Sector
Education
Location
Glenmore Park, NSW
The Glenmore Park High School New Hall project involves the construction of a new two-storey multi-purpose school hall at Glenmore Park High School, NSW.
The facility is designed to include a raised stage area, back-of-house holding rooms, change rooms, storage areas, two flexible learning spaces, and a performance hall with seating for over 400 occupants. The development also requires demolition and site clearance before construction. The hall is a significant addition to the school’s infrastructure, enhancing its ability to host large-scale educational and cultural events.
Key Challenges:
- Safety and Compliance: The design required a performance-based solution due to non-compliant exit provisions in several areas, including the Control Room and Services Rooms on the first floor.
- Architectural Constraints: The omission of a proscenium wall and fire safety curtain to maintain an open-plan stage design while ensuring compliance with fire separation requirements.
- Sustainability Considerations: The integration of solar panels required an appropriate isolation switch and fire safety measures to mitigate electrical fire hazards.
- Cost Efficiency: Rationalisation of smoke exhaust rates from 65,000 L/s to 30,000 L/s was necessary to balance safety compliance with budget constraints.
- Technical Complexity: Reduced egress widths and heights in plant areas required special signage, fire-resistant padding, and restricted access provisions.
Key Solutions:
- Optimised Egress Solutions: A performance-based design allowing for a single exit in certain areas while implementing additional safety measures, including enhanced signage, restricted access, and training for maintenance personnel.
- Fire Suppression Systems: Additional portable fire extinguishers were provided in areas without fire hose reel coverage, ensuring manual fire suppression capabilities.
- Smoke Hazard Management: A rationalised automatic smoke exhaust system was implemented above the stage, supported by make-up air provisions through hydraulically operated doors.
- Structural Fire Protection: The Chair Store was fire-separated with walls achieving a 120/120/120 fire-resistance level (FRL), mitigating fire spread risks in the back-of-house area.
- Enhanced Fire Safety Systems: The Siemens Cerberus Pro smoke detection system, using advanced signal analysis, was incorporated to reduce false alarms while maintaining effective smoke detection.
Key Outcomes:
- Achieved Full Compliance with the BCA: All identified deviations from the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) provisions were addressed through robust performance solutions.
- Maintained Architectural Integrity: The omission of the proscenium wall was successfully managed while ensuring fire separation requirements were met.
- Enhanced Safety and Efficiency: The rationalised smoke exhaust system provided effective smoke management while reducing unnecessary system over-design.
- Sustainability and Innovation: The integration of solar panels with appropriate fire safety measures supports the school’s sustainability objectives.
- Improved Occupant Awareness and Training: Additional signage, restricted access, and fire safety training were implemented to enhance occupant preparedness.
Setting a New Standard in Educational Facilities
The Glenmore Park High School New Hall project exemplifies the seamless integration of fire safety with modern educational infrastructure. Through innovative fire engineering solutions, the project successfully addressed key challenges while ensuring compliance, safety, and sustainability. This development sets a benchmark for future school projects, demonstrating excellence in fire safety engineering within an educational setting.
