Performance-based Design Report
1 University Street, Parramatta
Prepared for: Warehouse Builders Pty Ltd
Report Number: 2022/001
Revision 1.1
Analysing Fire Pty Ltd
Revision Control
Report Number 2022/001
Revision Date Prepared By Approved By
1.0 02/07/2022 Tutor ABC Teacher XYZ
Description: Initial issue
1.1 20/09/2022 Tutor ABC Teacher XYZ
Description: Incorporates comments received from PBDB meeting on 01/08/2022

1 Executive Summary
1.1.1 This report has been prepared at the request of Warehouse Builders Pty Ltd for the proposed warehouse located at 1 University Street, Parramatta. The report addresses non-compliances with the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1 associated with:
• Perimeter vehicular access; and
• Travel distances.
1.1.2 The proposed Performance Solutions are detailed in
# Description of Departure DtS Clause Relevant Performance Requirements Assessment Methodology
1 Perimeter vehicular access C2.3, C2.4 CP9 Fire
Engineering
2 Travel distances D1.4 DP4 Fire
Engineering
Table 1 Summary of performance solutions
1.1.3 The report details the agreed approach, following stakeholder consultation, to demonstrate compliance with the relevant Performance Requirements of the NCC, these being CP9 and DP4.
Contents
1 Executive Summary 3
2 Introduction 5
3 Scope of project 5
3.1 General 5
3.2 Limitations 5
3.3 Assumptions 6
4 Relevant stakeholders 6
5 Building Description 7
5.1 General 7
5.2 Building characteristics 7
6 Occupant characteristics 8
7 General Objectives 9
7.1 Building regulatory objectives 9
7.2 Other regulatory/non regulatory objectives 9
8 Non-compliance issues and specific objectives or performance requirements 9
9 Hazards 10
9.2 General layout 10
9.3 Activities 10
9.4 Ignition sources 10
9.5 Fuel sources 10
10 Preventative and protective measures 10
10.1 Sub-system A - Fire Initiation and Development and Control 10
10.2 Sub-system B - Smoke Development and Spread and Control 11
10.3 Sub-system C - Fire Spread and Impact and Control 11
10.4 Sub-system D - Fire Detection, Warning and Suppression 11
10.5 Sub-system E - Occupant Evacuation and Control 11
10.6 Sub-system F – Fire services intervention 11
11 Trial designs for evaluation 12
11.1 General 12
11.2 Management and Use 12
11.3 Commissioning and maintenance 12
12 Performance Solution 1 – Perimeter Vehicular Access 13
12.1 Introduction 13
12.2 Methodology 13
12.3 Approaches and methods of analysis 13
12.4 Acceptance criteria and factors of safety 13
12.5 Fire scenarios and design fires 13
12.6 Assessment 13
13 Performance Solution 2 – Travel distances 14
13.1 Introduction 14
13.2 Methodology 14
13.3 Approaches and methods of analysis 14
13.4 Acceptance criteria and factors of safety 14
13.5 Fire scenarios and design fires 15
13.6 Assessment 15
14 Conclusion 16
15 References 16
Appendix A Documentation 17
Appendix B Performance-based Design Brief Meeting Minutes 18
2 Introduction
2.1.1 This report has been prepared at the request of Warehouse Builders Pty Ltd for the proposed warehouse located at 1 University Street, Parramatta. The report addresses non-compliances with the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1.
2.1.2 The report addresses non-compliances associated with:
• Perimeter vehicular access; and
• Travel distances.
2.1.3 The analysis is proposed to demonstrate that the Trial Design specified in Section 11 meets Performance Requirements CP9 and DP4 of the NCC.
2.1.4 Any change in use, changes to building designs, etc will require a reassessment of this report.
3 Scope of project
3.1 General
3.1.1 The design of the building is required to comply with Volume One of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1.
3.1.2 The client has requested that performance solutions be provided for the departures identified in Section 8. The project is part of a design-and-construct contract.
3.1.3 The Performance Solutions will be required to be referred to Fire and Rescue NSW under Part 3 Division 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021.
3.1.4 The report has been prepared using the following documentation:
(a) Volume 1 of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2016
(b) Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines 2021 (AFEG)
3.2 Limitations
3.2.1 This report is limited to the development of a performance solution addressing non-compliances with the DTS provisions identified in Section 8, and does not address the following:
(a) Property protection;
(b) Business interruption
(c) Environmental protection
(d) Dangerous goods
(e) Acts of arson or terrorism
(f) Multiple simultaneous fires occurring
3.2.2 Any change in use, changes to building designs, etc will require a reassessment of this report.
3.3 Assumptions
3.3.1 The following assumptions have been made in developing this report:
(a) That the building will comply with the DTS provisions of the NCC except for those non-compliances addressed within this report.
(b) That the building will be constructed in accordance with the plans, specifications and other documentation referred to in this report, and that maintenance is undertaken as required.
4 Relevant stakeholders
4.1.1 The relevant stakeholders are provided in Table 1 (Relevant Stakeholders) below.
Name Role Company
Toby Watermelon Developer Warehouse Builders Pty Ltd
John Banana Architect Good Drawing Company Pty Ltd
Fiona Grape Fire Safety Engineer Analysing Fire Pty Ltd
Peter Pear Mechanical Engineer Anything Air Pty Ltd
Susan Apple Fire Protection Engineer Sprinkle Some Water Pty Ltd
5 Building Description
5.1 General
5.1.1 The proposed building is located at 1 University Street, Parramatta. It is proposed to contain a single storey warehouse, with internal office area and an at grade carpark.
5.1.2 It is proposed to construct the building in Type C construction and treat the building as a large isolated building, thereby permitting the fire compartment sizes to exceed those required for Type C construction.
5.1.3 The warehouse has a floor area of 16,500 m2 and a ceiling height of 13 metres.
5.2 Building characteristics
5.2.1 The building characteristics are provided in Table 2 below.
Table 2 (Building characteristics)
Building Class/use of premises Class 7b
Type of construction Type C
Effective height 0 metres
Rise in storeys 1
Levels contained 1
Location Parramatta, NSW
Proximity to other buildings & boundaries, and buildings of high importance 10 m from northern boundary
5 m from eastern boundary
10 m from western boundary
10 m from southern boundary (main road)
Proximity to other hazards Reasonable distances provided to the boundary
Emergency services access, site access, location of FIP, hydrant & sprinkler booster/tanks The building fronts a public main road on the south. The main entry to the building is on the southern elevation off the main road.
The hydrant and sprinkler boosters are located on the southern elevation facing the street.
Total floor area/volume 16,500 m² / 214,500 m³
(single fire compartment)
Access and Egress Main entry on southern elevation from main road.
Exits provided on each side of the building.
Hidden voids There are no hidden voids.
Openings, shafts, ducts and atriums, ventilation, HVAC, air handling Typical building services for a warehouse building.
6 Occupant characteristics
6.1.1 The occupant characteristics are provided in Table 3 below.
Table 3 (Occupant Characteristics)
Characteristics Description
Distribution Predominantly adult staff.
The distribution is assumed to be typical for the general population and occupants could be located at various locations around the building.
State The occupants will be awake and alert
Physical and mental attributes Typical for the general population
Level of assistance required/available Assistance may be required for mobility impaired persons. There is no assistance other than from related occupants and friends
Emergency training, occupant (group) roles Staff expected to have awareness of emergency procedures based on emergency training undertaken as part of Emergency Management Plans.
Building familiarity Staff would be expected to be familiar with the building including locations of exits.
7 General Objectives
7.1 Building regulatory objectives
7.1.1 The design of the building is required to comply with Volume One of the National Construction Code 2016.
7.1.2 This report is to address the non-compliance issues with the DTS provisions and assess the relevant performance requirements that will be subject to a performance solution.
7.2 Other regulatory/non regulatory objectives
7.2.1 This fire engineering report does not address:
(a) Property protection;
(b) Business interruption
(c) Environmental protection
(d) Dangerous goods
(e) Acts of arson or terrorism
(f) Multiple simultaneous fires occurring
8 Non-compliance issues and specific objectives or performance requirements
8.1.1 The relevant DTS provisions and performance requirements subject to the performance solutions in this report are contained in Table 4 below.
# Description of Departure DtS Clause Relevant Performance Requirements Assessment Methodology
1 Perimeter vehicular access C2.3, C2.4 CP9 Fire
Engineering
2 Travel distances D1.4 DP4 Fire
Engineering
9 Hazards
9.1.1 The following are considered potential hazards in the building that need to be considered in the development of the performance solutions.
9.2 General layout
9.2.1 Extended travel distances.
9.3 Activities
9.3.1 Use of forklifts and other machinery.
9.3.2 Repair and maintenance may be undertaken, including hot works.
9.4 Ignition sources
9.4.1 Electrical equipment.
9.4.2 Smoking materials.
9.5 Fuel sources
9.5.1 Assumed low level storage.
10 Preventative and protective measures
10.1 Sub-system A - Fire Initiation and Development and Control
10.1.1 It is recommended that a non-smoking policy be implemented.
10.1.2 Lobby / corridor areas generally sterile in nature.
10.1.3 Fire safety management plan and emergency control organisation. Management of combustibles including housekeeping measures to ensure contents not stored in exits.
10.1.4 Electrical safety equipment, e.g. safety switches installed.
10.1.5 Undertake regular maintenance of equipment.
10.1.6 Ensure development of and adherence to procedures for 'hot work' (e.g. welding), etc.
10.2 Sub-system B - Smoke Development and Spread and Control
10.2.1 Smoke exhaust system provided.
10.2.2 Physical smoke separation between warehouse and office areas.
10.3 Sub-system C - Fire Spread and Impact and Control
10.3.1 Automatic sprinkler system provided.
10.4 Sub-system D - Fire Detection, Warning and Suppression
10.4.1 Automatic smoke detection and alarm system
10.4.2 Automatic sprinkler system
10.4.3 Fire hose reels
10.4.4 Portable fire extinguishers provided
10.4.5 Fire blankets
10.5 Sub-system E - Occupant Evacuation and Control
10.5.1 Exits provided and emergency warning via smoke detection and alarm system.
10.5.2 Exit signage and evacuation diagrams.
10.5.3 Exits to be maintained clear of obstructions.
10.5.4 Emergency control organisation.
10.6 Sub-system F – Fire services intervention
10.6.1 Perimeter vehicular access.
10.6.2 Fire Hydrant system.
10.6.3 Fire Fan Control Panel (FFCP) and Fire Detection Control and Indicating Equipment (FDCIE).
11 Trial designs for evaluation
11.1 General
11.1.1 The design is to comply with the DtS Provisions of the NCC except for those noncompliances addressed in this report.
11.1.2 Vehicular access may be reduced on the eastern side.
11.1.3 Travel to a point of choice may be extended beyond the DtS Provisions of the NCC.
11.1.4 Smoke exhaust should be provided.
11.2 Management and Use
11.2.1 An emergency evacuation plan is to developed and implemented for the building, and staff are to be trained in the implementation of the emergency plan. Fire drills and a system of fire wardens are necessary to support this.
11.3 Commissioning and maintenance
11.3.1 Commissioning should be undertaken in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards.
11.3.2 All fire safety measures are to be maintained and tested in accordance with AS 1851 and the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act and Regulations, or other appropriate standards applicable to the systems as installed.
12 Performance Solution 1 – Perimeter Vehicular Access
12.1 Introduction
12.1.1 The building is proposed to be treated as a large isolated building under Clause C2.3 of the NCC. C2.3 (a) (ii) (B) requires the building to be provided with perimeter vehicular access complying with C2.4(b).
12.1.2 Clause C2.4 (b) requires the vehicular access to have an unobstructed width of 6 metres. Vehicular access on the northern boundary is only 5 metres in width and therefore does not comply with NCC Clause C2.4.
12.1.3 The relevant performance requirement is CP9.
12.2 Methodology
12.2.1 The fire safety subsystems relevant to this analysis are:
• Sub-system F – Fire services intervention
12.2.2 The assessment methodology adopted is in accordance with NCC Clause A2.2
(2) (d).
12.3 Approaches and methods of analysis
12.3.1 A qualitative absolute analysis will be undertaken considering the access requirements of fire brigade vehicles and personnel.
12.4 Acceptance criteria and factors of safety
12.4.1 That FRNSW accept the proposed vehicular access provided.
12.4.2 Given the nature of the analysis, no specific factors of safety have been identified.
12.5 Fire scenarios and design fires
12.5.1 No specific design fires have been detailed as the analysis considers fires generically occurring within the building.
12.6 Assessment
12.6.1 The building is provided with a sprinkler system, therefore fires that occur within the building are likely to be controlled by the sprinkler system.
12.6.2 Should fire fighters require access to the building, they would be able to easily navigate and park the appliances on the three sides of the building providing compliant vehicular access.
12.6.3 A fire truck should be able to drive down the eastern side of the building if required to in order to achieve the requirement to provide continuous access for
emergency vehicles to enable travel in a forward direction from a public road around the entire building. Typical fire trucks are about 4 metres wide.
12.6.4 Because fires will be sprinkler-controlled, there is no need for the use of aerial appliances.
13 Performance Solution 2 – Travel distances
13.1 Introduction
13.1.1 NCC Clause D1.4 requires travel to the nearest exit in a class 7b building to not exceed 40 metres. The proposed design results in a travel distance of 70 metres within the warehouse, which therefore does not comply.
13.1.2 The relevant performance requirement is DP4.
13.2 Methodology
13.2.1 The fire safety subsystems relevant to this analysis are:
• Sub-system A - Fire Initiation and Development and Control
• Sub-system B - Smoke Development and Spread and Control
• Sub-system D - Fire Detection, Warning and Suppression
• Sub-system E - Occupant Evacuation and Control
• Sub-system F - Fire Services Intervention
13.2.2 The assessment methodology adopted is in accordance with NCC Clause A2.2
(2) (b) (ii).
13.3 Approaches and methods of analysis
13.3.1 A quantitative absolute analysis will be undertaken.
13.3.2 A sensitivity analysis with a larger fire size (based on the first row of sprinklers not operating) will be assessed.
13.4 Acceptance criteria and factors of safety
13.4.1 The acceptance criteria adopted for the analysis is that the Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) is greater than the Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) by the appropriate margins.
13.4.2 A factor of safety of 1.5 will be applied to the design scenarios.
ASET RSET x 1.5
13.4.3 No factor of safety will be applied to the sensitivity analysis.
13.5 Fire scenarios and design fires
13.5.1 The following fire scenarios are proposed:
1. Racking fire in the centre of the warehouse
2. Racking fire in the corner of the warehouse
13.5.2 The fire development is assumed to follow an “ultra-fast” t-squared fire growth rate given the vertical arrangement of fuel.
13.5.3 The sprinkler system is assumed to control the fire, however it will not extinguish it and will continue to produce smoke.
13.6 Assessment
13.6.1 CFD modelling of fires will be undertaken to determine the Available Safe Egress Time (ASET). The stakeholders have agreed on the inputs to be used in the model.
13.6.2 The Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) is comprised of the following periods:
• Cue period (Pc)
• Pre-movement = Response period (Pr) + Delay period (Pd)
• Movement period (PmT)
13.6.3 The cue period will be determined by smoke detector activation time.
13.6.4 The pre-movement time proposed is 120 seconds based on the type of occupancy.
14 Conclusion
14.1.1 This report has been prepared at the request of Warehouse Builders Pty Ltd for the proposed warehouse development located at 1 University Street, Parramatta and outlines the proposed methods of analysis agreed by the stakeholders to demonstrate compliance with the performance requirements.
14.1.2 The performance solutions address non-compliances with NCC 2019 Amendment 1 associated with:
• Perimeter Vehicular Access; and
• Travel distances.
14.1.3 Any change in use, changes to building designs, etc will require a reassessment of this report.
15 References
National Construction Code 2016, Australian Building Codes Board
Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines, Australian Building Codes Board, 2021

Appendix A Documentation
National Construction Code 2019 Australian Building Codes Board
Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines, Australian Building Codes Board, 2021

Appendix B Performance-based Design Brief Meeting Minutes
The following is a copy of minutes of a PBDB meeting held with Fire and Rescue NSW and other stakeholders on 1st August 2022.
Minutes of Meeting
Date: 1st August 2022
Time: 10:00am
Location: FRNSW Offices, Greenacre
Project: Proposed warehouse development at 1 University Street, Parramatta
Purpose of Meeting: Performance-based design brief meeting with stakeholders
Minutes taken by: Fiona Grape
Distributed to all attendees
Attendees:
Name Role Company
Toby Watermelon Developer Warehouse Developments Pty Ltd
John Banana Architect Good Drawing Company Pty Ltd
Chris Kiwifruit Certifier Tick of Approval Pty Ltd
Fiona Grape Fire Safety Engineer Safe from Fire Pty Ltd
Peter Pear Mechanical Engineer Anything Air Pty Ltd
Susan Apple Fire Protection Engineer Sprinkle Some Water Pty Ltd
Fred Passionfruit Fire Service Fire and Rescue NSW
Georgie Orange Fire Service Fire and Rescue NSW
1 All attendees introduced themselves
2 John provided an overview of the development and showed some floor plans and elevations of the building.
3 Chris confirmed the BCA classifications and other relevant building characteristics.
Chris also confirmed that a referral to FRNSW will be required under Part3 Division 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021.
4 Fiona advised that the primary objective was to achieve compliance with the NCC and that no other special objectives had been identified from other stakeholders.
5 Fiona presented each of the proposed Performance Solutions
6 Performance Solution 1 – Perimeter Vehicular Access
Fiona advised that vehicular access would be limited to 5 metres on the eastern side of the building.
Fred stated that FRNSW guideline on vehicular access should be used to assess fire appliance widths, access, etc.
Fred also stated that access and positioning of aerial appliances needs to be considered.
7 Performance Solution 2 – Travel distances
Fiona advised that the travel distance to the nearest exit in the warehouse is 70 metres in lieu of 40 metres. An ASET/RSET analysis will be undertaken using a safety factor of 1.5 for design scenarios.
Two racking fires were proposed, one in the centre and one in a corner. An “ultra-fast” t-squared fire is proposed.
Georgie requested a forklift fire to also be included in a more open area of the warehouse.
Meeting closed: 11:00am