Compliance

Reference: NCC BCA Vol. 1, Specification A2.2
There are a number of ways a manufacturer or supplier can show that a ductwork system meets a Performance Requirement or a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisionof the NCC.  Subject to the fire safety requirements detailed in the Fire Performance section, suitability can be demonstrated with any one of the following:

• A report issued by a Registered Testing Authority (refer to definition below), showing that the material or form of construction has been submitted to the tests listed in the report, and setting out the results of those tests and any other relevant information that demonstrates its suitability for use in the building.
• A current Certificate of Conformity or a current Certificate of Accreditation.
• A certificate from a professional engineer or other appropriately qualified person which –
  • certifies that a material, design, or form of construction complies with the requirements of the BCA; and
  • sets out the basis on which it is given and the extent to which relevant specifications, rules, codes or practice or other publications have been relied upon.
• A current certificate issued by a product certification body that has been accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).
• Any other form of documentary evidence that correctly describes the properties and performance of the material or form of construction and adequately demonstrates its suitability for use in the building.

Where calculations are performed, compliance with the ABCB protocol can be demonstrated with any one of the following:

• A certificate from a professional engineer or other appropriately qualified person which –
  • certifies that the calculation method complies with a relevant ABCB protocol; and
  • sets out the basis on which it is given and the extent to which relevant specifications, rules, codes or practice or other publications have been relied upon.
• Any other form of documentary evidence that correctly describes how the calculation method complies with a relevant ABCB protocol.

The NCC requires that any documentary evidence that is submitted must be a complete copy of the original.

1 Scope

Intent

To clarify that Specification J5.2b provides the required performance of ductwork insulation and sealing.
Clause 1(a) clarifies that Specification J5.2b contains the required performance for the insulation and sealing of ductwork and fittings, where the ductwork is part of an air-conditioning system.

Clause 1(b) outlines that for the purposes of this Specification, ‘fittings’ includes passive or static components of a ductwork system and excludes active components of a ductwork system such as those used in an air-handling unit.

This means passive or static components of a ductwork system must meet the requirements of this Specification and may include items such as plenums, bends, branches, transitions, reducers, offsets, spigots, cushion heads, attenuators and fixed air balance dampers.

Active components of a ductwork system are exempt from the insulation and sealing requirements of this Specification. This exemption recognises that there are practical difficulties applying insulation to components that move or where access is regularly required.

Active components may include Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes, electric duct heaters, actuated volume control dampers, access panels and doors, fire and smoke dampers, fans or humidifiers.

Reference: AS 4254.2, Section 1.8
Fire testing on insulation, facing material and rigid ductwork material must be performed by a Registered Testing Authority.  Samples submitted for testing must be identical to the manufactured product.  The test certificates must include the following minimum product data:

• Manufacturer’s name or registered trademark and product name.
• Thickness, R-value, density of insulation and all flame retardants used.
• Nominal grammage (g/m²) of facing or lining material and all flame retardants used.
• For facings and lining materials of a composite nature that are bonded together with fire-retardant adhesives, the adhesive type, all flame retardants used in the adhesive and the weight of adhesive applied (g/m²).