BCA 2010 - ABCB - Australian Building Codes Board

Client Feature
PRODUCT Innovation
BCA & INDUSTRY NEWS
Between and over provides the
ultimate performance
As would be expected, installing a layer
of insulation between the framing,
and another on top and over the rafter,
achieved the best results (see Figure
3 and Table 1). The downside is that it
takes longer to install.
To view the BRANZ Study Report SR211
go to www.branz.co.nz.
BRANZ thermal testing
BRANZ has a registered testing facility
for measuring the properties of
thermal insulation materials. It has
staff experienced in the thermal and
insulation performance of buildings, and
in the measurement of building energy
efficiency.
Areas of thermal expertise include:
• Accredited testing to ASTM C518 and
AS/NZS 4859.1
• ASTM C1363 Guarded Hot Box
thermal resistance measurement of
constructed panels
• In-situ measurement of thermal
conductivity using large area heat
flux sensors
• Precision measurement of thickness
and loft recovery of fibrous thermal
insulation, including ASTM C167
• Suppliers of equipment for thermal
insulation thickness measurement
• Standing heat loss of hot water
cylinders
• Double glazing tests to BS 5713 and
CAN/CGSB-12.8-M90
• Specific thermal design
• Computer modelling of heat flows in
buildings
• ALF (Annual Loss Factor) method
for optimising the thermal design of
houses
• Combined heat and moisture
performance simulation of buildings
and structures
• Measurement of building energy
efficiency
• Advice on ways to meet R-value
standards
• R-value calculations
• Australasian WERS calculations.
For more information, contact
thermaltesting@branz.co.nz.
AWA members lead the way in developing products for bushfire areas
With the development and introduction
of AS3959:2009 there has been some
significant issues with many building
materials, windows and doors certainly
have been one of the products with
some issues. The new standard has
prescriptive requirements to meet the
different Bushfire Attack Levels for
windows and doors, although some
of the requirements such as external
screens covering the whole window are
not always practical. This can obviously
limit the types of windows that can be
used and may not necessarily be the
best solution. The alternative path to
compliance is to test products to AS
1530.8.1. If passed by a product it means
that the product can be used up to
and including BAL 40, or if testing to
AS 1530.8.2 and passed by a product, it
means that the product can be used in
all levels including BAL FZ.
The Australian Window Association led
a testing program in September 2008
to advance industry knowledge. The
indicative tests were performed as initial
screening tests to aid AWA members
in selecting specimens for future
evaluation for meeting both prescriptive
requirements and for testing fully to
AS1530.8.1 and 2.
To date there are two window
manufacturers and one glass
manufacturer that have tested product,
and they are Miglas Windows, Trend
Windows and Viridian Glass.
Successfully tested to the new Australian
test standard AS 1530.8.1, Miglas
FireGuard 40 window and door product
series achieves compliance with AS
3959:2009, Construction of Buildings in
Bushfire Prone Areas, without the need
for external screens or bushfire shutters.
Developed, designed and manufactured
in Australia, Miglas Fireguard 40 has
undergone rigorous testing by the Exova
Warrington Fire testing laboratory in
Dandenong, Victoria, to be approved for
use on sites with a Bushfire Attack Level
(BAL) of up to and including BAL-40.
Miglas Fireguard 40 timber-aluminum
composite windows and doors feature
aluminum externally to protect from
ignition, while internally, timber
provides thermal insulation and stability.
PyroGuard 40 from Australian glass
manufacturer, Viridian, completes the
product’s bushfire resistant status by
providing a solid barrier against radiant
heat transfer and embers.
Trend Windows & Doors Pty Ltd and
Smoke Control Pty Ltd announces
that the Xtreme® range of Bushfire
Window and Door products combined
with WindowShield Fire Curtains have
recently been assessed to full Flame
Zone BAL FZ to comply to the highest
level in the new Bushfire Construction
standards (AS3959-2009 and
AS1530.8.2 -2007).
In a major breakthrough, the new
system which will be called Xtreme®
Flame Zone windows and doors System
has been assessed by CSIRO to pass the
standard test at the absolute extreme
BAL FZ level.
The System combines Trend®
technologically advanced CSIRO tested
BAL 40 (1530.8.1-2007) Xtreme® Window
and Door system with Pyro-Protec®
seals and glazing systems and standard
5mm or 6mm toughened glass and the
Smoke Control CSIRO tested (1530.4)
WindowShield Fire Curtain to produce
the Xtreme® Flame Zone Bushfire
System. This latest development is
a result of Trend Windows & Doors®
ongoing intensive research and
development and extensive testing with
the CSIRO, aimed at developing cost
affordable window and door systems
which will withstand the absolute
extremes of bushfire attack.
The special ultra-thin transparent
coating with Viridian PyroGuard 40
minimises the transfer of radiant heat
from the bushfire front through the
glass and into the home. Even when
subjected to radiation levels of 40kW/
m2, less than 3% of the radiant heat is
transferred through a window glazed
with PyroGuard 40. This not only
protects combustible materials such as
curtains and furnishing within the home,
but also helps to provide significantly
increased protection for occupants.
For further information visit
www.awa.org.au.
40 • Australian Building Regulation Bulletin