Fire safety in early childhood centres
FRNSW consider children within an ‘early childhood centre’, as defined by the National Construction Code (NCC), to be ‘vulnerable occupants’ due to their need for assisted evacuation in the event of fire.
Owing to a higher occupant risk profile than for other Class 9b buildings, FRNSW recommends that an early childhood centre be:
- protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system throughout the whole building.
- located no more than five storeys above ground level.
- provided with a smoke lobby in accordance with D3D7 of the NCC, if served by any lift/s.
- where situated within a building with a rise in storeys of two or more, the early childhood centre is to be served by fire-isolated exits (e.g. fire-isolated stairways).
- where the fire-isolated exits (e.g. fire-isolated stairways) serving the early childhood centre serve a rise in storeys of more than two, they are to be provided with either:
- an automatic air pressurisation system in accordance with AS/NZS 1668.1:2015, or
- open access ramps or balconies in accordance with D3D6 of the NCC.
- where a building is required to have not less than two fire compartments on each storey (in accordance with C3D6(2) of the NCC), it is recommended that appropriate smoke sealing also be provided to any doorways situated within this fire compartmentation.
- written emergency and evacuation procedures must be developed, maintained and implemented for the early childhood centre, and should:
- identify a safe and secure assembly area away from the evacuated building including method of safe transfer of all children to that area (e.g. carriage of babies and infants and appropriate staff/child ratios)
- be compatible with any existing emergency and evacuation procedures for the whole building, where the early childhood centre forms part of that building.
Note: FRNSW recommends the emergency plan complies with AS 3745-2010.
Note: These provisions, which may exceed minimum NCC requirements, are intended to ensure adequate life safety is provided commensurate to the higher risks associated with vulnerable occupants.
Updated: 12th September 2024