Protection from Fire – Frequently asked questions
On 10 April 2012, the new Building Code clauses for Protection from Fire (C1-C6), new Acceptable Solutions (C/AS1-C/AS7) and a new Verification Method (C/VM2) were published.
We held a series of nationwide workshops about these changes in 2012.
Below, we’ve answered the recurrent questions arising from these workshops.
If you can't find the answer to your question here, you can use our 'Ask a question' form.
On this page:
When did the new Building Code clauses for Protection from Fire (C1-C6) and new Acceptable Solutions (C/AS1-C/AS7) and a new Verification Method (C/VM2) become effective?
On 10 April 2012, the new Building Code clauses for Protection from Fire (C1-C6), the new Acceptable Solutions (C/AS1-C/AS7), and a new Verification Method (C/VM2) became effective.
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When does the Fire Service Commission become involved in a building consent application?
There have been no changes to the sections of the Building Act which require consent applications to be sent to the Fire Service Commission.
New building designs for Protection from Fire using the Acceptable Solutions (C/AS1-C/AS7) or Verification Method (C/VM2) do not need to be sent to the Fire Service Commission at the consent stage.
Designs need to go the Fire Service Commission for advice if :
- compliance with clauses C1-6, D1, F6 or F8 of the Building Code will be established by alternative solution - this would be the case, for example, for building types such as power generation plants, dairy factories, sub-surface buildings or tunnels (the scope of current acceptable solutions or the verification method does not include these types of buildings)
- the consent application involves a modification or waiver of clauses C1-6, D1, F6 or F8 of the Building Code under section 67 of the Building Act 2004
- the consent application is for an alteration, or change of use to an existing building, except where the effect on fire safety systems is minor.
- Building is not an exempt building. The following buildings are exempt:
- single household unit
- vertically separated household unit with independent egress
- outbuilding or ancillary building
- internal fit out-unless it relates to ‘change of use’
- outbuildings or ancillary buildings
- premises of diplomatic missions
- any Crown buildings specified by Gazette notice.
For more information
Read BC update 132, which explains the requirements of the Gazette notice of 3 May 2012 and clarifies when a design needs to be sent to the Fire Service Commission.
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When is a fire-engineering brief required as part of the building consent documentation?
If a design building consent application uses the Verification Method C/VM2 to show compliance with Code Clauses C1 to C6, a fire engineering brief (FEB) process, including a FEB report, is required as part of the consent documentation. The FEB process has to involve all stakeholders in the building, including but not limited to, the:
- building owner and users
- design professionals
- Fire Service Commission
- building consent authority (BCA)
- insurer
- test certifier, if hazardous substances are in the building.
This means that the Fire Service Commission is included in the design process at an earlier stage than previously.
For more information on FEBs
- Download the Ministry guidance on documentation of fire designs
- Purchase the International Fire Engineering Guidelines (IFEG). Click the ‘Guidelines’ tab on the page below:
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How do the transitional arrangements affect my consent?
Building consent applications complying with the old Fire Safety Code C1-C4 and C/AS1 (2011) can be used if the building consent authority has accepted the consent application by 9 April 2013.
From 10 April 2013, plans and specifications must comply with C1 to C6 Protection from Fire (2012) and may use either the Acceptable Solutions C/AS1 to C/AS7, or Verification Method C/VM2.
If building code compliance is shown using specific fire engineering design and the proposed building is not within the scope of the Verification Method, building consent authorities would expect to be shown why this is the case. The design will also need to justify the alternative inputs, assumptions and engineering analysis used in the design.
There is no need to redesign using the new framework and supporting documents (C1 to C6, C/AS1 to C/AS7 or C/VM2) if:
- the application has been accepted by the BCA before 9 April 2013
and
- the design complies with C1 to C4 and the Acceptable Solution C/AS1 (2011).
Any amendments to consents issued for designs that are based on C/AS1 (2011) need to comply with the old framework.
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What is the status of ‘old’ C/AS1 (2011) after 9 April 2013?
From 10 April 2013, the ‘old’ Acceptable Solution C/AS1 (2011) is no longer a means of complying with the Building Code.
However, if a consent has been lodged or submitted for consent with a BCA before 10 April 2013 for a design complying with the old C/AS1 (2011), then any proposed amendments to that consent, must comply with the ‘old’ C/AS1 (not the new Acceptable Solutions C/AS1-C/AS7- 2012).
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Are the uses in Schedule 2 of the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005, affected by the new Protection from Fire documents?
The new Protection from Fire documents do not affect the ‘uses’ specified in Schedule 2 of the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005 as these ‘uses’ have not changed.
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Note: The ‘uses’ specified in Schedule 2 are often confused with ‘purpose groups’ from Acceptable Solution C/AS1 (2011) and ‘risk groups’ from Acceptable Solutions C/AS1 to C/AS7 (2012). ‘Purpose groups’ and ‘risk groups’ are not related to ‘change of use’.
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How do I determine a ‘change of use’?
Schedule 2 of the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005 helps identify if there is a change of use to the building.
To determine if there is a ‘change of use’ to a building:
- Firstly, refer to Schedule 2 of the Building Regulations (Specified Systems, Change the Use, Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005 to confirm if the building is being used for another function. For example, changing a building’s ‘use’ from apartments (SR) to a daycare centre (CS).
- Secondly, determine if the new use is more onerous than the old use in terms of complying with the Building Code. In the above example, a daycare centre would be more onerous as there are additional Building Code requirements including more fire safety requirements and additional requirements for access and facilities for people with disabilities.
If both of the above are satisfied, then the proposed new use is deemed a ‘change of use’.
For more information on ‘change of use’
Any upgrade work that may be required as a result of the change of use may require a building consent.
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Is there any guidance about ‘change of use’ under Section 115 of the Building Act?
The Ministry published guidance for Change of Use for the Christchurch City Council to help them deal with changes of use for temporary business and/or housing relocations because of the Canterbury earthquakes. Although developed for Christchurch, the guidance explains the ‘change of use’ provisions in the Building Act and associated regulations, and provides practical advice how to apply these.
Read the Change of Use guidance
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Which Building Code clauses are relevant to assessing the attributes of a building that relate to ‘means of escape from fire’ (as referred to in sections 112 and 115 of the Building Act 2004)?
When the Building Act 2004 requires an assessment of the ‘means of escape from fire’ in a building, compliance with the following Building Code clauses must be considered:
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When will there be some guidance on assessing ‘means of escape from fire’ for alterations to existing buildings?
The Ministry is developing guidance on how to assess means of escape from fire for existing buildings in relation to alterations and change of use in the new environment. This will be published at the earliest possible opportunity. We will hold workshops in early 2013 to inform the sector.
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Are there any exceptions to requirements in relevant Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods to extend an alarm or sprinkler system throughout a building?
The Acceptable Solutions for Protection from Fire require a fire alarm system and fire sprinkler system to be extended throughout a building, if a system is required in any part of the building.
However, the following exception applies where a single-storey building is separated at the ground floor into two or more unit titles, with fire separations (designed with the relevant property rating) between each unit.
Figure 7.1 Single Storey Commercial Building
If Title 1 has a fire sprinkler system installed, Titles 2 and 3 may be unsprinklered (provided there is no other requirement to install a system in those titles). They are effectively treated as separate buildings.
This does not apply in a multi-storey building where the floors are unit title separations/boundaries.
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Note The Acceptable Solutions for Protection from Fire allow a heat detection system to be installed in car parking areas in lieu of a smoke detection system
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Do offices, shops and workshops still need detection if there is a residential unit on a floor above?
The requirement for automatic detection in non residential firecells below residential units remains. The requirement has been omitted in error in C/AS2 and this will be remedied with the publication of Errata number 1 as soon as possible.
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Will past determinations still be applicable as guidance for the new fire framework?
Determinations applying to Code Clauses C1-C4 and C/AS1 (2011), will not apply to the new Code Clauses C1-C6 and the Acceptable Solutions C/AS1-C/AS7 and Verification Method C/VM2 (2012).
This is because the Building Code clauses C1-C4 have been revised and C/AS1 (2011) will no longer comply with the Building Code after 9 April 2013.
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Why doesn’t Table 3.3 (Pre-travel activity times) in C/VM2 give a time for a voice alarm signal for spaces in which the occupants are sleeping and familiar with the building?
The table specifies pre-travel activity times for ‘building uses’ and the location of the occupant in relation to the origin of the fire.
Within a household unit such as an apartment, the fire alarm system must provide a warning: either a local siren, or a beep from a smoke detector. When the occupant is alerted by the alarm, they can investigate the cause (which could be, for example, burnt toast or steam from a shower) and resolve it, before it triggers the building’s main alarm system.
If the system detects smoke in the corridors or other common areas of the building, or heat in any room, then a voice alarm will be triggered, alerting people in the building to evacuate.
The table reflects the current requirements in NZS 4512 and acceptable solution F7/AS1 for alarm systems that alert occupants who are sleeping and familiar with the building. Voice alarms are not required in these spaces.
For more information
See the Standard for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems NZS 4512 
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Can a design based on the Acceptable Solution incorporate aspects of the Verification Method and still comply with the Building Code?
A design based on an Acceptable Solution, (C/AS1 to C/AS7) must completely comply with all the requirements of the Acceptable Solution. It cannot incorporate aspects of the Verification Method and still be used to show compliance with the Building Code.
However, there is one exception, when the only non-compliance with the Acceptable Solution relates to the prevention of horizontal spread of fire. In this instance, a suitably qualified fire engineer may use the C/VM2 methodology to show compliance with this aspect of the Building Code.
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Can a design based on the Verification Method C/VM2 incorporate aspects of the Acceptable Solution and still comply with the Building Code?
A design using the Verification Method C/VM2 may incorporate elements of design or elements of the building that comply with Acceptable Solution requirements (C/AS1 to C/AS7).
For example, a number of the Design Scenarios may be satisfied by compliance with an Acceptable Solution, or some discrete spaces may comply completely with an Acceptable Solution such as travel distances and fire safety systems.
In this case, the design will still need to verify that occupants of the building can escape safely when at least one challenging fire scenario is located in the building.
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How can we verify that current internal surface finish products meet the new Code requirements?
The change to the testing requirements for internal surface finishes in the revised Building Code C1-C6 Protection from Fire (2012) means that some products and materials specified in consent documentation may not have product data relevant to the new Group Number requirements.
Read the new guidance below, to find out how to comply with the new test methods for internal surface finishes using current products.
This guidance only applies until 9 April 2013, to allow manufacturers and suppliers of lining and surface finishing products to update their product data using the new test methods.
After 9 April 2013 products specified would need a Group Number developed using the required test methods.
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Where can I find the Code clauses, Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods referenced in these questions and answers?
You can download the Code clauses, Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods below.
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If you can't find the answer to your question above, you can use our 'Ask a question' form.