Combustibility of building materials: Understanding the key Australian standards & fire safety concepts in the National Construction Code

Following a series of high-profile fire incidents, including London’s Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and Melbourne’s Lacrosse building fire in 2014, there has been a heightened regulatory focus on fire safety compliance. The fire safety of building materials is often expressed in terms of their combustibility and/or resistance to fire, with special regard to the structural elements which must remain in place for stability.

Combustibility of Building Materials: Understanding the Key Australian Standards & Fire Safety Concepts in the National Construction Code provides an informative guide to the key fire safety concepts in the NCC and how they relate to the relevant Australia fire standards. It is essential that architects, designers and specifiers have a thorough understanding of how fire performance and testing requirements impact the specification of building materials and systems.

Innova™ products—coupled with the range of GTEK™ interior lining technology—provide high-quality fire rated cement sheets that are durable and reliable. Their fire resistant exterior cladding and interior linings have undergone rigorous fire and acoustic testing to ensure that your project meets all Australian fire and acoustic building standards and optimal performance.

• The NCC 2022 permits the use of "fibre reinforced cement sheeting" where a non-combustible material is required, so fibre cement is not subject to the AS/NZ 1530.1 test.
• Special design considerations apply to design and specification of fire-resistant building elements in order maintain the FRL of the entire system. This may mean, for example, firestopping service penetrations and protecting beams and columns with fire-rated encasement systems.

Download this whitepaper for an informative guide to the key fire safety concepts in the National Construction Code and the relevant Australia fire standards.