8-18 Bowden Street, NSW

Sector

Commerical & Industrial

Location

Sydney, NSW

This project at 8-18 Bowden Street, Alexandria, involved the refurbishment and upgrade of a former interwar manufacturing warehouse to facilitate a mixed-use development.

The existing vacant structure is to be repurposed to house a light industrial manufacturing area and office space. The development integrated fire safety solutions to address challenges arising from oversized fire compartments, extended travel distances, and existing structural limitations. The project maintained the architectural integrity of the warehouse while ensuring compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

Key challenges:

Oversized fire compartments: The fire compartment within the building exceeded BCA limitations for Type C construction, requiring a performance-based design solution.
Extended travel distances: Travel distances within the existing office space and the Arc Edit fitout exceeded BCA requirements, necessitating alternative compliance measures.
Exit door swing direction: Two final discharge doors swung against the direction of egress, creating potential evacuation impediments.
Hydrant booster FRL compliance: The hydrant booster assembly was not provided with compliant Fire Resistance Level (FRL) protection.
Fuel load management: The saw-tooth roof space presented a potential fire load hazard, requiring strict management controls.

Key solutions:

Performance-based design for fire compartments: Fire separation with a minimum FRL of 90/90/90 and controlled fuel load management ensured compliance despite exceeding BCA compartment size limits.
Optimised egress strategy: A smoke detection and alarm system compliant with AS 1670.1-2018 was implemented to provide early warning, offsetting extended travel distances.
Door signage and awareness measures: “Pull to Open” signage was installed at critical exit points to mitigate delays caused by the swing direction of doors.
Fire brigade access solutions: Management procedures and weekly inspections ensured the fire-isolated passageway remained free of combustibles, addressing FRL non-compliance in the hydrant booster area.
Fuel load restrictions: The saw-tooth roof space was designated as a non-storage area, reducing fire risks and improving compliance

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Key outcomes:

Achieved compliance with BCA requirements: Performance Solutions effectively addressed deviations from the Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions.
Enhanced fire safety measures::The integration of a smoke detection and alarm system provided superior occupant protection.
Maintained architectural integrity: The fire engineering solutions complemented the existing structure while ensuring safety.
Facilitated efficient evacuation::Signage and egress optimisation supported effective occupant movement in an emergency.
Improved fire brigade intervention: Strategic placement of fire safety measures enabled prompt response and access

The refurbishment of 8-18 Bowden Street, Alexandria, demonstrates a successful integration of fire engineering principles within a mixed-use redevelopment. The project balances regulatory compliance, safety, and design innovation, setting a benchmark for adaptive re-use developments in urban settings.

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