BCA 2016 Evaluation For A Planned Commercial Development

The proposed building is a commercial development. The allotment has two boundaries that adjoin a public reserve. The reserve is a drainage reserve where there is currently no ability for development on this site.The building will accommodate multiple uses including a café, pharmacy, medical centre, in addition to a number of units that may be used for commercial purposes such as government offices, lawyer’s offices or accountantoffices.

4.1.1 This written assessment item places you in the role of an employee of a private certifying consultancy firm. In this position you are given a project to work on, being part of a design team,where you will need to understand and apply certain sections of the Building Code of Australia. You will be required to assess a set of architectural plans against nominated DTS provisions of the Building Code of Australia 2016 (refer below), identify compliances and non- compliances,discuss solution/s to any non-compliances and write a professional report that gives background,
justification and recommendations to your solution/s.

4.2 Requirements
NOTE: Do not just copy clauses – interpret clauses in your words
4.2.1 The assignment requires thefollowing:
(a) Review the plans for the proposedbuilding.
(b) Undertake a BCA assessment of theplans:
i. Assess the plans and determine the Classification, Type ofConstruction,Rise in Storeys, Floor Area and Volume Limitations.
ii. Assess the plans against the DTS provisions nominated (refer below).
iii. Identify compliances and non-compliances against the DTSprovisions.
(c) Present your findings in a ‘BCA AssessmentReport’.
(d) Your assignment must have a UoN assignment cover sheet as the firstpage.
(e) Your assignment must then have a covering letter to yourclient.
(f) You then present your BCA report which must have a professional report cover page and format.
(g) You are required to have a reference list at the end of thereport.
(h) The report is NOT an essay - it is to follow industry standards.
(i) Ensure you provide relevant content and justification for your decisions.

A2 AIM

A1 BACKGROUND

The owner of the building has hired a BSA Consultancy  to provide a detailed BCA 2016 evaluation for a planned commercial development, comprising of several uses which includes pharmacy,  a cafe, health centers and several units that will be used purely for commercial activities for example government offices or accountant offices.

A2 AIM

The report aims at assessing the sets of provided architectural plans against selected DTS requirements of the BCA 2016, it also aims to identify the component of the building compliances and their non- compliances and finally it will provide solutions and recommend to all the non-compliances.

A3 DOCUMENTATION

A revision of the provided documents that are shown below has been done and used as the the reference sources, to prepare this report..

• Architectural Drawings
• The National Construction Code: Building Code of Australia 2016 Volume One - Class 2 to 9 buildings. Australian Building Codes Board, Canberra.
• The National Construction Code: Building Code of Australia 2016 Volume Two - Class 1 to 10 buildings. Australian Building Codes Board, Canberra.
• The National Construction Code: Building Code of Australia 2016 Guide to the Building Code of Australia 2016. Australian Building Codes Board, Canberra.

BCA INFORMATION

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BUILDING

B.1 classification of the building

The table below summarizes the classification of the projected building 

B.2 FLOOR AREA AND VOLUME

In regard to the information provided the maximum area and maximum volume calculated is tabled below, but this will inapplicable  on class 2 section.

Classification of the building		Type A
9b	Maximum floor area	1567 m2
	Maximum volume	7051.50 m3

B.3 FETURE OF SOURCE OF FIRE

From the plan the distance from the source of fire is tabled below

Boundary	Distance from the source of fire
North	Ø  20m from existing service station
Public Reserve	Ø  5 m from the public reserve on the east side of the building
Existing supermarket	Ø  10 m to the existing supermarket on the west side of the building
South public reserve	Ø  5 m from the public reserve on the south side of the building

BCA ASSESSMENT

B.4 BCA DEEMED-TO-SATISFY COMPLIANCE ISSUES

The recommendations to the selected clauses based on the components of the building, have been made on dependence to the particular pertinent construction rules of Australia (BCA) requirements, that is projected to compliance issues for the proposed commercial building.

SECTION A: THE STRUCTURE AND THE BUILDING CLASSIFICATION

Based on the sustainability of the building every member part of the building must constructed to its standard in order to achieve the regulations of the BCA, by considering the construction materials are used for the respective specific function as required and intended to.

The building has been classified as 9a therefore it is a health Centre. 

The pharmacy takea approximately 10% of the area so it will be taken as minor, whereas the medical centre covers the remaining but which is taken as major and this will apply for identification of the whole storey based on it.The classification of the building will incorporate also the lift room. 

Clause A4: that defines united Buildings

For united building it comprises of more than two buildings which adjoin one another from one combined building if;

1. a) The buildings connect through the openings found on the walls which divide them

(b) The buildings conform to all the regulations found in BCA to represents one building

A3 DOCUMENTATION

Comment: for this it is not applicable for this type of the building.

SECTION B: STRUCTURE

B.1 Structural

The detailed plan prepared by a qualified architecture will be required in order to show that it is in compliance with section B.1 based on the new structural members of the buildings.

Comments: The entire detailed are to be provided for it to confirm that the prepared design meets its compliancy with the provision of the BCA standards.

SECTION C: FIRE RESISTANCE

C1 FIRE RESISTANCE AND STABILITY Clause C1.1: The required type of Construction.

As par the architectural drawing the building is classified as type A since it has 4 floors, and it characteristic is based on table C1.1 and its specification C1.1.Comments: The building component should have FRL greater than the value tabled. The building has be classified as type

• Assume the external wall is categorized as load bearing, with the external wall of about 2.5 m since the building is under class 2, then the FRL will be 90/60/60
• The FRL for external column will be 90/-/-
• Fire resistance lift and stairs shafts FRL will be 90/90/90
• Bounding public corridors FRL will be 90/90/90
• Floors the FRL will be 90/90/90
• Roofs the FRL will be 90/90/30

Clause C1.3

The building comprises of fours, but having two floors with a major area of covered by medical Centre, the building will be classified as class 2 and type A Clause C1.10: Fire Hazard PropertiesThe properties of fire hazard on the assemblies, linings and materials in a Class 2 to 9 building should be complied based on the specification C1.10.

Comments: The assessment will be based on provision of appropriate material, in order for it to achieve compliance as per description above.  

PART C2: SEPARATION Clause C2.1: Application of Part 

The following clauses are not compliance to car park that is provided with a sprinkler system, the clauses includes C2.2, C2.3 and C2.4, their compliance relies on specification E1.5.

Clause C2.6: Vertical Separation of Openings in External Walls

The opening sections on the external wall and in which a similar opening is above or below but close to it, and the vertical projection distance is more than 450 mm on the lower opening, it is recommended to separate the opening by either horizontal or horizontal spandrel which has a FRL of 60/60/60.

Comments: The Building complies with the above description. In addition the details of spandrel separation are shown on the image below, to help in construction phase probably if the extensive detail will show non compliances Clause C2.8: Separation of Classifications

Separation of the parts of different classification of the building using a fire wall having a higher FRL for the classifications provided on table 3 or 4 of BCA specification C1.1, in this case assume one wall yo use FRL of 180/180/180 and another wall of separation you use 120/120/120 therefore the FRL of the two walls will be 180/180/180 which is the highest.

SECTION A: THE STRUCTURE AND THE BUILDING CLASSIFICATION

Comments: The construction certificate should comply with FRL.Clause C2.9: Separation of Classification in Different Storeys Comments: the slab of the car park should be able to attain to FRL of about 180/180/180 for the separation of class 7a and 9b to be effective. The storey slab should have a minimum FRL of about 120/120/120.Clause C 2.10: separation of lift shafts This will apply to all the classes of the building and there will be specifications requirement for protecting the opening lift shafts and lift landing doors.

Comments: This will be provided based on the requirements for Type A Construction and also the will be a provision of a minimum FRL of about 120/120/120.Clause C2.13: Supply of electricity system This will be provided as per both the respective fire ratings, and the design that is required for electrical services, as follows:The building construction should be separated from fire areas that may achieve a FRL of 120/120/120.

SECTION D: ACCESS AND EGRESS

D1. PROVISION FOR ESCAPE Clause D1.2: Number of Exits Required 

The clause describe on establishment of enough exits to help on safe exit in case of an emergency. D1.2 is entitled to describe that the building should have more than one exit from every storey.Comments: Based on the plan the exits satisfies the requirements of D1.2Required Exits:

Level	Exit Required
Basement	Two or more exit are required
Ground Floor	1 exit required
First floor to forth floor	1 exit is required

Clause D1.3: Requirement of Fire isolated Stir ways and RampsThe clause describes the requirement of fire isolation stir ways and ramps for safe exit from the building on occurrence of an emergency like fire.Comments: Based on the provided plan the stairs are projected to be isolated from fire.Clause D1.4: Exit Travel Distances  The corridor of the entry should have a distance which is approximately 6m from an exit.

Clause D1.5: Distances between alternative exits The plan is expected to in compliance with the requirements of D1.5.Clause D1.6: Dimensions of exits The stairs that are used for exit together with corridors and other paths which are used for travelling is expected to have a minimum width distance of 1m and height length of 2m.Clause D1.17: Access to Lift Pits The clause specifies the lift pits requirement for it when it is less than 3 m deep and more than 3 m deep.Comments: Based on this plan the compliance has been achievable.

PART D3: ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

Clause D3.1: General building access requirements

The clause specifies that the extension of the access will depend on the building classifications. The accessibility of the buildings should be based on table D3.1 unless if there is an exemption by clause D3.4Comments: Compliance has been achieved already.Clause D3.2: General building access requirements for people with disabilities The clause specifies that the entry point to the building should be accessible from all the major pedestrian entry points and car parking spaces.

PART C2: SEPARATION

The minimum width of the door should have a opening way of  than 850mm Comments: Compliance has been achieved already.Clause D3.4: Exemptions

The clause specifies the part of the building that are not supposed to be accessed as per  BCA, based on the nature of the area, this includes;

• Area based on the purpose on the area is used.
• Any access paths alone to a section that will be exempted by (a) or (b).Comments: based on this proposed building the clause is not applicable 

Clause D3.5: Assess Car parking The clause specifies the spaces required in car parking which is based on the classification of building.Comments: This has been achieved and complied too.

SECTION E3: LIFT INSTALLATIONS Clause E3.4: Emergency lifts The clause describes an emergency lift installations for a building that height which is more than 25 m.Comment: Not applicable in this proposed building Clause E3.6: Passenger lifts Species the passenger lift should be installed based on table E3.6a, having features of its accessibility as per table E3.6b.Comments: Detail of the lift are required for further assessment.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING, EXIT SIGNS AND WARNING SYSTEMS Clause E4.2: Emergency lighting requirement

The clause specifies on the emergency lighting which should be mounted in all the classes starting from 2 to 9 building, and their requirements as mentioned on  sub-clauses (a) to (i).Comments: Compliance is assumed to have been achievedClause E4.5 / 4.6: Exit signs

The clause specifies the signs of exit and they are always visible to individuals who could be approaching it. They are supposed to be placed at the doors that allows exit fom the building.Comments: The design details will be provided for further assessment.

Reference

Bennetts, I. and Pham, L., 2016. Structural robustness and fire. In Australasian Structural Engineering Conference: ASEC 2016 (p. 155). Engineers Australia.

Board, A. B. C. (2016). National Construction Code Series Volume 1, Building Code of Australia 2016, Class 2 to 9 Buildings. Canberra: Australian Building Codes Board, 163.

Board, A. B. C. (2016). National Construction Code Volume Two: Building Code of Australia Class 1 and Class 10 Buildings. Canberra: Australian Building Codes Board.

Board, A. B. C. (2016). National Construction Code: Guide to the Building Code of Australia 2016. Canberra: Australian Building Codes Board.

Grant, W., GRANT SHARON, 2008. Sprinkler system for converting non-sprinklered buildings. U.S. Patent 7,363,987.

Moinuddin, K.A., Thomas, I., Chea, S. and Bennetts, I.D., 2007. Factors affecting the reliability of sprinkler system in Australian high rise office buildings. Fire Safety Science, 7, pp.80-80.

Nguyen, K.T., Weerasinghe, P., Mendis, P., Ngo, T. and Barnett, J., 2016. Performance of modern building façades in fire: a comprehensive review. Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering, 16, p.1.

Webb, A. and Lin, X., 2015. Slip Resistance Assessment of Carpets for Compliance to National Construction Code of Australia.