Sector
Office & Commercial
Location
St Leonards, NSW
The fire safety upgrade of 1 Chandos Street, St Leonards, was initiated in response to a Fire Safety Order issued by North Sydney Council.
The commercial office building, spanning 12 storeys with two basement levels, required enhancements to meet compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA). The project incorporated a services upgrade and implemented several performance solutions to enhance occupant safety while maintaining the building’s operational functionality.
Key Challenges:
- Egress Compliance: The building featured a reduced number of exits and exit discharge locations, requiring performance-based egress solutions.
- Fire Hydrant and Sprinkler: The location of the fire hydrant and sprinkler booster was non-compliant, necessitating an alternative fire suppression strategy.
- Smoke Management: The original design did not provide stair pressurisation for above-ground egress stairs, impacting safe evacuation conditions.
- Exit Discharge Constraints: The basement stair discharged into the entry lobby instead of directly outside, requiring alternative safety measures.
- Fire Control Centre Location: The fire control centre was retained in a non-compliant location, necessitating alternative access solutions.
Implemented Solutions:
- Performance-Based Egress Design: A reduced number of exits was justified through evacuation modelling, ensuring safe occupant movement.
- Fire Hydrant and Sprinkler Modifications: Portable fire extinguishers were installed throughout the building, while existing basement sprinkler protection was retained.
- Smoke Lobby Implementation: Smoke lobbies were introduced as an alternative to stair pressurisation, providing sufficient smoke separation for evacuating occupants.
- Fire Load Management in Entry Lobby: The entry lobby was designated as a fire-load-controlled area, limiting potential hazards for occupants exiting from the basement stair.
- Fire Control Centre Signage & Accessibility Improvements: Firefighter access to the fire control centre was improved through dedicated signage and management procedures.
Key Outcomes:
- Regulatory Compliance: The implemented performance solutions ensured compliance with the BCA.
- Enhanced Occupant Safety: The new fire safety measures provided improved protection and safe evacuation conditions.
- Optimised Fire Systems Integration: The upgrades successfully incorporated alternative fire safety measures without disrupting the building’s existing operations.
- Improved Fire Brigade Accessibility: Modifications to hydrant locations and signage improved fire brigade intervention response times.
- Long-Term Building Safety: The upgrade ensured future adaptability and continued fire safety compliance.
A Comprehensive Fire Safety Upgrade for Enhanced Compliance and Safety
The fire safety upgrade at 1 Chandos Street, St Leonards, effectively addressed regulatory non-compliances while maintaining the building’s operational efficiency. Through strategic implementation of performance solutions, the project achieved a balance between compliance, safety, and functional design. This upgrade ensures that occupants and first responders are provided with a safer environment, meeting modern fire safety standards and reinforcing the long-term resilience of the building.
