c5

C5 Access and safety for firefighting operations

Access and safety for firefighting operations: access, hazards information and unobstructed paths.

Certain buildings must provide appropriate access for fire service vehicles, firefighters and equipment, and the inlets to any automatic fire sprinkler systems or fire hydrant systems.  They must also deliver water for firefighting and information to assist firefighters (such as hazardous substances).

C1 provides objectives for each of the C clauses.

Most of the guidance applies to all of the C clauses and some relates to a specific clause.

There may be specific products and determinations under each code clause.

Record of amendments is a record of changes to the acceptable solutions, verification methods and handbooks.

Building Code Regulations

The Building Code is published in Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 1992.

The Building Code clauses include objectives, functional requirements and performance criteria. These are mandatory provisions that all new building work must comply with.

The acceptable solutions and verification methods provided on this page are deemed to comply with Building Code clause C.

Clause C5 — Access and safety for firefighting operations

Building Product Specifications

Acceptable solutions C/AS1 and C/AS2 and Verification Method C/VM2 refer to the Building Product Specifications for building product standards and specifications in relation to their manufacture, fabrication, testing, quality control, physical properties, performance, installation, and/or maintenance.

The Building Product Specifications cannot be used in isolation to demonstrate compliance with any requirement of the Building Code. To comply with the acceptable solutions and verification method, building products conforming to the Building Product Specifications must be used with the scope, limitations, and other applicable requirements set out in the acceptable solutions and verification method.

Building Product Specifications

Updates

Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods

Standards

Standards are frequently referred to in Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods. They provide practical information and guidelines for building solutions.

Over 120 building standards used for Building Code compliance are now available for free download.

See the free standards relating to Code Clause C5.

All standards, including the funded ones, can be accessed through the Standards New Zealand website.

Related building products

All building products and building methods that have current CodeMark certification will be listed with their most up to date certificate in the Product Certificate Register on Te Pae.

Guidance

These documents are provided to assist Building Consent Authorities, building owners, designers and persons who carry out building work.

This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: