Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Mar 31, 2014 9:17 pm Hoping someone out there can help us with our carport. We are renovating the house and decided to change the carport from a lean-to type structure with a polycarbonate sheet roof to a pitched roof structure with terracotta tile roof to match the house. But now learn we are faced with the BCA fire separation requirements. We're across the 1/3 perimeter, 2 sides open business and OK on that, but unclear on what is defined as non-combustible material. Existing structure, which we had hoped to partially re-use, is made from timber. Will we need to re-build in steel or are there treated timbers that meet the BCA requirements. Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 3Apr 01, 2014 3:29 pm If within 900mm of the boundary then the construction materials need to have an FRL of 60/60/60. Steel posts, steel beam, steel fascia, non combustible roofing or brick wall, steel fascia, non combustible roofing would be the normal solutions. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 4Apr 04, 2014 6:58 am Quote: Why worry about BCA? IS it necessary? If your new ( non-compliant with the BCA ) carport catches fire then the neighbours house your insurance wouldn't cover you and you would have to pay the full costs. As Peter says 60/60/60 is the rule. Pretty easy to comply with also and not too hard to make it match the existing. Stewie Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 5Apr 04, 2014 7:07 am Our garage is 150mm from the boundary and we don't have steel posts or steel beams. We have a timber frame with some fire-resistant board on the outside followed by pine weatherboards. The fire-resistant board is called OutRWall. Actually I wish we had known about these requirements before the design was done. We found out that the wall was brought to the designer's attention by the council surveyor when we applied for an R&C to vary the front setback and this was the band-aid solution she came up with. A brick wall would have been a much better option. Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 6Apr 04, 2014 7:35 am Another example of trades and associated professionals not knowing the regs as they should do with potential problems for the client in the future. The designer, building surveyor and council inspector are all at fault. Your garage still doesn't comply. You've really struck the jackpot with your build haven't you Liliana ? Stewie Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 7Apr 04, 2014 8:13 am Hi Stewie D, You're not wrong there! But maybe Victoria has a laxer approach because the Boral website seems to indicate you can use this on boundary: http://www.boral.com.au/productcatalogu ... oduct=2749 Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 8Apr 04, 2014 9:41 am Hmmm, I stand corrected. If it has a 1hr or 1.5 hr fire rating then that is all that is required. It does seem to be a "tack-on-later" solution though and I agree with your earlier statement that a brick wall would have been a much better option. Stewie Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 9Apr 04, 2014 9:56 am I wish you didn't stand corrected! I'd love to have a reason to tell them to demolish that weatherboard wall and put bricks there instead. I didn't know about the fire rating issue when she presented us with the design but I did ask how we were going to paint a weatherboard wall facing into the neighbour's property. We were assured it was going to be fibre cement and I thought OurRWall was the fibre cement cladding. It was only when I saw the finished product that I realised there had been a botch up. But with nothing in writing, what can you do? Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 10Apr 04, 2014 10:42 am Stewie D Quote: Why worry about BCA? IS it necessary? If your new ( non-compliant with the BCA ) carport catches fire then the neighbours house your insurance wouldn't cover you and you would have to pay the full costs. As Peter says 60/60/60 is the rule. Stewie Yes and as Peter also said "non combustible roofing or brick wall, steel fascia, non combustible roofing would be the normal solutions." This is what I was alluding to. Also if you are building with combustible materials, I wouldnt worry about anything if the carport isnt near another structure. The OP didnt make it clear if he is building in the same spot. Re: Modifying carport = BCA complications 11Apr 04, 2014 11:54 am I could be wrong but I think the OP is basically taking off the flat roof , repitching it to the same slope as the house then re -roofing it with terracotta tiles like wise to match the house. Also I agree that if you built it out of non-compliant materials and there is no other structure close next door it wouldn't be a problem but what happens if the neighbours decide to build their garage close to the boundary as well? Stewie |