general area of fire origin,and(c)
 protect their means of egress.8ID epa r t m en t o f Bui l d ing a n d H ous ing – 10 A p r i l 2 012