AS/NZS 1668.

1:2015
The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings

Fire and smoke control in buildings

Presented by:
BRETT FAIRWEATHER

+INTEGRITY +INFORMED +INNOVATION

• BRIEF SCOPE OF EACH SECTION

• IMPORTANT CHANGES IN EACH SECTION

• Scope:
– Minimum requirements for the design,
construction, installation and commissioning of
mechanical smoke control systems in Class 2 to
Class 9 buildings.
– Now includes multi-compartment & large, single-
compartment buildings
– Requirements for the maintenance of smoke
control systems are not included.
 SECTION 2
AIR-HANDLING SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– General requirements for air-handling systems
and pressurization systems
– Properties & installation requirements for
components
 SECTION 2
AIR-HANDLING SYSTEMS

• Changes:
– Interaction between smoke control systems
– Damper definitions
– Concessions for combustibility & temp of fusion
– Electrical reference to AS/NZS 3000
– Reminder about seismic conditions
 SECTION 3
FIRE PROTECTION OF OPENINGS

• Scope:
– To maintain the fire integrity of building elements
compromised by mechanical ventilation
– Protection of ducts, openings & equipment
 SECTION 3
FIRE PROTECTION OF OPENINGS

• Changes:
– Clarification around FRL components
– Openings in Walls & Floors now “Method of
Protection”
– Exemptions & Exclusions
– Fire-resistant enclosing construction
– “Smoke-spill” is now “Smoke exhaust”
– Subduct clarifications
 SECTION 4
SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– general requirements for air-handling systems
used for smoke control
– Location of inlets, outlets & direction of airflow
– Noise & door force limits
– Fan construction
– Electrical requirements
– Control & Indication
– T&C requirements and Records
 SECTION 4
SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

• Changes:
– Transfer of content to AS1670.1 Smoke Control
– Wiring exceptions:
• within fire rated plantroom (previous clash with
authorities)
• no adverse affect on operation
– VSD Labelling
– Can’t use BMS
– Table 4.1
 SECTION 4
SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

• More changes:
– Baseline data, test results & documentation shall
be readily available at the site
– Improved documentation requirements:
• Design documentation
• O&M instructions & equipment schedules
• Concise essential instructions
• Schematic diagram
– Improved testing requirements
 SECTION 5
MISCELLANEOUS SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– requirements for miscellaneous air-handling
systems that do not form part of a smoke control
system.
 SECTION 5
MISCELLANEOUS SYSTEMS

• Changes:
– “Small systems” now “Single enclosures”. 1000L/s
– Improved minor system (<0.1m²) requirements
– Carparks:
• NOT A SMOKE EXHAUST SYSTEM
• Dedicated (non-essential) main switch required
• Jet fans shut down (and are not in series)
• Ventilation (incl. supply) operate at FVR
• Fire dampers often OK
• Stair pressurisation relief = Smoke exhaust system
 SECTION 6
KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– requirements for exhaust systems serving kitchen
hoods and kitchen appliances with proprietary
exhaust provisions installed as required by AS
1668.2
 SECTION 6
KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD SYSTEMS

• Changes:
– “it shall not shut down” (with switch labelling)
– Other ventilation systems may share the shaft
– Flame and spark arrestance required
 SECTION 7
SHUTDOWN SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– requirements for the shutdown of air-handling
systems that do not form part of a smoke control
system.

• Changes:
– Improved requirements for smoke dampers
 SECTION 8
ZONE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– requirements for systems that are required to
provide zone smoke control utilizing a
pressurization system
– central plant and individual plant air-handling
systems
 SECTION 8
ZONE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS

• Changes:
– Now 20 to 80 Pa below other compartments
– Clearer diagrams
 SECTION 9
HOT LAYER SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– Exhaust smoke from the hot smoke layer to
maintain the smoke layer above egress paths.
– Based on a single axisymmetric plume, which is
confined to one reservoir.
– Smoke plumes spilling across multiple reservoirs
are not considered.
 SECTION 9
HOT LAYER SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

• Changes:
– Entirely new section
– Transfer of content from AS1668.3
– Omission of “Fire Engineering-ness”
– Exhaust air capacity (as per BCA)
– Describes intakes, reservoirs, plenums, curtains,
make-up & operation
– Single fan permitted for multiple compartments
 SECTION 10
PROTECTION OF FIRE-ISOLATED EXITS

• Scope:
– Protection of fire-isolated exits by pressurization
– Pressurization creates airflow across open doors
– Relief, relief, relief
 SECTION 10
PROTECTION OF FIRE-ISOLATED EXITS

• Changes:
– More reminders about relief
– Dedicated vs Zone pressurisation (leakage)
– VSD’s: encourages location within the exit
– Vertical & horizontal combined
– Reworked performance criteria
– …and don’t forget about relief
 SECTION 11
AIR PURGE SYSTEMS

• Scope:
– Legacy item
– Operation of HVAC smoke control to “purge” smoke
from building
– Smoke out. Outdoor air in.
– Only applies to central plant systems serving multiple
compartments

• Changes:
– Not much.
 SECTION 12
LIFT SHAFT PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM

• Scope:
– lift shaft pressurization system when required to
aid in smoke control

• Changes:
– Not much.
 APPENDICES
• A: Health & Aged Care (Informative)
• B: Subduct Principles (NEW) (Informative)
• C: Reliability (Informative)
• D: Wiring Systems Fire Resistance (Normative)
• E: Commissioning Tests (Informative)
• F: Hot Layer Application (NEW) (Informative)
• G: Building Geometry (NEW) (Informative)
• H: Hot Layer Inlet Requirements (NEW) (Normative)
• I: General Design Information (NEW) (Informative)
• J: Open Access Ramps & Balconies (NEW) (Informative)
• K: Exit Pressurization Tips (NEW) (Informative)
 Thank you

Presentation prepared by
BRETT FAIRWEATHER
Member AS/NZS 1668.1 sub-committee
for more information, please contact Brett at It’s Engineered
+INTEGRITY +INFORMED +INNOVATION www.itsengineered.com.au