- Fire Control Centre
According to the National Construction Code ("NCC") 2019 Building Code of Australia - Volume One, Specification E1.8 a fire control centre in a dedicated room with additional specific construction requirements.
- Clauses 2 to 5 of the NCC apply to fire control centres (including fire control rooms); while
- Clauses 6 to 12 apply additional requirements to fire control rooms.
Features of a Fire Control Centre
According to the National Construction Code ("NCC") 2019 Building Code of Australia - Volume One, Specification E1.8, Clauses 2 to 5 a fire control centre comprises the following attributes;
- an area from which fire-fighting operations or other emergency procedures can be directed or controlled;
- contain controls, panels, telephones, furniture, equipment and the like associated with the required fire services in the building; and
- not be used for any purpose other than the control of—
- fire-fighting activities; and
- other measures concerning the occupant safety or security.
A fire control centre must be so located in a building that egress from any part of its floor, to a road or open space, does not involve changes in level which in aggregate exceed 300 mm.
Certain equipment is not permitted within a fire control centre such as an internal combustion engine, pumps, sprinkler control valves, pipes and pipe fittings must not be located in a fire control centre, but may be located in rooms accessed through the fire control centre.
The The ambient sound level within the fire control centre measured when all fire safety equipment is operating in the manner in which it operates in an emergency must not exceed 65 dB(A) where the measurement must be taken for a sufficient time to characterize the effects of all sound sources. Where there is not a great variation in noise level, a measurement time of 60 seconds may be used.