Planning for Fire Safety during the Construction Phase - A Risk Management Perspective

Transcription

1 Planning for Fire Safety during the Construction Phase - A Risk Management Perspective Russell Kilmartin Director, Scientific Fire Services Pty Limited Platinum Sponsors

2 Planning for Fire Safety during the Construction Phase - A Risk Management Perspective Does the building construction industry address this issue adequately? What approaches are best adopted? Do fire risks in construction warrant special consideration? Conclusions Applied Examples Introduction Planning for Fire Safety during the Construction Phase A Risk Management Perspective Interim Fire Safety Management Plans A Prescriptive Approach? A Risk Management Approach

3 Introduction Introduction Construction, renovation or demolition activities are susceptible to fire. Simple fact. NFPA Fire Analysis and Research Division Construction incendiary or suspicious (39.5%); open flame, embers or torches (20.8%); and heating equipment (9.7%). Demolition open flame, embers or torches (51.7%), incendiary or suspicious (35.9%).

4 Introduction Introduction Notably the property loss per fire incident resulting from fires in buildings during construction is higher than most structure fire losses. Fire Safety during the Construction Phase has traditionally treated in relatively simplistic terms in the Australian building construction industry. Where occupation and construction activities occur simultaneously on the same site a different approach to fire/life safety is warranted.

5 Introduction Introduction No specific guidelines or regulations that are uniformly adopted throughout Australia. Does the building construction industry of Australia need another layer of consultants to address fire and construction? A prescriptive approach?

6 A Prescriptive Approach? A Prescriptive Approach? Part E1, Clause E1.9 of the NCC stipulates the minimum requirements for fire precautions during construction. NFPA and the ICC typically contain detailed lists of the protection measures that are to be followed during construction. These codes focus more on the "what," (prescriptive) and offer less attention to the "why," "how" and "when" of risk mitigation and implementation.

7 A Prescriptive Approach? A Prescriptive Approach? There are other documents that provide some guidance CFPA-E No 21:2009 Fire protection on Construction Sites The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007) NFPA 241 Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations; Fire Safety in Construction (Health & Safety Executive UK) HSG168 Second Edition 2010 Construction Global Minimum Requirements (Lend Lease)

8 A Risk Management Approach? A Risk Management Approach AS/NZS 4360 (Superseded by ISO 31000:2009) defines risk as, the chance of something happening that will have an impact upon objectives. Notably both objectives and fire risks in construction and in occupied buildings are significantly different. A fire safety management plan is a means of mitigation of risks. Hence, it is a risk management plan.

9 A Risk Management Approach? A Risk Management Approach The approach articulated in AS/NZS 4360 lends itself well to a fire safety risk management approach.

10 Interim Fire safety Management Plans Interim Fire Safety Management Plans The AS/NZS 4360 approach applied to Planning for Fire Safety during the Construction Phase

11 Interim Fire safety Management Plans Interim Fire Safety Management Plans Pacific Place Mall, Hong Kong Existing Fire Services Suspended for 3 Years New Fire Services Four (4) large retail zones underwent significant refurbishment works introducing of new voids and interconnecting lift shafts in a fully operational retail shopping centre. Existing Fire Services Interim Fire Safety Management Plan New Fire Services

12 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Pacific Place Mall, Hong Kong Applied Examples The context 3 year construction program provided by the builder (Gammon) 4 separate construction zones Suspension of key fire safety systems Temporary hoardings Temporary crash decks Altered egress provisions

13 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Pacific Place Mall, Hong Kong Applied Examples Identify Risks Construction zone fires Types of fire Frequency Time of day Retail trading zone fires Types of fire Frequency Time of day

14 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Pacific Place Mall, Hong Kong Applied Examples Analyse & Evaluate risks Construction zone fires impact Types of fire Frequency Time of day Systems in place Retail trading zone fires impact Types of fire Frequency Time of day Systems in place

15 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Pacific Place Mall, Hong Kong Applied Examples Treat the risks IFSMP Operations Procedures Universal/Fundamental Requirements (IFSMP) 37 mandatory requirements Shopping Centre (non-construction zones) Trading Hours 9 Mandatory requirements Shopping Centre (non-construction zones) Non-Trading Hours 3 Mandatory requirements

16 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Pacific Place Mall, Hong Kong Applied Examples Management of the Risks: IFSMP Operations Procedures Construction Zone(s) Trading Hours 4 mandatory requirements Construction Zone(s) Non-Trading Hours 11 Mandatory requirements Introduced displays and decorative features & functions 15 Mandatory requirements

17 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Charlestown Square Shopping Centre Newcastle, NSW Applied Examples Expansion of the existing retail shopping centre by some 40,000m separate construction zones/stages over the construction period of some four (4) years All occurred alongside the existing operational retail centre.

18 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Charlestown Square Shopping Centre Newcastle, NSW Applied Examples Sophisticated construction programing revisited throughout the life of the project. Risk Management process with stakeholders and Fire & Rescue NSW AS/NZS 4360 approach applied to Staged Construction Program

19 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Forte, Docklands, Melbourne Applied Examples Largest residential timber structure in the world Not a typical construction site in Melbourne MFB raised the issue of fire risk prior to commissioning Fire Safety Management Plan implemented before construction commenced

20 An Applied Example (IFSMP) Forte, Docklands, Melbourne Applied Examples Lend Lease GMR s expanded specific to Forte Security Inspections Fire Systems House keeping MFB requirements Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) Panels Forte site

21 Conclusion Conclusions Shared activities (construction + building occupation) warrants special consideration Prescriptive approach does not address the true risks Risk management approach Understand the context Identify and evaluate the risks Treat the risks (Interim Fire Safety Management Plans)