Evaluating the DBH Verification Method to Complex Buildings Designed According to New Zealand Compliance Documents C/AS1

Abstract

Performance-based fire engineering design is becoming a more common practice for fire safety design of large complex buildings and modifying existing buildings. However, different engineering assumptions and ambiguous acceptance criteria not only lead to inconsistent level of safety, but also cause inefficient Building Consent process and can result in expensive appeals.

In August 2006 the New Zealand Department of Building and Housing (DBH) has been developing a Verification Method (C/VM2) for demonstrating compliance with the Fire Safety requirements of the New Zealand Building Code (C Clauses).

This research evaluated the proposed C/VM2 on four complex buildings, including Multi-level Night Club, Hospital, Shopping Mall and Retail Warehouse. It has showed that the C/VM2 successfully implements a systematic and less ambiguous guidance for the future performance-based fire safety designs. However, continued analysis and development is necessary that a solely deterministic method may not be the best solution. A risk-based concept is suggested to be incorporated into the new generation of the C/VM2.