CEO, Firewize
12 Aug, 2019
A zone block plan is a drawing showing the layout of a building and the area covered by detection each zone or emergency zone within that building. For multi storey buildings each zone may be represented by a single floor (within the limitations of a detection zone or emergency zone, as set out in the Standard AS1670.1 or AS1670.4).
A zone block plan forms part of the baseline data for a building. For the purposes of this article there are two types of zone block plans;
The requirement for a zone block plan has not always existed within the Standard AS1670 and may not be retrospectively required.
| Australian Standard | Zone Block Plan Required |
|---|---|
Fire Detection & Alarm Systems
|
|
Emergency Warning System
|
|
Zone block plans and emergency zone block plans should be securely mounted and easily accessible at the FBP. The common features for these plans include;
Australian Standard AS1670.4:2018 states that the EWS zone block plan may be combined with the FDAS zone block plan.
Some confusion exists about the requirements for a Zone Block Plan for a Fire Detection and Alarm System that incorporates an OWS.
This is understandable because the Standard AS1670.1 which is the primary reference Standard for an OWS does not specifically deal with the additional requirements for a zone block plan.
In these cases it is generally accepted that a building fitted with an OWS does not have multiple evacuation zones. Yes, it is possible the occupant warning system may be fitted with multiple amplifiers but typically these amplifiers are configured to operate as a have a single evacuation zone.
So while there is no specific reference to the requirements for an OWS on a Fire Alarm System Zone Block Plan, installers and maintainers should adopt best practice principles and make a note on the drawing that an Occupant Warning System installed to Australian Standard AS1670.1 is fitted within this building.
