Update from Dept Building & Housing on new Fire Safety Compliance Documents
Peter Thorby (Manager Building Standards Group, DBH) thought it might be helpful to SFPE NZ Chapter members if he outlines the Department's wider plans regarding the release of the new documents for fire safety and training for the sector in their use.
Read on for more information...
The Department intends to release an amended Code Clause C, seven new Acceptable Solutions (replacing the current C/AS1), and a new Verification Method C/VM2. These will be released as a package, scheduled for 2 April 2012, and with support to the sector to ensure these changes are adopted as smoothly as possible.
The Acceptable Solutions, C/AS1 to C/AS7, cover certain simple building designs without complex features. They provide a clear and relatively straightforward set of solutions for buildings and parts of buildings (firecells) that can be used by building design professionals who do not necessarily have specific fire engineering qualifications.
The new C/VM2 provides a method for specific design that allows creative and flexible engineering solutions for any building. It calls on quantitative analysis and modelling, and is likely to require specific skills and expertise of engineers with professional qualifications in fire engineering.
The Department is planning training that is targeted at and tailored for the different groups of users of these documents. The Department is planning a series of workshops, each having particular audiences in mind, and each involving a relevant partner organisation. The training will be relevant and inter-active.
Training for BCAs
The first workshops will be held for building consent officials who need to be ready to consent any building designs prepared in accordance with the new documents from whenever the new documents take effect (scheduled for 2 April 2012).
The Department is currently developing this training in conjunction with the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ) for joint delivery in late February/March. These workshops will focus on the Acceptable Solutions, given that designs to the Verification Method will nearly always be referred by BCAs to a consultant fire engineer for review. BCAs will be contacted directly about these workshops.
Training on the Verification Method - for fire engineers
The Department, in conjunction with IPENZ, is planning workshops for design professionals with specific fire engineering expertise. These workshops will focus on the Verification Method, C/VM2, and will be held in May 2012, as per this indicative programme of seven centres:
3 May Hamilton
4 May Auckland
8 May Taupo
9 May Tauranga
22 May Wellington
24 May New Plymouth
29 May Dunedin
30 May Christchurch
We are planning one earlier session, before 2 April, to ensure that there is a pool of fire engineers trained in the new Verification Method that can be drawn on to provide review services to BCAs in the short period between the scheduled 2 April effective date and the training in May described above. Attendance at this session will be by invitation only. The Department will consult with BCAs before it issues these invitations.
Training on the Acceptable Solutions - for building design professionals without specific fire engineering qualifications
The Department, in conjunction with the NZIA, is planning workshops in approximately five centres in June, targeted at architects and architectural designers. Information about registering for these workshops will be distributed by NZIA and the Department.
The Department will also ensure training is available for fire designers who are generally familiar with the previous documents. Training will be specifically tailored to their needs and existing knowledge (rather than attending the DBH/NZIA training referred to above). The Department is working with the SFPE to jointly provide this training on Acceptable Solutions to fire designers. Information about how to register for these workshops will be advised.
The Department aims to deliver relevant and timely education to each distinct group. The transition period of 12 months means that training will be available for all groups well before the old documents are withdrawn on 1 April 2013.
from Peter Thorby
Manager Building Standards Group
Department of Building and Housing
December 2011