Building cladding is an outer skin that is applied to high-rise buildings to improve thermal energy efficiency, aesthetics, noise dampening, and weather protection. Building cladding can be retrofitted to an existing structure or incorporated into the design of a new structure.
Building cladding materials are typically chosen based on their appearance, durability, and colour availability. The most commonly used material for building cladding is ACM, or Aluminium Composite Material, which is composed of two aluminium skins bonded to a non-aluminium core. HPL, or High Pressure Laminate, panels used for building cladding, on the other hand, are created by pressing layers of wood or paper fibres into a resin and then bonding them together with heat. Rainscreen building cladding systems necessitate an open cavity to allow the insulation behind the weather-resistant panels to breathe. Other materials used in building cladding include wood, glass fixed to a steel frame, and fibre cement weatherboards. Furthermore, building cladding protects the privacy and security of the building's exteriors, provides thermal insulation, and improves the building's appearance. Almost every building cladding system incorporates fire-resistance measures. Emphasis on fire cladding of buildings With numerous incidents of widespread use of combustible cladding, a new wave of concern has hit the Australian construction industry. When selecting a building cladding material, fire safety has become especially important. However, before selecting a fire cladding, make sure that it provides excellent fire protection. For this, you should consult specialist fire safety and fire cladding engineers who can advise you on the best design, easy installation, and versatility of use. High quality fire cladding can provide building occupants protection for two hours in the event of a fire. The right heat-resistant wall panels offer protection for air handling plenums also. Using metal for fire cladding The International Building Code recognises metal fire cladding as non-combustible but this does not mean that buildings with metal cladding are exempt from fire regulations. However, metal cladding does provide significant advantages compared to wood and other materials. Metal cladding made of lightweight aluminum honeycomb cores can be the lightest fire cladding option. This metal fire cladding is lightweight that makes it easy to transport and install, and the fire cladding does not add to the dead load of the building. Moreover, metal fire cladding panels can be made of recycled materials, making them an environmentally-friendly option as it will reduce the amount of raw material that needs to be extracted, or the waste cladding material that needs to go a landfill. Omnii’s team has a thorough understanding of cladding legislations, and has team members who have completed specialised combustible cladding CPD courses to assist you in determining the best paths towards rectification. An addition, Omnii has also prequalified with the Residential Cladding Rectification Register (RCRR) on behalf of the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. Building cladding and fire cladding services offered by Omnii include:
Undertaking Building Fire Safety Risk Assessment (BFSRA) A Building Fire Safety Risk Assessment (BFSRA) is required by the Queensland Government to assess the risk of fire spread caused by combustible cladding. If combustible cladding is identified or reported in your building, you are required to have BFSRA completed by the due date, failing to do so means your building may be notified as an “Affected Building”, with a fire safety risk, and you may be asked for further action to replace the cladding. Omnii’s dedicated team can be contacted to help with your BFSRA certification. Omnii offers a range of fire safety engineering services including:
Omnii provides specialist services for fire safety engineering, building cladding and fire cladding in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and other parts of Australia. The company has provided its specialist fire safety engineering services to a variety of projects including healthcare, public buildings, residential, retail, entertainment & leisure, transport and more.
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Code Compliant Fire Protection Services with an Integrated Approach to Save Lives, Property & Assets7/20/2021 Fires often cause disruption to business activities, loss of employee work hours, loss of crucial business information, and liability claims resulting from damage caused due to fire. Fire prevention codes in Australia require proper maintenance and repair of building exit systems, fire alarm systems, and fire suppression systems. In Australia, the codes for fire protection services and protective fire services require building owners to submit plans with complete fire protection arrangements, as well as means of access and escape.
In a small building, fire detection systems may be as simple as a set of smoke detectors. However, in larger buildings, the range and complexity of detection devices is broader. The goal of protective fire services is to prevent the loss of life, damage to property, and downtime in the use of a building. Fire protection services may provide you with either active or passive fire protection. Active protective fire protection systems require some kind of action, be it an alarm, or the release of a clean suppression agent. Though fire detection systems appear to be passive, they are considered active because they can be combined with a fire suppression or sprinkler system to provide additional protection to the building and its occupants. Active fire protection systems Active fire protection systems receive signals, both manual and automatic, to perform their intended functions. These systems usually identify the presence of fire by detecting smoke or heat. The systems are used for the activation of extinguishing systems or for notifying the building occupants and emergency personnel through alarms at the onset of a fire. Some premises or shared facilities may have active fire protection systems as part of a wider managing agent’s controlled system. This aspect needs to be considered at the design stage itself, so at a later stage, the client can participate in the shared facility’s safety management and evacuation procedures with other building owners and occupants. Passive fire protection systems Fire protection services may put passive fire protection systems in place within the structure of the building which requires no human intervention. Passive fire protection services use building components to control or limit the fire. Walls, floors, and ceilings can be designed using fire protection services and constructed to resist the passage of fire and smoke. These barriers include compartmentalization or subdividing a building to reduce the size and spread of fire. For example, a wall with a one-hour fire resistance rating is built to resist the passage of fire for one hour. Fireproofing walls and compartmentalization of a building can prevent the spread of fire without any human intervention. These passive fire protection systems work even without requiring any electricity. However, a passive fire protection system may not work if the wall, floor, or ceiling of the compartment has an unprotected opening through which a fire or smoke can spread. Similarly, a passive fire protection system with a fire door being blocked or that is inoperable will no longer serve as an effective fire barrier. Fire protection consulting services There may be exceptional circumstances where a compartmentalization strategy may not work, such as an explosion, before, during or after a fire. There may be more complex and unlikely scenarios that the consultants at a fire protection services provider can advise you of. Omnii is the leading protective fire services and fire protection services provider in Australia whose fire consultants can provide you with professional advice to handle unexpected circumstances and ensure the building is prepared. Moreover, even a small fire can create considerable smoke and fire damage, so you should always ask your protective fire service consultants about how far the design will prevent smoke, heat and water leaving the area of compartmentalization. An integrated approach to a building design for fire protection Omnii’s fire protection services and protective fire services audits may recommend you keep both active and passive fire protection systems in place to ensure people and property are safe in the event of a fire. Active and passive fire protection systems are linked to each other, and as a building owner, you should ensure that the lead designer has ensured an integrated approach to the design. Omnii’s protective fire service and fire protection services are aimed at reducing or eliminating the occurrence of fires during the day-to-day operations of a property. Fire protection services provided by Omnii include:
A fire safety audit is conducted by trained fire safety consultants to ascertain how a building, be it commercial, industrial or residential, is being managed with respect to fire safety. A fire protection audit is performed to assess the effectiveness of fire extinguishing systems in the event of a fire outbreak. A fire and life safety audit demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to health and safety, highlights non-conformities, and brings security to a workplace by preventing the possibility of prosecution and litigation.
A fire protection audit can include the evaluation of a range of fire protection services, and can include the following:
Fire safety consultants have an important role to play in fire safety as they work to make your workplace or residential building safer for the occupants. They do this by conducting a fire protection audit and a fire risk assessment onsite, generating a report on building safety, and providing their professional advice and recommendations. The consultants will explain the potential areas in your building where a fire could start and suggest appropriate preventive measures. They will also advise you on the employer’s legal obligations to their staff. Fire safety consultants with a deep knowledge of fire safety codes Planning for system upgrades is important for fire alarm and life safety systems. Omnii’s fire safety consultants possess deep knowledge of all fire safety code regulations. Omnii is Australia’s leading fire safety consulting company and can help you evaluate the best commercial alarm system for your building, including all associated costs. The advisory services provided by Omnii’s fire safety consultants include analysis of the escape paths and sprinkler systems, and emergency lighting. The consultants may suggest battery-operated emergency lighting so it will not be affected in case the electricity goes off in the event of a fire. The consultants can decide on an appropriate fire exit plan that is convenient for all occupants, and suggest a designated assembly area outside of the building. An innovative approach to fire engineering services Fire safety engineering services involves the application of scientific and fire engineering principles, and understanding how fire impacts a building in different ways. It ensures the safe exit of people and safe access for firefighters. These services include commissioning and testing services related to hydraulic calculations, alarm and voice communication systems, smoke management systems, special application extinguishing systems, and laser smoke detection systems. Omnii’s fire protection engineering services are designed to deliver cutting-edge solutions and innovative approaches to the protection of life and property. The comprehensive suite of fire protection engineering services from Omnii includes:
Fire risk assessment and solutions for specific tasks Whether your need a fire protection audit, fire protection engineering services, a fire risk assessment, or looking for support for long-term projects, Omnii’a fire safety consultants can help you with all aspects related to fire safety. Fire safety consultants are always up to date with the latest Australian fire protection audit regulations, fire protection engineering services and other services related to fire safety and protection. Fire safety consultants provide code-compliant fire and life safety systems, meeting all state, federal and local regulations. Omnii has some of Australia’s best pure-play fire safety consultants onboard, providing fire protection engineering services, fire protection audit, structural fire engineering and cladding fire safety services across all sectors in the built environment. Omnii’s fire safety consultants have provided their fire protection audit and fire protection engineering services in Australia for a wide variety of projects including commercial, industrial, public buildings, mining, oil, gas & petroleum, retail, seniors living and more |