Sector
Health
Location
Woolloongabba, QLD
Princess Alexandra Hospital’s Limited Care Dialysis Unit (Building 31) required a bespoke fire engineering solution to support a state-of-the-art dialysis facility while ensuring compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022.
Our approach addressed fire safety challenges posed by the integration of new service penetrations within an operational healthcare facility, balancing stringent compliance requirements with practical performance-based outcomes.
The Challenges:
→ Building 31 is an existing Class 9a (Patient Care) facility, undergoing a refurbishment to expand treatment capacity.
→ The installation of stainless-steel drainage pipes penetrating the concrete floor slab between Level 01 and Level 02 did not comply with standard Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) provisions of the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
→ Fire safety measures needed to ensure the integrity of the fire rated structure without impacting hospital operations.
The Solutions:
→ Developed a Performance Solution allowing stainless steel drainage pipe penetrations to be protected via alternative methods.
→ Demonstrated compliance with BCA Performance Requirements mitigating fire spread risks in a sensitive healthcare setting.
The Outcomes:
→ A compliant fire safety strategy that supports the refurbishment of critical dialysis services.
→ A solution that integrates with the existing fire safety measures.
→ A performance-based approach supporting fire safety compliance while accommodating the hospital’s operational needs.
This project highlights how fire engineering solutions can enable the seamless refurbishment of healthcare facilities while maintaining the required standard of safety and compliance.
