Fire Safety Residential Community Housing Proposals

Summary

The proposed Design Guide was developed following stakeholder feedback on the 2012 edition of revised Acceptable Solution C/AS1-7. Stakeholders noted that the current Acceptable Solution C/AS3 provided a ‘one size fits all’ approach, without considering the differing levels of care and mobility of occupants in residential community housing and their ability to self-evacuate in the event of a fire. The stakeholders considered this to increase costs and reduce amenity value.

A categorisation method has been developed in the proposed Design Guide that takes into account the differing needs of occupants and each category has a gradual increase in the level of fire safety.

MBIE has received input from Community Housing Aotearoa, NZ Disability Support Network, Disabled Persons Assembly, Housing NZ, Ministry of Heath, Accessible Properties, the New Zealand Fire Service and building control officials to develop this proposed Design Guide.