Archive for the ‘Fire Protection’ Category

Warren Smith & Partners Involvement with the Redevelopment of Darling Harbour

Thursday, May 14th, 2020

A history of our involvement…

In 1983 in the 2nd year of operation, Warren Smith & Partners (WS+P) were engaged by Yates Developments to undertake the design of the Hydraulic and Fire Services for a proposed weekend marketplace and mid-week car parking facility on the previous Dairy Farmers Milk Distribution Centre site at the western end of Liverpool Street which has been closed on the Darling Harbour site. The project was fully documented, tendered and prior to commencement of construction, the NSW Government advised Yates Developments that the land was to be resumed which in turn prevented commencement of construction.

In 1985, Warren Smith & Partners were engaged by the Managing Contractor, Leighton Contractors on behalf of the then Darling Harbour Authority to undertake the Masterplanning work of the infrastructure services required to service the overall Darling Harbour Redevelopment.

As a result of the infrastructure services masterplan, the infrastructure services were installed to service the various development sites in Darling Harbour. One of the early infrastructure works was undertaken by Sydney Water to amplify the existing Haylackey stormwater drainage culvert which collected significant catchments from the southern catchment area of Darling Harbour and was installed to cater for a capacity for a 20 Year Storm Event to minimise flooding  issues at the southern end of Darling Harbour.

Interestingly enough,  during the excavation and construction of the Haylackey stormwater culvert an old timber wharf was found approximately 100 metres south of the existing southern seawall of Darling Harbour which was constructed in the earlier days of our Colony.

In late 1985, Warren Smith & Partners were engaged as Hydraulic & Fire Engineering Consultants for the new Convention Centre which has been replaced by the new ICC Building plus the adjacent Festival Marketplace project and both projects were finished on time for the 1988 bi-centennial celebrations.

In more recent years, Warren Smith & Partners were awarded the Hydraulic & Fire Engineering Consultancy Services for the Darling Walk Development tenanted by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and that project also involved a significant early works package to deviate Sydney Water stormwater and sewer drainage infrastructure.

The Darling Walk Development was one of the first buildings to be credited with a 6 star Greenstar rating before fully operational and the work involved by Warren Smith & Partners in regards to Sewer Mining and blackwater treatment plant to provide the water supply for the cooling towers in both buildings which saves an approximate 100,000 Litres of towns water consumption each day which was a significant contribution to the obtaining of the 6 star Greenstar rating.

Another major project at Darling Harbour that Warren Smith & Partners were involved with as Hydraulic & Fire Engineering Consultants is the 34 storey Sofitel Hotel building adjacent the southern end of the new International Convention Centre.

Close to and not that far away from the Darling Harbour Redevelopment area are the Barangaroo South Commercial Office Towers (3 off) together with the Residential Towers.  Warren Smith & Partners have been involved and are currently involved as Hydraulic & Fire Engineering Consultants.

Warren Smith & Partners were also involved as the Hydraulic, Fire & Civil Engineering Consultants for the Barangaroo Reserve Project where approximately 85% of all rainwater and irrigation water that permeates through the ground is captured, treated and reused for irrigation purposes over the Barangaroo Reserve and parkland area.

Another outstanding piece of engineering work for the Barangaroo Reserve project involved the investigation and subsequent removal in total of an existing Sydney Water sewer pump station  utilising micro-tunnelling engineering technique to enable the existing Sydney water sewer from Walsh Bay Finger Wharfs to be deviated by gravity 900 metres south under Hickson Road to connect to an existing Sydney Water sewer pump station situated opposite the Bond Building in Hickson Road.

Winning Project!

Friday, November 15th, 2019

Warren Smith & Partners have been awarded the winner of the FPAA 2019 Fire Protection Project of the year over $1 Million for the Lendlease Barangaroo South Precinct

 

Please download this document for a description of the Lendlease Barangaroo South Precinct project and innovations.

Wonderful recognition from our industry!

Friday, October 18th, 2019


Warren Smith & Partners has been involved in the Barangaroo precinct development for the past 10 years. Our Fire, Hydraulic and Civil Services teams have worked with Lendlease and the Barangaroo Delivery Authority to deliver robust design, risk free documentation and construction services through this period. During this time the Fire services team have worked at implementing several industry leading design solutions that have resulted in changes to statutory requirements and offered significant operational efficiencies to the development facilities managers.

The Fire Services Team is now excited to be shortlisted for the Fire Protection Association Australia 2019 industry awards for projects over $1m and will be attending the gala dinner in Melbourne on the 8th November. If you would like to catch up with our team please get in touch with Peter Brawley, David Bolt or Ian Stone to discuss how we can assist your next project.

Barangaroo South

Dangrove Art Storage Facility, Alexandria NSW

Wednesday, August 7th, 2019

Warren Smith & Partners are delighted to have had been given the opportunity to provide hydraulic, fire and Sydney Water Services Coordination consultancy for the new Dangrove Art Storage Facility.

This 10,000m² state of the art storage facility houses Judith Neilson’s private contemporary Chinese art collection. With an impressive Great Hall of 90m long; Dangrove is able to accommodate events and display large artwork installations comfortably.

We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work on this masterpiece.

Competent Fire Safety Practitioners

Monday, March 18th, 2019

Newly Accredited (FPAS) and Our Contribution to the Fire Protection Industry | by Fires Services | 18 March 2019

This article can also be downloaded as an A4 Flyer here: Fire News 0319

Please be advised that the changes to the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act introduced in October 2017, requires Fire Protection Designers to be accredited either by the Building Professionals Board or the National Engineer’s Register to enable certification of:-

  • Fire Sprinkler Systems
  • Fire Hydrant & Fire Hose Reel Systems
  • Fire Detection & Alarm Systems

For Class 2 to 9 Buildings.

The Legislation requires that design of all active Fire Systems be checked and certified by newly accredited Fire Design Engineers.

Warren Smith & Partners have three (3) highly experienced professional Fire Services Designers who have completed the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme FPAS.


Ian Stone (31 Years with Practice)
Expertise Leader – Fire
MOBILE: 0407 207 286
EMAIL:
FPAS Accreditation No: FSD17478


David Bolt (25 Years with Practice)
Project Manager – Fire
MOBILE: 0425 256 922
EMAIL:
FPAS Accreditation No: FSD14563


Peter Brawley (25 Years with Practice)
State Manager Victoria
MOBILE: 0412 922 503
EMAIL:
FPAS Accreditation No: FSD20802

In order to qualify for FPAS, Ian Stone, David Bolt & Peter Brawley were required to pass a rigorous induction and examination process to confirm their current expertise in each of the above Fire Protection Design disciplines.

Warren Smith & Partners as a significant contributor to the Fire Service Industry, are pleased to have played a significant role in formulating the following key new Legislation documents:-

Warren Smith & Partners recent contributions to the Fire Protection Industry

BCA 2016 Volume One Amendment 1 – March 2018
This amendment to BCA 2016 introduces the AS 2118.1 – 2017 ‘Fire Sprinkler Standard’ which includes for changes and advancements in Fire Sprinkler Technology, water supply and protection requirements.

Warren Smith & Partners provided technical input to the new AS 2118.1 – 2017 through its voluntary contribution the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC 4/8/9) of the Fire Protection Association Australia.

Sprinkler Protection to Electrical Equipment in Lift Shafts – Amendment to BCA 2019, Clause 13 of E1.5
Warren Smith & Partners instigated the request for change to the BCA through the Fire Protection Association due to wide ranging interpretations of the Clause.

The end result is simplification of the protection criteria which provides a cost-effective wet sprinkler protection to the Lift Shafts containing electrical equipment and enables Lift Shaft maintenance to be completed safely with the ability to isolate the sprinkler water supply in the Lift Shaft to minimise risk of electrocution caused by accidental sprinkler activation.

The proposed changes to Clause E1.5 of BCA 2019 are available in the public Draft and it should be noted that a Fire Engineered Solution will be required to adopt this innovation until BCA 2019 is implemented.

AS 2118.6 Combined Sprinkler / Hydrant Systems in multi-storey buildings
Warren Smith and Partners has successfully lobbied Australian Standards through the Fire Protection Association to update AS 2118.6 to enable alignment with recently published Fire Sprinkler & Fire Hydrant Standards and also ensure more effective fire-fighting facilities for operational challenges of fires in high-rise Towers.