Mid-rise Timber Construction

Architectural Detailing & Specification:

Dr.David BylundProgram Develop ManagerMid-Rise Construction

Architectural Design Consideration StreamSession A:6

Mid-rise

What is Mid-rise?

Apartments (Class 2) Hotels (Class 3) Office Buildings (Class 5)

DTS Building Classes

Cavity barriers

Non-combustible insulation

Encapsulation

Automatic sprinklers

Timber Structure

The System

Deemed to Satisfy Provisions include:

Provide false ceilings

Self contained heating and cooling for SOUs

Timber specific fire and acoustic considerations

Avoid hot works

Penetrate shaft or duct walls where possible

Make shaft or duct walls readily accessible

Different approaches for different building classes

Some Key Points to Remember:

Layout Considerations: Building Class 2 & 3: SOU Fire Compartmentalisation & Service Shafts

Residential Buildings: Apartments (Class 2) and Hotels (Class 3)

Typical Apartment Building Floor Plan

Use service shafts distributed around the floor for services such as:

DrainsWaste pipesVent pipes

Each SOU is a fire compartment (including bathrooms and kitchens)

Maintain fire encapsulation integrity

Building Services Layout Considerations: Building Class 2 & 3

Sole Occupancy Unit

Adjacent

SOU

Adjacent

SOUAdjacent

SOU

Adjacent SOU

Maintain the integrity of the fire

encapsulation

Building Services Layout Considerations: Building Class 2 & 3

Sole Occupancy Unit

Adjacent

SOU

Adjacent

SOUAdjacent

SOU

Adjacent SOU

False ceilings

Falsewalls

Skirting ducts

Plumbing in floor void

How can service penetrations be minimised through fire barriers?

Service Runs: SOUs

Vertical ServiceRiser

Horizontal Service Run

Fire-ratedLining

Typical Distribution of Services for an Apartment

Service RunsFire-protection of the timber is maintainedFRL and RISF (or MRISF) is not compromised

Opening protected by a pillow, mineral fibre batt or other proprietary fire protection system

Trimmer

Opening lined to maintain FRL and RISF of timber element

Fire resistant seal

Layout Considerations False Ceilings

False ceilings house:

Fire-rated

plasterboard

Non-fire-rated

false ceiling liningSprinklers Down

Lights

servicesdown lights

fans sprinklers

Place in or above a non-fire-rated face

Avoid penetrating thefire resisting plasterboard lining

Layout Considerations False Wall Lining

Use false walls or concealed voids

Non-fire-rated

lining

Fire-rated lining

Electrical

switches

and wiring

Fire rated walls risk compromise if bath and shower base units are recessed into the wall.

Solution:

Layout Considerations:False Wallsin Bathrooms

Provide additional water resistant lining over the top.

Batten out the wall

Place insulation in the cavity

Skirting Cable Ducts

Fit electrical services behind cable ducts

Cable duct for

services

Avoid penetrating fire protected timber elements

Allows for easy reconfiguration if necessary

Switch plates in door architraves

Typical Distribution of Services for an Apartment

Fire-rated

Lining

Service Runs Detailing Openings through a Wall

Service Runs Detailing Openings through a Wall

Typical Distribution of Services for an Apartment

Distribution of Services - Risers in Lobby:Building Class 2 or 3

Services distributed to

SOUs above a false

ceiling

Service risers with easy access for

inspection and reconfiguration of services

NRAS Inveresk University of Tasmania Student ApartmentsUsed with permission

An Example:Shafts and Horizontal Runs

NRAS Inveresk University of Tasmania Student ApartmentsUsed with permission

An Example:Major Services Riser

Layout Considerations - Service Shafts:Office Buildings - Class 5

Very little fire compartmentation required in office buildings

Locate facilities such as toilets, kitchens and service shafts around the cores.

One or more cores constructed around lift and stair shafts.

Avoid using cavities within fire-protected timber elements

Typical SOU SectionNTS

Use false ceilings, walls and risers for sprinklers, downlights, services etc.

In Summary: