Fire Rated Pipe Support System

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PIPE SUPPORT BY AS2419.1-2017

Section 10 of AS2419.1 sets out pipe supports for a fire hydrant system in a building.

10.4 PROTECTION OF PIPE SUPPORTS

10.4.1 Fire Rating

In a non-sprinkler-protected building where pipework is likely to be exposed to fire, the pipe supports shall have an FRL of not less than 60/–/–, while maintaining a pipe support temperature of not less than 500°C when tested in accordance with AS 1530.4, or other measures shall be taken to prevent early collapse of the pipework and supports when exposed to fire.

10.2 PIPE SUPPORT DESIGN

Pipework associated with fire hydrant systems shall be supported by either—

a)      A pipe support system, the individual components of which are in accordance with the requirements of Clause 10.5; or

b)      Pipe supports and fasteners that are capable of supporting twice the mass of the pipework filled with water plus a mass of 115 kg at each point of support.

Any sway support system provided shall be independent of the pipe support system.

Where a fire hydrant system is located in an area where a seismic event is likely—

(i)                 The sway support system shall be determined by engineering analysis

(ii)               The importance level used to determine the probability of design events shall be determined in accordance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions of the NCC; and

(iii)             An importance level of 2 shall be used to determine the probability of design events in circumstances where the NCC does not apply.

FRL (Fire Resistance Level) and Fire Ratings

The term “fire rating” is very broad and can be misinterpreted and misused. Although commonly referred to as fire rating, the correct term to describe the fire resistance of a building element is FRL (Fire Resistance Level). The FRL is the ability of a building element to withstand a fire under test conditions for a certain period of time and consists of the three criteria listed below:

Ø  structural adequacy

Ø  integrity

Ø  insulation

The BCA specifies FRLs for building elements such as walls, columns, pipe supports. These FRLs can be many combinations of the three criteria, e g. 60/-/-, 60/60/30 or -/90/90. A dash in the FRL means there is no requirement for that criterion.

AS 1530.4: 2014 - Fire resistance test of construction elements

This standard provides a method for determining the fire resistance of building elements including walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, columns, beams, door sets, uninsulated glazing, air ducts, service penetrations, fire damper assemblies and critical services, such as pipe supports. The Building Code of Australia (BCA) recognises compliance with the code when the relevant system of construction is tested in accordance with this standard.

2.11 TEST PROCEDURE

2.11.1 Standard heating conditions

The temperature of the furnace shall be controlled to vary with time, as close as possible, in

accordance with the following relationship:

T = 345*log10(8t + 1) + 20

Where:

T = furnace temperature at time (t), in degrees centigrade

t = time into the test, measured from the ignition of the furnace, in minutes

NOTE: The relationship is given by the following, calculated by means of the above equation to give the standard time-temperature rise curve: