❓ Mr. Stephens questions the water supply standards applied to LandCorp's new Neman LIA subdivision, specifically regarding fire fighting capabilities. The response clarifies the standards, their history, and the responsibility for ensuring adequate fire protection.
AnsweredQoN 1882Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In reference to the Water Corporation’s design standards for LandCorp’s new Neman LIA subdivision that includes lot 18 Wonmunna Road, Light Industrial Area (LIA), Newman:
(a) what is the water supply standard that has been applied for lots released in this development;
(b) when did this particular standard come into effect;
(c) will the Minister table the regulation and any other details that explains the water supply standard that has been applied to this land development; and
(d) specifically, was this standard in place prior to the LandCorp putting these lots onto the market?
(a) what is the water supply standard that has been applied for lots released in this development;
(b) when did this particular standard come into effect;
(c) will the Minister table the regulation and any other details that explains the water supply standard that has been applied to this land development; and
(d) specifically, was this standard in place prior to the LandCorp putting these lots onto the market?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 November 2009
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
14 days
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) advises:
(a) The potable water distribution network is managed by the Water Corporation for the vast majority of the State. The Fire and Emergency Service Authority of Western Australia (FESA) has established guidelines with the Water Corporation which detail fire hydrant requirements. The Water Corporation's Operating Licence requires minimum pressures to be met however in many locations actual water pressure is lower than the water flow and pressure required for fire protection systems installed to protect large commercial buildings.
The water flows and pressures required for firefighting systems in commercial buildings are specified in the Building Code of Australia (BCA). In this particular building, because of its size and intended use, the BCA requires 20 litres/second at 200kPa. Hydrants tested could only supply 7.8 litres/second at 200kPa - a significant shortfall. Where the required water flow and pressures cannot be met, the BCA prescribes the installation of supplementary fire equipment, usually in the form of tanks and pumps or an alternative fire engineered solution may be proposed. An alternative solution must be endorsed by FESA and approved by the local government - in this case the Shire of East Pilbara.
(b) The current firefighting water supply requirements for commercial buildings have been referenced in the BCA since its first issue in 1990. The FESA - Water Corporation design standard has been in operation since 2004.
(c) In any commercial / industrial estate in Western Australia, hydrants are located at 100 metre spacing in accordance with FESA - Water Corporation design standard. The hydrants located adjacent to this allotment satisfy this requirement, however they cannot provide the necessary fire fighting water at the required pressure and flow as specified in the BCA.
(d) FESA understands this land was released within the last two years. Both the FESA - Water Corporation design standard and the BCA firefighting water requirements for commercial buildings were in place prior to LandCorp placing these lots on to the market.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(a) The potable water distribution network is managed by the Water Corporation for the vast majority of the State. The Fire and Emergency Service Authority of Western Australia (FESA) has established guidelines with the Water Corporation which detail fire hydrant requirements. The Water Corporation's Operating Licence requires minimum pressures to be met however in many locations actual water pressure is lower than the water flow and pressure required for fire protection systems installed to protect large commercial buildings.
The water flows and pressures required for firefighting systems in commercial buildings are specified in the Building Code of Australia (BCA). In this particular building, because of its size and intended use, the BCA requires 20 litres/second at 200kPa. Hydrants tested could only supply 7.8 litres/second at 200kPa - a significant shortfall. Where the required water flow and pressures cannot be met, the BCA prescribes the installation of supplementary fire equipment, usually in the form of tanks and pumps or an alternative fire engineered solution may be proposed. An alternative solution must be endorsed by FESA and approved by the local government - in this case the Shire of East Pilbara.
(b) The current firefighting water supply requirements for commercial buildings have been referenced in the BCA since its first issue in 1990. The FESA - Water Corporation design standard has been in operation since 2004.
(c) In any commercial / industrial estate in Western Australia, hydrants are located at 100 metre spacing in accordance with FESA - Water Corporation design standard. The hydrants located adjacent to this allotment satisfy this requirement, however they cannot provide the necessary fire fighting water at the required pressure and flow as specified in the BCA.
(d) FESA understands this land was released within the last two years. Both the FESA - Water Corporation design standard and the BCA firefighting water requirements for commercial buildings were in place prior to LandCorp placing these lots on to the market.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.