GPO Building Refurbishment

The GPO Building Refurbishment was a unique project which involved a heritage listed building with many challenges due to both the age of the building and the features to be retained and added as part of the new architectural design.

The refurbishment was to include a large new atrium well in the centre of the building connecting all floor levels. Large windows already present would be incorporated into the new the atrium design, running up the atrium well. Link bridges with unprotect steel would also run through the atrium well.

The GPO Building Refurbishment had specific challenges with regard to egress from the building, unprotected steel work, the heritage listed windows which were not fire rated and issues in regards to smoke migration throughout the building in the event of a fire due to the height and openings throughout the building, all contributed to ensure this was a project requiring the best in innovative engineering.

To allow the client flexibility in design and significant cost savings our team worked with mechanical engineers to develop a performance based smoke hazard management system. This was presented and accepted by approval authorities as sufficient to enable occupants on the fire floor to reach exits prior to untenable conditions. A complex quantitative assessment was undertaken in regards to fire spread through the atrium. Modelling was undertaken to demonstrate it was acceptable to not fully sprinkler protect the atrium and that it is acceptable to have unprotected steel work, all contributed to large cost savings and a successful outcome for our client.

Century City Development – 100 St George’s Terrace

The Century City Development is a 24 storey high rise office and retail building with a five level basement car park and three interconnected retail levels from the ground floor level on St George’s Terrace.

Due to the interconnection of the three retail levels the combined volume of the retail areas was in excess of that for a building of Type A construction. Due to site constraints the building was unable to be constructed as a large isolated building. Fire Safety Engineering was required to provide flexibility to design teams and cost savings by enabling the interconnection of the three levels without fire separation. Based on the modelling used to demonstrate the interconnection of the three retail levels, egress stair requirements were rationalised throughout the building.

The Alternative Solutions successfully developed, demonstrated and presented to approval authorities by our team included a performance based smoke management hazard system which allowed the interconnection of the three retail levels, reduced egress widths and an evacuation strategy for the building. Reduced fire resistance levels for the egress paths from the office tower through the retail areas of the building and the approval of extended egress travel distances on the retail floor to limit the number of escape paths.

Midland Gate Shopping Centre

The Midland Gate Shopping Centre development involved the extension of an existing shopping centre that was non compliant with the current codes together with the construction of an 8 plex cinema to be located internally on the first floor level. The 8 plex cinema would be interconnected by a large void between the ground and first floor levels which would lead to complexities with the smoke exhaust system.

The project required that during construction, trading could still continue whilst construction was being undertaken in other areas of the building. Cost savings with regard to the existing design and project time constraints were also issues to be resolved through the Fire Safety Engineering solutions presented.

Smoke movement calculations were undertaken which demonstrated performance based egress widths and exit locations for the new and existing portions of the Shopping Centre. This allowed for flexibility in the layout and reduced the requirement for egress paths enabling greater areas of retail space. Further cost savings were received when it was demonstrated that the existing smoke exhaust systems would meet the performance requirement of the building code. The design team was provided with flexibility through the removal of smoke reservoir downstands throughout the malls of the shopping centre. The Fire Safety Engineering solutions also included a strategy to reduce egress widths for the cinemas whilst deleting the requirement for mechanical smoke exhaust in each cinema auditorium.

Burswood Entertainment Complex – The Main Gaming Floor Extensions

Being a world-class casino located within Burswood Entertainment Complex, the main gaming floor extensions provided many unique and challenging scenarios for our Fire Safety Engineering team.

Evacuation of occupants from a large public entertainment complex operating continuously is uniquely more difficult due to the very large occupant loads who have a varying degree of understanding of what is occurring and who may be unfamiliar with the building layout. During the main gaming floor extensions, areas were required to be hoarded off and alternate egress paths needed to be provided in order to maintain occupant loads.

Within the solutions presented, a delayed evacuation system was required as part of the security strategy, as was flexibility in the layout of escape paths to allow maximum placement and numbers of gaming tables on the gaming floor. It was imperative that occupant loads be maintained during construction and the solutions allow for large occupancy loads within the gaming floor at the conclusion of construction. This project was operating under significant time constraints, therefore solutions needed to be provided efficiently and effectively.

Due to the time constraints, the alternative solutions were negotiated with council and FESA. Through the presentation of complex smoke modelling with Computational Fluid Dynamics and evacuation modelling with Simulex, it was demonstrated that the fire safety systems in the casino were sufficient to maintain indefinite tenability for occupant evacuation and fire brigade intervention. Accordingly, large occupant loads were allowed together with a delayed evacuation incorporated as part of the Complex’s security.

With a quantitative assessment of the structure we were able to demonstrate that it was acceptable to have reduced fire resistance levels or that the structure had inherent capacity to maintain stability throughout a fire and accordingly existing fire safety systems could be used.

Burswood Entertainment Complex – The Pearl Room

The Pearl Room is a sophisticated VIP gaming facility at Burswood Entertainment Complex. Located on the Plaza level with an internal smoking area, this project had a designated opening date which could not be compromised.

The solutions presented were required to address the high occupant loads that needed to be maintained for the gaming tiers and also a non-compliant perimeter access which could not be accessed by fire brigade in order to fight a building fire. Smoke movement and egress calculations were undertaken to justify the use of an air handling system for mechanical smoke exhaust.

With timing and approvals by Council and FESA being instrumental in completing this project on time, our team negotiated prompt approval of the fire engineering to enable the issue of building licenses and accordingly an expedient construction start date.

Albany Grain Terminal

The Albany Grain Terminal is owned and operated by the CBH Group and located in the Port of Albany. In 2004, the CBH Group commenced an upgrade of the existing facility and construction of new storage infrastructure to meet the increasing demands to their business. Complete Fire Design were engaged to undertake the Fire Design Engineering for the entire project.

Within the scope of this project, the existing grain storage facility needed to be addressed together with the 10 new grain storage cells, two associated elevator towers and connection into an existing work house. The Terminal has train and truck receival facilities as well as ship, train and truck outloading facilities.

Due to the nature of the grain storage and handling operations the Building Code of Australia guidelines do not necessarily apply. The elevator towers and cells are in excess of 50m in height and grain annexes in excess of 108,000m3 and 12m in height which would result in considerable costs in order to comply with the building codes unless effective alternative solutions could be presented and accepted.

To comply with the Building Code of Australia, installation of sprinklers, smoke hazard management systems and smoke detection in the large isolated buildings, towers and cells is expensive, given the operation of the Terminal. The development of a Fire Safety Engineering plan and independent certification of the works ensured a fire management system that reduced the risks posed to occupants at a significantly reduced cost.

It was demonstrated through modelling and an assessment on risk of the building that sprinkler protection and mechanical smoke exhaust where the buildings are industrial with limited occupant loads were not required. It was further demonstrated that due to the nature and layout of the buildings, it was acceptable to reduce the number of emergency exit lights. The existing manual call point and occupant warning system was also utilised to provide additional cost savings to the project.

Underground egress paths were assessed on the risk posed to occupants and an exposed steel structure was utilised in lieu of fire rated construction. Complete Fire Design also provided gaseous and dry chemical suppression in lieu of water based suppression systems which will cause damage and swelling to stored grain resulting in structural failure of the cells.

Midland Brick Kiln 11

Midland Brick is one of the largest brick manufacturing facilities in Middle Swan, Perth. Kiln 11 was to be Midland Brick’s newest and most technologically advanced and automated kilns. The kiln building has a volume in excess of 108,000m3 and a roof height in excess of 12.0m.

Due to the high level of automation to be used in Kiln 11 the building would have a low occupant load, however it would contain some specific fuel loads including the gas reticulation system for the kilns and polypropylene mould boxes, oil, kerosene and saw dust.

Contracted by the lead consultant for the Kiln 11 project we were to enable them to gain approval for the construction works as well as bring cost savings, whilst maintaining an adequate level of life safety for building occupants. We were required to work with the local council and FESA to negotiate and gain their approval for the development.

We were able to successfully demonstrate that due to the low occupant load and the fact that the gas supply for the brick building was controlled, that it was acceptable to have natural ventilation in lieu of providing mechanical smoke exhaust and fire sprinkler protection.

With our team working alongside the mechanical consultant, a natural ventilation system was developed to not only control smoke movement in the building but also control ambient temperature. This was undertaken with Computation Fluid Dynamics modelling.

Fire Brigade intervention strategies were assessed to address perimeter access issues for the building.

Perth District Court Building

The Perth District Court is located in the central business district and forms an integral part of the CBD Courts precinct.

The building features a large atrium void rising through four floors to create a sense of openness and natural light for court users. While public areas of the building encourage ease of use through architectural cues and electronic displays, other areas, such as facilities to house persons in custody, have been specifically designed to maximise safety and security for all.

CFD delivered solutions to provide a fully functional judicial building with high levels of life safety in the event of a fire in the building. There was also a strong emphasis on preventing false alarms.

A performance based smoke hazard management system was developed for the building atrium to optimise fire safety whilst maintaining essential security measures. This process incorporated fire safety measures for the café, which is connected to the base of the atrium.

Dedicated management procedures were introduced in other parts of the building to manage specific challenges arising from the unique purpose of the facility. This included the interconnection of fire safety engineering measures for levels 9, 10 and 11 and the establishment of separate procedures for ensuring the safe evacuation of persons in custody in the event of a fire.

Claremont Village

The refurbishment of the existing Claremont Village Shopping Centre saw the development of two new levels of retail over an extended existing basement car park and two new residential towers located on the eastern and western end of the shopping centre. The residential towers had a rise in storey of seven above the ground floor level.

The two levels of retail were to be connected by voids along the public mall where there was no direct egress to outside on the upper floor level which meant occupants would be required to either evacuate along the limited emergency egress staircases or via the escalators to the ground floor level.

Another area to be addressed through fire engineering was the staged completion of the overall development which had implications such as reduced smoke filling reservoirs and reduced egress widths. Site constraints were also limiting the design and accordingly a performance based design was required to maximise the built environment and save costs.

It was successfully demonstrated that it is acceptable to have extended travel distances in excess of code requirements and to reduce the egress widths to the shopping centre mall. It was further demonstrated that smoke exhaust quantities and Fire Resistance Levels to some structural elements could also be reduced. The solutions presented showed that it was permissible to allow the use of escalators as paths of egress to evacuate the building which allowed a reduction in the amount of space required for emergency egress staircases from the first floor level, providing flexibility in design.

Other performance based designs included the replacement of fire hose reels with portable fire extinguishers, non-compliant point of discharge from fire isolated staircases and locating fire hydrants outside of fire isolated staircases along the mall and residential public corridors.

Lakeside Shopping Centre

The Lakeside Shopping Centre Stage 3 development involves a two storey extension to the existing shopping centre located at Joondalup. The proposed extension has two levels of retail which would be connected to a new four storey car park. The two levels of retail would be connected by voids along the public mall and would incorporate a Station Square area with tensile roof fabric approximately 22m in height. To assist with flexibility in design, it was proposed to omit sprinkler protection to the Station Square.

With this development the solutions presented were to address the maximisation of the nett lettable area and create cost savings through a performance based smoke exhaust design. In particular, this would impact the mall area where the connection of the lower floor level to the upper floor level would normally require a much larger smoke exhaust quantity in comparison to the performance based design.

The solutions were to also address a reduction in the Fire Resistance Level to the retail area and between the car park and retail areas and a reduction in the egress widths to the retail area.

It was successfully demonstrated that it is acceptable to omit sprinklers in the Station Square and have extended travel distances in excess of the code requirement. The egress widths were able to be reduced to the shopping centre mall and the smoke exhaust quantities and Fire Resistance Level to some structural elements were also reduced. Cost saving were also received through the replacement of fire hose reels with portable fire extinguishers.