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CPCCSV5009A: Assignment 2

Question 1: Fire Separation

Task 1:
In this task it is given that the height of the proposed building to be constructed will be of single
storey. It will be a dual occupancy building and lightweight construction (plaster board) will be
used for the separation of the common wall. This building falls under the class 1a dwelling.
Importantly, it is also given that the non-combustible materials will be used for roof coverings
and there will be no penetration in the separating wall.
Thus, the acceptable construction practice requirements of the BCA which is related to the
separating walls for the class 1a dwellings are illustrated below.
Part 3.7.1.8 Separating Walls
(a) A separating wall between Class 1 buildings. or a wall that separates a Class 1 building from
Class 10a building which is not appurtenant to that Class 1 building must have an FRL of not
less than 60/60/60 and(i) commence at the footings or ground slab (see Figure 3.7.1.10); and
(ii) extend(A) if the building has a non-combustible roof covering. to the underside of the
roof covering (see Figure 3.7.1.10 and Figure 3.7.1.11)
(b) A separating wall of lightweight construction must be tested in accordance with
Specification C1.8 of the BCA Volume One.
(c) A separating wall complying with (a)(ii)(A)(i) must not be crossed by timber or other combustible building elements except for root
battens with dimensions of 75x50 mm or less, or roof sarking: and
(ii) must have any gap between the top of the wall and the underside of the roof covering
packed with mineral fiber or other suitable fire-resisting material.

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The builder has also decided to accommodate an electrical socket to one side of the wall,
including electrical wire that penetrates the separating wall. Thus, the requirements for this type
of penetration are given below:
3.7.1.8 Separating walls
(f) Any service opening, other than those listed in (g), (h) and (i), in a separating wall must have
construction with an FRL of not less than -/60/60.
(g) If an electrical wire or cable penetrates a separating wall(i) the service and building element at the penetration must be identical with a prototype
assembly which has been tested In accordance with AS 4072.1 and AS 1530A and achieved an
FRL of not less than -/60/60: or
(ii) The service must be installed so that(A) the opening is neatly formed. cut or drilled and no closer than 50 mm to any other service:
and
(B) the opening is no larger in cross-section than(aa) 2000 mm2 if only a single cable is accommodated and the gap between the cable and
the wall is no wider than 15 mm; or
(bb) 500 mm2 in any other case; and
(C) Any gap between the service and the wall is packed with mineral fiber or other suitable fire
resistant material.
(h) If an electrical switch, outlet, socket or the like is accommodated in a separating wall(i) the service and building element at the penetration must be identical with a prototype
assembly which has been tested in accordance with AS 4072.1 and AS 1530.4 and
achieved an FRL of not less than -/60/60; or
(ii) the service must be installed so that-

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(A) the opening or recess must not(aa) be located opposite any point within 300 mm horizontally or 600 mm
vertically of any opening or recess on the opposite side of the wall; or
(bb) extend beyond half the thickness of the wall; and
(B) any gap between the service and the wall is packed with mineral fibre or other
suitable fire resistant material.
The below given diagram illustrates the penetration requirements:

Task 2:
From BCA volume two, it can be said that
Fire-resistance level (FRL) means the grading periods in minutes determined in accordance
with Specification A2.3 of BCA Volume One, for(a) structural adequacy; and
(b) integrity; and
(c) insulation,
and expressed in that order.

TASK 3:
Lightweight construction means construction which incorporates or comprisesa) sheet or board material, plaster, render, sprayed application, or other material similarly
susceptible to damage by impact, pressure or abrasion; or
(b) concrete and concrete products containing pumice, perlite, vermiculite, or other soft material
similarly susceptible to damage by impact, pressure or abrasion; or
(c) masonry having a thickness less than 70 mm.

Task 4:
According to the requirement of the dwelling described in the problem statement, the best suited
separation wall will be the CSR Gyprock separation wall system. The CSR Gyprock Party Wall
systems are specifically designed for the class 1a dwellings and meet the requirements for timber
framed FRL 60/60/60 and sound ratings as given in the BCA. The main advantage of this system
is that there are no setting joints of central fire barrier, services supplies are incorporated, there is

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minimal use of the sealants, it cam ne installed rapidly and there is no requirement for the
additional trades.
The various components of this system are as follows:

1) Linings: Gyprock Standard Plaster board of thickness 10 mm and mass 6.5 kg/m2.
2) Fasteners: Needle-point screw: 6g x 25mm for fixing Wall Clip to timber plate and track
fasteners which are made of steel such as the power actuated concrete nails or flat round head
expansion anchors.
3) Insulation- Bradford gold R1.5 wall batts (75 mm)
4) Steel H stud: The Gyprock separation wall system comprise of 25mm H-studs which supports
the shaft linear panels at all the vertical joints. It is made from 0.55mm BMT G275 galvanised
steel.
5) Gyprock Steel track to provide shaft of linear panels at the top and bottom of wall.
6) Aluminum wall clip: These are required to provide support to 25mm H-stud. They are built
from 4.6mm aluminum.

The construction sequence of the separation wall is illustrated below:

i) The first step is to fix the bottom track.
ii) In the next step the linear panels and the partition stud are cut to the same length.
iii) The linear panel is fitted to the base track.
iv) The fire wall stud should completely fit down the track.
v) The fitting of the partition wall studs and the linear panels are continued till the fire barrier is
completed.

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vi) Alluminium clips are used in the next step to fasten the partition walls to the wall frame
vii) Then the wall system is sealed with the wall batts and the bottom track is sealed with a fire
rated acoustic sealant.

Question 2: Bushfire prone areas

Q1)
The bush fire resisting timber may be defined as a timber which is solid, laminated or
reconstituted form that meets the criteria specified in Appendix F of AS 3959.
As per the provisions of AS 3959 a bush fire resisting timber may be defined as a timber which is
deemed to be acceptable to withstand a exposure up to BAL- 29 condition. A timber may be
called a bush fire resisting timber on the basis of one or more of the following conditionsi) The inherent properties of the material itself.
ii) Being impregnated with the fire retardant chemicals.
iii) The application of fire-retardant coatings or substrates.
Q2)
The various testing requirements detailed in AS 3959 that must be satisfied for a timber to
considered as bushfire resisting timber are illustrated as follows:
i) It must satisfy the test criteria of AS 1530.8.1 and may be used in lieu of the applicable
requirements contained in clauses 7.2 to 7.8.
ii) As per Appendix F of AS 3959, F2 Testing, the following conditions apply:
(a) To satisfy the requirements for bushfire-resisting timber, timber shall be tested in accordance
with AS/NZS 3837 and shall meet the following criteria:

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(i) The maximum heat release rate shall be not greater than 100 kW/m2.
(ii) The average heat release rate for 10 min following ignition shall be not greater than60
kW/m2 when the material is exposed to an irradiance level of 25 kW/m2.
Where the timber has been altered by chemicals, the test samples shall be subjected to the regime
of accelerated weathering described in Paragraph F3 except that where the timber is protected
from the weather, as described in AS 1684.2 and AS 1684.3 (for example, cladding protected by
a veranda), accelerated weathering of the test samples is not required before being tested to
AS/NZS 3837.
External timbers are deemed to be protected if they are covered by a roof projection (or similar)
at 30 degrees or greater to the vertical and they are well detailed and maintained (painted or
stained and kept well ventilated).
Q3)
The list of timbers that can be classified as bushfire resistant are as follow:
Standard trade name
Ash, silvertop
Blackbutt
Gum, red, river
Gum, spotted
Ironbark, red
Kwila (Merbau)
Turpentine

Botanical name
Eucalyptus sieberi
Eucalyptus pilularis
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Corymbia maculata
Corymbia henryi
Corymbia citriodora
Eucalyptus sideroxylon
Intsia bijuga
Syncarpia glomulifera

Q4)
Below are the three practical examples of when fire resisting timber may be used in the
construction of a dwelling in a bushfire prone area:
Building

BAL-12.5 and Bal- Bal-29

Element
Deck/ramp
bearers and joists
Decking and Stair
treads

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ALLseasons/hySPAN (H3)

External
surface

ALLseasons
(H3)
except in those areas
of the deck less than
300 mm (measured
horizontally at deck
level) from glazed
elements that are less
than
400
mm
(measured vertically)
from the surface of
the deck
wall Less
than
400m
above the ground or
an external horizontal
surface1
use
Shadowclad/ECOply
over a fire rated FRL
30/30/30 wall

Bal-40

BAL-FZ

Bushfire

resisting timber
such
as
Blackbutt

Use
noncombustible
materials such
as steel or
concrete

Use
noncombustible
materials such
as steel or
concrete

SHADOWclad
/ ECOply over
a fire rated wall
with a FRL
30/30/30

SHADOWclad
/ ECOply over
a fire rated wall
with a FRL
30/30/30

SHADOWclad
/ ECOply over
a fire rated wall
with a FRL
30/30/30

The Brochure of the manufacturer Carter Holt Harvey is attached: