Fire Safety Verification Method – The Australia Research Experience

Abstract

A methodology described as a Verification Method (VM) has been proposed in Australia as one way of evaluating the level of fire safety of a building design. It has been based on a similar VM developed in New Zealand, and has been issued by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) for public comment with the possibility of adoption into the National Construction Code (NCC) in 2019.As part of the VM development, a consortium of fire safety engineers and academics were invited to undertake some detailed research into calibration of eight different buildings using the proposed VM. In addition the researchers were asked to evaluate the buildings using quantitative risk assessment to determine the building risk levels against some risk tolerance criteria established by ABCB.The research showed that none of the 8 buildings met the VM requirements, despite all complying with the NCC prescriptive building code requirements. All buildings as designed also had risk levels in excess of the ABCB risk tolerance criteria.A Summary Report compiled by the research consortium was issued by ABCB as part of the Public Comment consultation process, and it shows that there would be some considerable uncertainties in using such a VM at this time for regulation of fire safety of buildings in Australia, not only for more complex buildings but even simpler retail, aged care and residential buildings.The Summary Report suggests that more fire science and engineering research is required before such a VM can be fully adopted across Australia, and that in the interim, more concentration should be given to updating fire engineering guidance and strong attention be given to professional competence, education and accreditation of fire safety engineers.