Guidance Note: GN04

Fire Prevention and Management in a Recycling Facility

Version 1. 2020

Guidance Note: GN04

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GUIDANCE NOTE: GN04


Table of Contents

1. Purpose ........................................................................................................................................... 3

2. Scope ............................................................................................................................................... 5

3. Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... 6

4. Application ...................................................................................................................................... 7

5. Legislated Requirements ................................................................................................................. 8

5.1 National Construction Code .......................................................................................................... 8

6. Development and Planning ............................................................................................................. 8

6.1 Development of Existing Waste Facilities ..................................................................................... 9

6.2 Responsibilities of Occupiers in Managing Risks from Fire ........................................................... 9

6.3 Designing for Special Hazard ......................................................................................................... 9

6.4 Hazard Identification and Assessing the Risk from Fire .............................................................. 10

6.5 Developing your Emergency Management Plan ......................................................................... 11

6.6 Firefighting Intervention ............................................................................................................. 12

6.7 Fire Hydrant System .................................................................................................................... 12

6.8 Fire Sprinkler/Suppression Systems ........................................................................................... 14

6.9 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems ............................................................................................. 15

6.10 Smoke Hazard Management .................................................................................................... 15

6.11 Fire Water Run-off Containment .............................................................................................. 15

7. Facility Operation and Management ............................................................................................ 16

7.1 How Fires Spread in Waste Facilities .......................................................................................... 16

7.2 Storage Management ................................................................................................................. 18

7.3 Internal Stockpiles ....................................................................................................................... 19

7.4 External Stockpiles ...................................................................................................................... 21

8. Emergency services information container .................................................................................. 24

9. Development of a DFES Operational Pre-Plan (OPP) .................................................................... 24

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GUIDANCE NOTE: GN04


Revised: 1st Issue

Valid: April 2021

Authorised: DFES Manager HAZMAT

GUIDANCE NOTE: GN04

FIRE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT IN A RECYCLING FACILITY

1. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide consistent advice on fire safety in waste facilities that

receive combustible waste material. It provides guidance on making adequate provision for fire safety

and requirements to facilitate safe fire service intervention to protect life, property and environment

when responding to a fire in a waste facility. This document does not apply to landfills.

It is intended that this guideline will align with and compliment the DWER guideline – Better Practice

Solid Waste Treatment and Storage.

Major waste facility fires/leaks or hazardous materials incidents can take an extend period of time to

control and have resulted in evacuations of local communities, and injuries requiring first aid and

hospital treatments. They can also cause short and long-term environmental harm. In addition, a loss

or reduction of waste acceptance and processing capacity within Western Australia (WA), can have

significant issues for waste stream management in WA

Historically, fire services have attended numerous fires at waste facilities across Australia. These fires are often quite large and have a detrimental impact on the environment, local community and the waste industry itself. The potential fire size correlates with the nature of the combustible waste material being processed, stockpile arrangements, on-site fire safety systems and emergency procedures specific to each facility.

Examples of a waste facilities include but are not limited to:

• recycling centres

• resource recovery

• materials recovery facility

• reprocessors (e.g. paper, cardboard, plastic, e-waste)

• energy recovery centre, and

• transfer stations.

Processes undertaken at waste facilities have higher risks than for other industries and can result in greater frequency and severity of fires. A fire involving bulk storage of mixed, loose material presents a high fire load and causes significant challenges for firefighting intervention. It is a strain on firefighting services as these fires involve a long campaign type incident. Effective risk management frameworks and practices ensure the frequency and severity of fires at waste facilities is reduced.

Waste fires have demanded significant fire service resources over multiple days to extinguish. The largest and longest-lasting fires often involve large stockpiles of unsorted waste with inadequate

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separation, where physical removal, separation and extinguishment is required. These fires also result in major pollution impact on the community, especially from smoke, which is unable to be contained.

Combustible waste generally presents ‘special problems of firefighting’ that warrant classification and consideration of ‘special hazards’ provisions under Clause E1.10 and E2.3 of the National Construction Code (ABCB, 2019). Fires in waste facilities present specific issues for firefighting, including:

a) the physical nature of combustible waste and waste by-products, including fire properties and ignition potential of both unsorted and sorted materials

b) unsuitable storage method, stockpile size, separation distances and accessibility

c) mechanised waste handling, sorting and processing systems, including vehicles

d) poor fire service vehicle and/or firefighter access for firefighting

e) facilities having an inadequate or no fire hydrant system, including water capacity

f) facilities having an inadequate automatic fire suppression system installed

g) buildings having an inadequate smoke hazard management system installed, and

h) facilities having inadequate provision to contain fire water run-off.

Guidance on fire safety for waste facilities requires case-by-case consideration of the special hazards unique to each facility. It is the intention of this guideline to provide broad principles to assist the responsible person to plan, manage, assess or determine the risks and measures applicable to any given facility in the absence of any other requirements.

Specific requirements may be imposed on the waste facility, or any processes undertaken (e.g. storage, processing, transportation), by the relevant regulatory authority, such as local council, planning departments, environmental regulators or workplace health and safety regulators.

Note: Local regulations may apply to licensing or development of a waste facility, and a regulatory authority may impose requirements from this guideline on the waste facility as a condition of consent as they see fit.

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2. Scope

This guidance note applies to any waste facility in WA involved in the storage, processing or resource recovery of combustible waste material*

This guidance note details the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ (DFES) recommendations

for facilities processing combustible waste materials consisting of, but not limited to;

• Paper and cardboard

• Wood

• Plastics

• Metal and other materials with combustible contaminants

• Textiles

• Rubber

• Organic materials

• E-waste

When this guideline is followed the likelihood and severity of fire should be reduced because the provisions will assist with firefighting intervention to protect life, property and environment.

* Bulk storage of rubber tyres (including Shredded and Crumb) is covered by DFES Guidance Note 02

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3. Definitions

The following definitions apply in this guideline:

acceptable solution – means a prescriptive solution as outlined in Appendix A.

approving/licensing authorities – means the any authority (LG, State or Federal) which provides

approval for the facility.

combustible waste material – means any waste material that can pose a significant fire hazard if

ignited by a flame, spark, or any other source of ignition such as:

• Paper and cardboard

• Wood and wood-based products

• Plastics

• Rubber

• Textiles

• Waste derived fuels

• Metal with combustible contaminants, and

• Any other waste material which may posed a notable fire risk like above.

Deemed to satisfy – A DTS Solution follows a set recipe of what, when and how to do something. It

uses the DTS Solutions from the NCC, which include materials, components, design factors, and

construction methods that, if used, are deemed to meet the Performance Requirements.

DFES – Department of Fire and Emergency Service.

DMIRS – Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

DWER – Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Emergency plan – means a written plan which details the actions required to be undertaken by

occupants of a premises during an emergency event.

National Construction Code (NCC) – means the National Construction code (MCC) 2019, Building Code

of Australia Volume One, as amended

Special Hazard – a potential cause of fire/hazardous situation peculiar to a particular building or to a

process of manufacturing. As outlined in the NCC E110, fire brigade may require resources beyond

what the NCC normally requires.

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4. Application

This guidance note applies to any waste facility in WA involved in the storage, processing or resource

recovery of combustible waste material.

This guidance note applies to any proposed development of a waste facility that involves a change of

building use or building work that intends to meet the National Construction Code (NCC).

This guidance note does not apply to any waste facility, or areas of a waste facility, that are being used

for:

• Bulk storage of rubber tyres (including Shredded and Crumb) is covered by DFES Guidance

Note 02

• Landfill (but, may apply to a waste facility on the landfill site)

• Composting of organic material, including open windrow, aerated static pile, in vessel

enclosed and anaerobic digestion

• Liquid waste treatment

• Hazardous chemicals, or

• Less than 50 m3 of combustible waste materials in total across the site at any one time.

Note: Fire safety requirements still apply to waste facilities not covered by this guideline.

This guidance note does not overrule any other requirement that specifically relates to the business

or undertaking (e.g. LG, DMIRS or DWER regulation), nor does this guideline overrule any other specific

condition that has been imposed on the waste facility.

This guidance note is intended to be used by any person conducting a business or undertaking, owner,

development proponent, planning/environmental consultant or regulatory/licencing authority.

This guidance note is not a statutory document, but it should be given due consideration by each

stakeholder as it relates to their role and responsibility in operating, managing, planning designing,

consulting, assessing or determining the case of any applicable waste facility.

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5. Legislated Requirements

Waste facilities may be required to be constructed in accordance with a works approval and hold a

licence to operate in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986. Facility operators should

contact the Dept of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) prior to constructing or operating

recycling facilities that are intended for the storage, processing or recovery of waste materials.

DWER have published a guideline – Better Practice Solid Waste Treatment and Storage, which outlines

the requirements.

Waste facilities must be approved by the relevant local government under the relevant planning

development law.

Any fire involving a waste may cause injury or death or result in damage to property or the

environment including pollution on and off site. DFES will enact a hazardous materials response to any

waste fire (e.g. to contain fire water run-off) and will notify DWER as part of any standard response.

5.1 National Construction Code

Deemed-to-satisfy (DtS) provisions of the NCC are often applied to waste facilities. A waste facility is

to be designed, constructed or adapted for use as a class 8 building. A warehouse (i.e. class 7 building)

with standard fire safety systems may be ineffective and overwhelmed from fire involving stockpiles

of combustible waste material.

Due to waste facilities presenting ‘special problems of firefighting’, Clause E.1.10 and E2.3 of the NCC

should be considered and additional provisions for special hazards made for the development.

Note: The NCC does not specify any prescriptive DtS provisions for special hazards.

The lack of prescriptive requirements mean development should be assessed holistically on a case-by

case basis, ensuring performance requirements are met. The provisions should be based on an

assessment of the fire risk, fire safety systems, intended operations, and made in consultation with

DFES to identify and address potential problems for fire brigade intervention.

6. Development and Planning

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6.1 Development of Existing Waste Facilities

When an existing waste facility undergoes demolition, erection, rebuilding, alteration, enlargement

or extension (i.e. development), the approving/licensing authorities should consider imposing

relevant parts of this guidance note as a condition on the development.

6.2 Responsibilities of Occupiers in Managing Risks from Fire

Occupiers are responsible for minimizing harm to human health and the environment from fire at their

sites, irrespective of how the fire starts. Fires can start elsewhere, such as in a neighboring yard or a

bushfire, and could spread to the waste facility.

The waste facility occupier (who occupies or controls a waste facility) must take all reasonable steps

to manage and store contents in a manner that minimizes risks to human health and the environment

from fire.

These include:

• Obtain relevant planning approvals and licenses

• Plan and construct the facility in accordance with this guideline

• Develop an emergency plan in accordance with this guideline

• Train staff and exercise your emergency plan at least twice per year.

6.3 Designing for Special Hazard

Combustible waste should be considered a special hazard and approving/licensing authorities should

impose the conditions on development that Clause E1.10 and E2.3 of the NCC be complied with to the

satisfaction of DFES.

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E1.10 Provision for special hazards

Suitable additional provision must be made if special problems of fighting fire could arise because of—

(a) the nature or quantity of materials stored, displayed or used in a building or on the allotment; or

(b) the location of the building in relation to a water supply for fire-fighting purposes.

E2.3 Provision for special hazards

Additional smoke hazard management measures may be necessary due to the—

(a) special characteristics of the building; or

(b) special function or use of the building; or

(c) special type or quantity of materials stored, displayed or used in a building; or

(d) special mix of classifications within a building or fire compartment,

Which are not address in Tables E2.2a and E2.2b of the NCC

6.4 Hazard Identification and Assessing the Risk from Fire

All fire risks and hazards of the waste facility should be identified through a well-developed fire risk

assessment that includes:

• Identifying all possible fire hazards and their potential causes at your site.

• Assessing the risks to human health and the environment from identified hazards.

Addressing identified risks:

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• Implementing primary, secondary and tertiary level controls where necessary to reduce

unacceptable risks to acceptable levels

• Ensuring that your documented hazard list is comprehensive and new hazards are added as

they are identified.

• Understanding why the fire risks exists.

• Assessing the fire risks with consideration of the consequence and likelihood of the identified

fire hazards.

Note: the fire risk assessment should consider all reasonable and foreseeable fire scenarios

6.5 Developing your Emergency Management Plan

When developing your emergency management plan, ensure that it:

• Includes site map/s, including key features (i.e. office, fuel stores, water points etc…) and

location of flammable material by material type (e.g. demark zones containing paper,

aerosols, batteries etc)

• Identifies all likely emissions and their impacts in the event of a fire (e.g products of

combustion and contaminants of firefighting run off)

• Determines all credible off-site impacts such as smoke and firefighting run off water (including

drainage layout maps and outflows.)

• Identifies actions to be taken to minimise emissions and off-site impacts

• Determines emergency waste actions to be taken and resources required (e.g. drain blocking,

waste water tankers)

• Specifies how assistance will be provided to firefighters using equipment and personnel such

as to break apart waste stockpiles.

• Contact information for key staff out of hours

• Contains current, concise information about the site’s operation, infrastructure, hazards and

emergency resources.

• Contains credible emergency scenarios and clear procedures to manage them, including

notification and escalation procedures.

• Identifies specific personnel roles and/or a warden structure so that MRF personnel are clear

on the notification and escalation procedures during an emergency.

• Contains a clear emergency management communication plan to internal staff and external

emergency responders.

• Contains a schedule and process for reviewing, updating and testing (exercising) the

emergency management plan.

Meeting these outcomes involves;

o Performing a practical assessment of hazards associated with waste facility activities and the possible consequences of an emergency occurring because of those hazards.

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o Providing emergency procedure training for all personnel who may be involved in evacuation and/or are required to alert colleagues and personal involved in emergency response teams.

o Providing emergency information in a clearly-identifiable container o Implementing a schedule and process for reviewing, updating and testing the emergency

management plan. o Conducting drills to test and improve the emergency management plan.

6.6 Firefighting Intervention

6.6.1 The waste facility is to provide safe, efficient and effective access as detailed in DFES

GL -11 DFES Site Planning and Fire Appliance Specifications 6.6.2 Enhanced fire brigade vehicle access should be provided for firefighting intervention,

including a perimeter ring road around any large non – sprinklered building and access

roads between external stockpiles.

6.6.3 The waste facility needs to cater for a large emergency service response if the

potential hazard may result in a large emergency.

Note: This includes from any pollution event requiring a protected hazardous

materials response (e.g. contain and remove fire water run-off).

6.6.4 A building not fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system should have a dedicated

external quarantine area not less than four times the floor area of the largest internal

stockpile to receive and break down and extinguish that stockpile.

6.6.5 Any development application should be accompanied by a flow rate and pressure test

of the water main connected to the fire hydrant system.

6.6.6 Firefighter access should be provided to buildings, structures and storage areas,

including to any fire safety system or equipment provided for firefighting intervention.

6.6.7 Support available to firefighters by the provision of equipment and personnel to break

up waste materials stockpiles.

6.7 Fire Hydrant System

6.7.1 The waste facility is to have a fire hydrant system installed appropriate to the risks

and hazards of the facility.

https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/regulationandcompliance/buildingplanassessment/Guidelines/GL-11_DFES_site_planning_and_fire_appliance_specifications.pdf

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6.7.2 The fire hydrant system should consider facility layout and operations, with fire

hydrants being located to provide compliant coverage and safe firefighter access

during a fire, including having external fire hydrants to protect any open yard storage.

(i.e. external stockpiles).

6.7.3 The design of the fire hydrant system is to have enhanced standard of performance

when combustible waste material is not protected by a fire sprinkler system, including

having an additional fire hydrant outlet required to flow simultaneously for any open

yard storage and for any non – sprinklered internal stockpiles, see below table.

Fire compartment floor area of

non-sprinklered building

Area of open yard

(used for stockpiles)

No. of fire hydrants required to

flow

≤ 500 m2 ≤ 3,000 m2 2

> 500 m2

≤ 5,000 m2

> 3,000 m2

≤ 9,000 m2

3

>5,000 m2

≤ 10,000 m2 >9,000 m2

≤ 27,000 m2

4

>10,000 m2 >27,000 m2 5 (or More)

Minimum fire hydrant for non-sprinklered buildings and external storage

Note: Refer to Australian Standards AS 2419.1 – 2005 for fire hydrant system design

requirement of buildings that are protected by a fire sprinkler system.

6.7.4 Fire hydrants are not to be located within 10 meters of stockpiles and must be

accessible to fire fighters entering from the site and/or building entry points.

6.7.5 Where appropriate to protect against high risks and hazards, suitable on site fixed

external fire monitors may be provided as part of the fire hydrant system.

6.7.6 The fire hydrant booster assembly is to be located within sight of the designated site

entry point, or other location approved by DFES, and be protected from radiant heat

from any nearby stockpile.

6.7.7 The fire hydrant system is to have a minimum water supply and capacity providing the

maximum hydraulic demand (flow rate) for not less than four hours.

6.7.8 The fire hydrant system should incorporate fire hose reels installed in accordance with

Clause E1.4 of the National Construction Code (NCC) and externally to cover open yard

storage areas to enable effective first attack of fires by appropriately trained staff.

Note: First attack firefighting is often critical to extinguishing minor fire ignitions before they

become large fires.

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6.8 Fire Sprinkler/Suppression Systems

The fire sprinkler/suppression system will be designed to cover the specific hazard in each

facility.

• First responders may not be able to enter the building during a fire.

• A suppression system may not extinguish a fire, although it may prevent a fire spreading

and then allow the fire to be fought effectively.

Appropriate fire suppression systems may include but are not limited to:

• Sprinklers

• Water spray (deluge) systems

• Foam deluge systems

• Water curtains

• Drenchers

• Monitors (automatic and manual)

6.8.1 The waste facility is to have a fire sprinkler/suppression system installed in any fire

compartment that contains combustible waste materials and has a floor area of

greater than 1000 m².

Note: Unsorted mixed combustible waste materials generally present a greater ignition hazard

than most other combustibles.

6.8.2 The sprinkler system should be demonstrated as being appropriate to the risks and

hazards identified for buildings, including externally as necessary (e.g. drenchers to

protect plant/equipment, exposures, high-risk external storage).

6.8.3 The fire sprinkler system design should be appropriate to the hazard class (e.g. ‘high hazard class’) and have enhanced standard of performance as appropriate to the special hazard.

6.8.4 The fire brigade sprinkler booster assembly for the fire sprinkler system should be co-

located with the fire hydrant system booster within sight of the designated site entry

point, or in a location approved by DFES.

6.8.5 The fire suppression system is to have a minimum water supply and capacity providing

the maximum hydraulic demand (i.e. flow rate) for not less than two hours.

6.8.6 To protect vital systems, storages or equipment or protect against high risk hazards,

a deluge, drencher, fast response, mist or foam system should be provided.

Note: The fire sprinkler system should contain fire spread and allow fire fighters to enter

buildings, remove burning waste material and extinguish fire.

Note: unsorted mixed combustible waste materials generally present a greater ignition hazard

than most other combustibles.

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Note: A localized system may be installed to protect specific areas or equipment if the whole

building is not sprinkler protected.

6.9 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

6.9.1 The waste facility is to have a fire detection and alarm system installed appropriate to

the risks and hazards identified for each area of the building.

6.9.2 The fire detection and alarm system should warn all occupants of fire and to evacuate

the facility, with each component being appropriate to the specific risks in each area

of the MRF

6.9.3 Upon positive detection of fire, the system is to activate any required alarm, fire

suppression system, passive measures or plant/machinery override as appropriate to

the detector.

6.9.4 Manual call points (MCP) should be provided in clearly visible locations as appropriate

to the environment so that staff can initiate early alarm of fire.

6.10 Smoke Hazard Management

6.10.1 Buildings containing combustible waste material are to have an automatic smoke

hazard management system appropriate to the potential fire load and smoke

production rate installed within the building.

6.10.2 Under Clause E2.3 of the NCC, additional smoke hazard management measures

should be provided to vent or exhaust smoke so that in at least 90% of the

compartment, the smoke layer does not descend below 4 m above the floor level.

Note: to undertake firefighting intervention, visibility is needed so that the piled waste can be

safely removed using machinery.

6.10.3 Natural low-level openings, either permanent or openable such as roller doors, should

be provided on two or more walls to assist with venting de-stratified (i.e. cooled)

smoke and ensure minimum visibility is maintained during a fire.

Note: Roller doors should have manual override so that the door can be opened in the event

of electrical isolation or failure during a fire.

6.10.4 Any smoke exhaust system installed should be capable of continuous operation of not

less than two hours in a sprinkler – controlled fire scenario, or four hours in any non-

sprinkler-controlled fire environment.

6.11 Fire Water Run-off Containment

6.11.1 The waste facility should have effective and automatic means of containing fire water

run-off with primary containment having a net capacity not less than the total

hydraulic demand of the installed fire safety system.

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Note: the total hydraulic demand is the net discharge of water from both the fire hydrant and

fire sprinkler system.

6.11.2 The containment system, which includes the base of any storage area, should be

impermeable (i.e. sealed) and prevent fire water run-off from entering the ground or

any surface water course (e.g. river, stream, lake, estuary, open sea).

6.11.3 Pollution control equipment such as stormwater isolation valves, water diversion

booms, drain mats, should be provided as necessary for the facility’s emergency

response procedures, and be kept readily accessible in the event of fire.

Note: Failure to contain fire water run-off can result in significant pollution of the environment,

which may incur substantial remediation costs and/or fines.

7. Facility Operation and Management

7.1 How Fires Spread in Waste Facilities

The duration and intensity of a fire will largely depend on the type of material and the total volume of

burning material. High volumes of burning material will be harder to manage for both installed fire

safety systems and human intervention, as the size of the pile will impact on the effectiveness of

firefighting systems or equipment in controlling the fire and stopping its spread.

Fires can spread between storage piles through several mechanisms, including:

• collapse of burning baled stacks

• burning, molten material running along the ground

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• firebrands/embers being blown into other storage

• heat output from a burning pile raising the temperature of a nearby pile to ignition point

Heat output from burning materials can be very high over a significant distance. The heat from burning

plastic can blister the paint on a building 30 meters away. Factors that influence the amount of heat

output from a pile during a fire include:

• wind conditions

• ambient temperature

• pile structure/stacking layout

• the type of material. E.g, plastics and rubber have burn temperatures over 1200 °C, while

other material has burn temperatures in the range of 850-950 °C.

The amount of heat output in any one direction (the amount of heat another pile can receive) will

depend on the Heat Release Rate (HRH) of the pile - the side of the burning pile that is facing other

combustible objects. The overall volume of the pile may not be as important as the dimensions of the

burn-face (e.g. pile length and height) in determining whether the HRH will be high enough to ignite

nearby objects.

The following surface burning temperature and fire risk rating should be applied to stockpiles of

common combustible waste materials.

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Figure 1. Typical burn temperature and fire risk of combustible waste material

Type of waste material Burn temperature Fire risk

Paper and cardboard 850°C Ordinary

Wood Products 860° C Ordinary

Plastics 1,200° C High

Rubber 1,130° C High

Refuse derived fuels 900° C Ordinary

Solid recovered fuels 900° C Ordinary

Where a stockpile contains a mixture of combustible waste materials, the burn temperature and fire

risk of the most predominant waste materials should be used for the whole stockpile, and in the case

of no clear majority then the worst-case material should be used.

7.2 Storage Management

The mixing or arrangement of different materials can increase combustion risk or facilitate the spread

of fire throughout a waste facility. Some materials may have a low risk of spontaneous combustion

when stored separately but become combustible when mixed together. Other materials may have low

risk of spontaneous combustion but burn rapidly when ignited by external sources.

If waste is separated by type, consideration should be given to the placement of materials to reduce

the risk of fire spreading from one material type to another. Consider storing non-combustible

material (e.g. Loose glass, non-reactive metals) between combustible materials to reduce the spread

of fire.

7.2.1 The maximum height of any stockpile loosed piled or baled, should not exceed 4.8 m.

7.2.2 Minimum distances from top of stockpile to install fire systems/roof, must be

maintained

7.2.3 The maximum width of a stockpile is to be a maximum of 20 meters.

7.2.4 The storage method and arrangement of stockpiles is to minimize the likelihood of

fire spread and provide separation which permits access for firefighting intervention.

Note: Fire separating masonry walls (e.g. bunkers) and automatic fire sprinkler systems may

allow larger stockpiles sizes and/or shorter separation distances.

7.2.5 A separating masonry wall, revetment or pen should extend at least 1 m above the

stockpile height and at least 2 m beyond the outermost stockpile edge (see figure 2).

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7.2.6 Stockpile boundary limits should be permanently marked to clearly identify limits that

maintain maximum stockpile sizes and/or minimum separations.

7.2.7 The uncontained vertical face of any stockpile (i.e. any face not being retained by a

masonry wall) should recede on a slope no greater than 45° to minimize the risk of

collapse and fire spread (see below).

7.3 Internal Stockpiles

7.3.1 The maximum internal stockpile size in a building fitted with an automatic fire

sprinkler system should be 1000 m3.

7.3.2 Internal stockpiles should have a minimum of 6m unobstructed access on each

accessible side in a building fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system, and 10m in

a building not fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system.

Figure 2. Examples separating masonry wall, revetment or pen

Figure 3. Maximum stockpile height and face angle

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7.3.3 Internal stockpiles may be located side by side when separated by a masonry wall.

7.3.4 The internal stockpile of a building not fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system

should be limited in size to be able to be moved to the dedicated external quarantine

area using on-site resources only, within one hour or less.

7.3.5 Internal stockpiles should always be maintained so that all building egress points and

required paths of travel remain clear and unobstructed .

7.3.6 Internal stockpiles should be protected from high or unnecessary ignition risks (e.g.

friction/heating from conveyors, waste movers, heaters, chippers, shredders, balers,

sorters, other machinery etc.)

Figure 4. Example of unobstructed access around internal stockpiles

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7.4 External Stockpiles

7.4.1 The maximum width of an external stockpile should be 20m if a fire brigade vehicle

access is provided down both sides of the stockpile, and 10m if access is provided

down one side of the stockpile.

7.4.2 The maximum length of an external stockpile should be 50m, or as determined from

the minimum separation distances. See figure 5.

7.4.3 Minimum separation should be maintained between external stockpiles, depending

on storage method and fire risk of materials, as in table below. Minimum separation

distances between external stockpiles. See figure 6 for fire risk.

Figure 6 Minimum separation distances between external stockpiles

Figure 5. Maximum external stockpile widths

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7.4.4 If two separation distances apply between different stockpiles (i.e. due to different

lengths of each stockpile), the greatest distance is to be used.

Figure 8. Examples of separation between stockpiles and fire-source features

7.4.5 Covered areas attached to buildings or structures, such as areas under awnings and

undercrofts, should not encroach into the minimum separation distance unless

protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system (see figure 8)

Figure 7. Examples of minimum separation between external stockpiles

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7.4.6 The minimum separation between external stockpiles or an external stockpile and any

ignition source may be reduced when the stockpile is separated by masonry wall or

protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system (i.e. drenchers) (see figure 9)

Note: The masonry wall should intersect the direct line between the fire source

feature (e.g. Building) and top of the stockpile and be located to provide fire appliance

access as necessary.

Figure 10. Examples of reduced separation using masonry walls or sprinkler systems

7.4.7 External stockpile limits should be maintained and not exceeded.

7.4.8 External stockpiles should be protected from high or unnecessary external risks (e.g.

bushfire, adjacent property fire, arson or spontaneous).

7.4.9 External stockpiles should be maintained so that all buildings access and egress points

are always kept clear and unobstructed.

Figure 9. Examples of separation from any covered building part or structure

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8. Emergency services information container

8.1 An emergency services information container should be developed and provided by the person conducting or undertaking a business.

8.2 An emergency services information folder is intended for use by emergency service personnel only and supplements the emergency plan and should be available to emergency responders to easily access if the site is unattended

8.3 An emergency services information folder should provide firefighters with specific information that can be used to develop strategies and tactics for firefighting intervention, including:

• A summary of operations occurring on site.

• facility processes and systems including emergency shutdown procedures

• facility evacuation plan including ward areas and safe assembly area/s

• fire safety systems including on-site fixed fire monitors, deluge or drenchers static water supplies, special extinguishing agents or systems

• firewater containment system including secondary/tertiary facilities

• pollution control equipment including location and procedures, and

• machinery available for waste removal (e.g. waste movers) and location of designated quarantine area/s.

• After hours emergency contact information

• Facility Emergency Response Plan

9. Development of a DFES Operational Pre-Plan (OPP)

9.1 “An Operational Pre-Plan is a documented plan of a significant operational or community

safety risk premise/site that details specific information which will assist operational

personnel determine appropriate actions (objectives, strategies and tactics) during an

incident”.

An OPP is to be developed by local DFES Officers in conjunction with the site subject

matter expert. An OPP will include but is not limited to:

• Licences

• Site Emergency Management/Response Plans

• Manifest

• Evacuation Plans and Diagrams

• Shut down procedures

• Site/floor plans

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Please Note: This is a controlled document. DFES Guidance Notes are available on the DFES Website:

www.dfes.wa.gov.au under Regulation and Compliance.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this publication is provided voluntarily as a public service by the

Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). This publication has been prepared in good faith

and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publication.

Nevertheless, the reliability and accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed and DFES expressly

disclaims liability for any act or omission based on reliance on the information and for any

consequences whether direct or indirect, arising from such act or omission. The publication is intended

to be a guide only and readers should obtain their own independent advice and make their own

necessary enquiries.

Contact Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Emergency Services Complex 20 Stockton Bend COCKBURN CENTRAL WA 6164

PO Box P1174 Perth WA 6844

Tel: +61 8 9395 9300

Email: [email protected] Web: www.dfes.wa.gov.au

http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/

Documents

Guidance Note: GN04