Blackstone Sydney, NSW

Sector

Office & Commerical

Location

Sydney, NSW

Blackstone Sydney is undertaking a fitout of Level 21 at 126 Phillip Street, Sydney, NSW. The project aims to create a modern office environment with flexible workspaces while incorporating performance-based fire engineering solutions.

The design includes quiet booths, extended travel distances, and the omission of fire hose reels and fire hydrant provisions. Given its location in a high-rise commercial building, the project requires innovative fire engineering solutions to ensure compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) while maintaining operational functionality.

Key challenges:

Fire Hazard in Quiet Booths: The quiet booths do not comply with fire hazard property requirements and lack standard fire safety measures such as sprinklers, smoke detection, and emergency warning systems.
Extended Egress Travel Distances: The travel distance to alternative exits exceeds the BCA limit, increasing potential evacuation risks.
Fire Hydrant Coverage: Coverage for Level 21 requires two lengths of hose instead of one, deviating from standard BCA requirements.
Omission of Fire Hose Reels: The project has opted not to include fire hose reels, requiring an alternative method for occupant fire response.
Ensuring Safe Occupant Evacuation: The combination of fire safety deviations necessitates a robust management plan for training staff and ensuring effective emergency response measures.

Key solutions:

Quiet Booth Fire Protection: A sprinkler, smoke detector, and EWIS speaker will be installed directly above each quiet booth to compensate for the lack of internal fire safety measures.
Egress Strategy: The design ensures clear lines of sight, minimal obstructions, and strategically placed emergency lighting and signage to facilitate occupant evacuation despite extended travel distances.
Fire Hydrant Signage: Clear signage at the fire hydrant booster and stairwell landing valves will notify firefighting personnel of the need for two hose lengths to achieve full coverage.
Portable Fire Extinguishers (PFEs) for Initial Attack: PFEs will be provided throughout the fitout, with a management procedure to train staff on their location and usage.
Occupant Training and Fire Safety Management Plan: Staff training will be implemented to familiarise occupants with emergency protocols, evacuation routes, and fire response procedures.

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Key outcomes:

Compliance with BCA Performance Requirements: The adopted performance solutions ensure that all fire safety deviations are effectively mitigated.
Optimised Egress Strategy: Despite the extended travel distances, clear evacuation pathways and visual cues enhance occupant safety.
Enhanced Fire Safety Awareness: The fire safety management plan ensures that all occupants are trained and prepared for emergency situations.
Maintained Architectural Integrity: The project achieves a balance between aesthetic design and fire safety compliance.
Improved Firefighter Accessibility: The implementation of clear signage ensures that responding fire services can efficiently deploy hydrant coverage.

The Blackstone Sydney fitout at 126 Phillip Street sets a new standard in performance-based fire engineering for commercial office spaces. By integrating innovative fire safety solutions with a functional and modern office design, the project successfully balances compliance, efficiency, and occupant safety. The collaboration between the design team and fire engineering experts ensures that all fire safety challenges are addressed, creating a workplace that prioritises both safety and usability.

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