Gaining Fire Regulation compliance through the Alternative Solution path
Some recent innovative timber buildings have been completed, even though they have not met the National Construction Code (NCC) Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) Provisions prescriptive fire requirements.
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC) do not allow some building elements to be constructed from combustible materials, such as timber, or they nominate the material that can be used, such as concrete or masonry.
Alternative Solutions may be developed by an accredited/registered Fire Safety Engineer as part of a building solution to allow the use of timber in specific applications not covered by the DtS Provisions of the NCC.
On thie new Fire Regulation Alternative Solution Development page you'll find a summary of the process that can be used to develop Alternative Solutions. Three WoodSolutions Technical Design Guides have been written to summarise the Alternative Solution process for each element. The guides are:
#17 Alternative Solution Fire Compliance: Timber Structures
#18 Alternative Solution Fire Compliance: Facades
#19 Alternative Solution Fire Compliance: Linings
The Guides are complemented by case studies on this site that show the documentation and evidence required, these include:
Williamstown High School
Knox Grammar School Great Hall and Aquatic Centre
Monash University Student Housing
Wollongong University AIIM Processing and Devices Building