The Impact Of Performance Based Regulations On The Approval Process For Fire Safety In Buildings

Building regulations are in a state of transition, from a traditionally prescriptive approach, to performance based regulations. Fire regulations for buildings are still prescriptively applied but there is a move to performance based design and regulation. The use of performance regulations will mean that the regulatory authorities will need to come to terms with a new way of assessing the suitability of proposals for approval. The current approval process in Victoria is looked at as is a comparison of prescriptive and performance regulations. Issues relating to the use of fire engineering, performance based regulations and fire computer models are raised and explored. Implications for the approval authorities include the need for appropriate education, user friendly computer programs, establishment of performance criteria and protection against litigation.