BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA ON LIFTS
By
Robert Yeoh
B.E. (Monash), M.Eng.Sc.(NSW), GradDip Mgt(UTS)
GradDipAppSc(CSU), CPEng.
Senior Lifts Engineer
Department of Commerce
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: www.users.bigpond.net.au/robyeoh/lift/liftmenu.html
September 2005
CONTENTS
BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA ON LIFTS 1
1 INTRODUCTION 3
2 SEPARATION OF LIFT SHAFTS 3
3 LIFTS AND STAIRWAYS IN ONE SHAFT 3
4 STRETCHER FACILITIES 3
5 EMERGENCY LIFTS 3
6 FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 4
7 FIRE SERVICE CONTROL 4
8 WARNING SIGN 4
9 OPENINGS IN FIRE-ISOLATED LIFTS SHAFTS 4
10 FIRE PROTECTION IN SHAFTS AND MACHINE ROOM 4
11 APPENDIX 5
APPENDIX 1: BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS 5
APPENDIX 2: FIRE-RESISTANCE LEVEL 5
APPENDIX 3: TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION 6
APPENDIX 4: FRL FOR LIFT SHAFTS 6
APPENDIX 5: LIFTS IN TYPE C CONSTRUCTION 6
APPENDIX 6: AS 2118.1—1999 6
Lifts in a patient care area in a Class 9a
1 INTRODUCTION building, or a resident use area in a Class
9c building is to be in a fire-isolated
The Building Code of Australia provides
shaft.
the standards for building construction in
Australia. It is a performance-based code,
In a Class 9a or 9c building that is
which describes the acceptable standards
required to be of Type A or B
of building construction. The BCA is
construction the lift shaft must have a
called up in State legislations.
FRL of 120/120/120.
The BCA specifies the requirements for
In a Class 9a or 9c building of Type C
lift installations in several areas, inter
construction the shaft is to have a FRL of
alia, fire-rating of lift shafts, emergency
60/60/60.
lifts and facilities for persons with
disabilities.
Lifts in Type C construction, apart from
emergency lifts and lifts in patient care
2 SEPARATION OF LIFT
and resident use areas, need not be in a
SHAFTS fire-isolated shaft.
Any lift connecting more than two
storeys (more than three, if sprinklered) 3 LIFTS AND STAIRWAYS
must be enclosed in a shaft. IN ONE SHAFT
A stairway and lift must not be in the
Lift Shafts must be enclosed by materials
same shaft if either the stairway or the lift
having a fire-resistance level (FRL) of
is required to be in a fire-resisting shaft.
not less than that required for the walls of
a non-loadbearing shaft in the same
building, except for the section of the
4 STRETCHER FACILITIES
shaft beyond the roof (if not in a fire- Stretcher facilities are required in one of
isolated stairway) and the bottom of a the emergency lifts.
shaft.
If no emergency lift is required and
Lifts in Type A construction, the lift shaft passenger lifts are provided, then
walls must have the FRL prescribed by stretcher facilities are to be provided to
Table 3 of Specification C1.1. It does not one lift in a building with an effective
matter what Class the building or whether height of more than 12 metres.
the shaft walls are loadbearing.
Where there is just a single emergency or
Lifts in Type B construction, the lift shaft passenger lift that lift must have stretcher
walls must have the FRL prescribed by facilities.
Table 4 of Specification C1.1 if they are
loadbearing. If they are non-loadbearing The minimum dimensions of 600 mm
they must be of non-combustible wide x 2000 mm long x 1400 mm high
construction. above the floor must be provided to
accommodate a stretcher. Normally a lift
All emergency lifts are required to have a car of 2000 mm deep is provided.
FRL of not less than 120/120/120.
5 EMERGENCY LIFTS
A lift wholly in an atrium, it is not
At least one emergency lift must be
required to be in a fire-isolated shaft.
provided in a building with an effective
BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA ON LIFTS 3
height of more than 25 m and in a Class − Height of car control button
9a (Health-care) building. 700 to 1250 mm from the
floor.
An emergency must serve all floors − Design: size, project, surface
served by the passenger lift. etc of the buttons.
If two or more passenger lifts are 7 FIRE SERVICE
installed at least two emergency lifts CONTROL
must be provided.
All passenger lifts must be provided with
If two or more passenger lifts are located fire service control.
within different shafts, at least one
emergency lift must be provided in each
shaft. 8 WARNING SIGN
All passenger lifts must be provided with
An emergency lift must have a car a warning sign at every landing.
capacity of at least 600 kg, if building
more than 75 m! (need clarification.) DO NOT USE LIFTS
IF THERE IS A FIRE
For Class 9a building the minimum car
(min. 10 mm high)
dimensions must be 1600 mm wide x
or
2280 mm deep x 2300 mm high and with
a car door of 1300 mm x 2100 mm. The
lift must be connected to a standby Do not use lifts
supply (if installed). if there is a fire
(min. 8 mm high)
6 FACILITIES FOR
PEOPLE WITH 9 OPENINGS IN FIRE-
DISABILITIES ISOLATED LIFTS
The Lift Code AS1735.12 provides SHAFTS
comprehensive requirements on lifts for Any doorway leading into a fire-isolated
persons with disabilities. However, the lifts shaft must be protected by fire doors.
BCA only calls up five items and they The lift landing doors must to be tested
are: for integrity. (The fire rating is one
hour.)
1. A handrail;
2. Minimum car dimensions of 1100 Lift indicator panels in excess of 35 000
mm wide x 1400 mm deep; sq mm must have backing by material
3. minimum door opening of 900 having a FRL of -/60/60.
mm wide;
4. a car door infra-red protection 10 FIRE PROTECTION IN
between 50 mm and 1550 mm SHAFTS AND MACHINE
above floor level; ROOM
5. car control buttons complying to
AS1735.12 Section 7 with respect The BCA is generally silent on sprinkler
to- system. However AS 2118.1-1999,
− Height of landing button 900 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems
to 1200 mm from the floor. (Clause 5.6.5) requires sprinklers at the
top and bottom of lift shafts and in
machine rooms.
BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA ON LIFTS 4
11 APPENDIX
APPENDIX 1: BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS
Class 1a Single dwellings.
Class 1b Boarding houses, guesthouses, hostels.
Class 2 Two or more sole-occupancy.
Class 3 Boarding houses, guest houses, hostels, lodging-houses or
backpackers accommodation.
A residential part of a hotel, motel, a school, a health-care
building or a detention centre. Buildings for the aged, children
or disabilities accommodation.
Class 4 A dwelling part of a building in Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9.
Class 5 Office buildings.
Class 6 Shop or other buildings for the sale of goods, e.g.
restaurant, bar, barber's shop, laundry, market, showroom, and
service station.
Class 7a Car parks.
Class 7b Storage or display of goods.
Class 8 Laboratories, production areas.
Class 9a A health-care building.
Class 9b Assembly buildings, trade workshops, laboratories in schools.
Class 9c Aged care buildings.
Class 10a Non-habitable buildings: private garages, carports, and sheds.
Class 10b Fences, masts, antennas, retaining or freestanding walls,
swimming pools.
APPENDIX 2: FIRE-RESISTANCE LEVEL
Fire-resistance level (FRL) means the grading periods in minutes for the
following criteria -
(a) structural adequacy; and
(b) integrity; and
(c) insulation,
BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA ON LIFTS 5
APPENDIX 3: TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
Type A construction is the most fire-resistant; Type C construction is the least
fire-resistant, and Type B construction falls between these two.
BCA’s Table C1.1 on Type of Construction Required
Rise in storeys Class of building
2, 3, 9 5, 6, 7, 8
4 or more A A
3 A B
2 B C
1 C C
APPENDIX 4: FRL FOR LIFT SHAFTS
BCA’s Table 3 on Type A Construction and FRL of Lift Shafts
Building element Class of building - FRL: (min)
Structural adequacy/Integrity/Insulation
2, 3 or 4 5, 7a or 9 6 7b or 8
Fire-resisting lift and stair shafts-
Loadbearing 90/ 90/ 90 120/120/120 180/120/120 240/120/120
Non-loadbearing - / 90/ 90 - /120/120 - /120/120 - /120/120
BCA’s Table 4 on Type B Construction and FRL of Lift Shafts
Building element Class of building - FRL: (min)
Structural adequacy/Integrity/Insulation
2, 3 or 4 5, 7a or 9 6 7b or 8
Fire-resisting lift and stair shafts-
Loadbearing 90/ 90/ 90 120/120/120 180/120/120 240/120/120
Non-loadbearing - / 90/ 90 - /120/120 - /120/120 - /120/120
APPENDIX 5: LIFTS IN TYPE C CONSTRUCTION
In Type C construction need not be in a fire-isolated shaft, except for emergency
lifts and lifts in patient care construction.
APPENDIX 6: AS 2118.1—1999
Clause 5.6.5 of AS2118.1 (Automatic fire sprinkler systems) requires lift shafts
inside or “in communication” with buildings to be provided with sprinklers at the
top and bottom of lift shafts and in sheave rooms. Sprinklers shall be protected by
stout metal guards and have a temperature rating of not less than 100°C.
BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA ON LIFTS 6
