Project Overview

Client: DLA Piper Location: 1Martin Place, Sydney, NSW Fire Engineer: Minerva Architect: Interior2

Addressing Fire Safety Challenges with Innovative Design

The fire engineering report identified several critical compliance deviations that needed resolution for the project. When DLA Piper undertook a fit-out of Levels 22 to 24 at 1 Martin Place, Sydney, the project faced significant fire safety challenges. The design included stair and void connections between the three levels, creating an interconnected space that, while visually striking, introduced complex compliance issues under the National Construction Code (NCC). Greene Fire’s FireMaster Concertina curtains provided a robust, compliant solution, seamlessly integrating into the building’s architecture without compromising safety or functionality.

The Problem: Extended Travel Distances, Void Connections, and Compliance Barriers

The fire engineering report identified several critical compliance deviations that needed resolution for the project to proceed. Travel distances within the office fit-out exceeded the NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions, with occupants needing to travel up to 47 metres to the nearest exit, surpassing the 40-metre limit. Extended travel distances increase the risk of delayed evacuation times, particularly in the event of a rapidly spreading fire. The stair and void connections across three consecutive levels further complicated compliance. While these architectural features enhanced spatial flow and collaboration between levels, they created open vertical channels that could allow fire and smoke to spread quickly, breaching compartmentation requirements. Without a suitable fire barrier, the voids undermined the building's passive fire protection measures, making it difficult to achieve compliance with the NCC’s stringent fire safety provisions. Adding to the complexity, concealed sprinklers beneath the non-required stairs deviated from AS 2118.1:2017, which typically prohibits recessed sprinklers unless specifically designed for that purpose. There was also a shortfall in hydrant coverage, with the need to stretch two interconnected hose lengths to cover the affected levels fully.

The Solution: FireMaster Concertina — Seamless Protection Without Sacrificing Design

Greene Fire’s FireMaster Concertina curtains addressed these issues with an elegantly engineered solution. Two curtains were installed on Level 24 to provide comprehensive protection across the interconnected levels. The curtains created an effective fire and smoke barrier without the need for intrusive corner posts or visible supports, preserving the architectural vision of the space. Their flexible design allowed them to fully enclose the voids, forming robust compartments when deployed. The curtains deploy automatically upon activation of the fire alarm system, using gravity to descend at a controlled speed of 0.06–0.1 m/s. This ensures complete closure of the voids within 60 seconds, isolating the affected areas and preventing the spread of fire and smoke. The FireMaster Concertina curtains are fail-safe, deploying even during power failures thanks to their independent UPS battery systems. The product’s performance credentials are equally impressive: each curtain offers up to 4-hour fire rating - / 240 / - and maintains a smoke leakage rate of 3.1m³/m²/hr under AS 1530.7. This makes them ideal solutions for containing fire and smoke within the interconnected levels, mitigating the spread of toxic fumes and heat that could otherwise endanger occupants and impede fire brigade operations.

Code Compliance and Performance-Based Engineering

Integrating the FireMaster Concertina curtains allowed the project to meet the NCC’s performance requirements through a tailored, performance-based fire engineering approach. By enclosing the stair and void connections, the curtains reduced the risk of fire spread and enabled the engineering team to demonstrate an acceptable Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) for the extended travel distances. The curtains worked in harmony with enhanced smoke detection systems, which were installed at more frequent intervals (7m x 7m grid) to provide earlier fire detection. Combined with the sprinkler system, upgraded with fast-response heads, and strategically placed fire hydrants, the building’s fire safety infrastructure became a comprehensive, multi-layered defence against potential fire hazards. Additionally, the curtains’ concealed headboxes and slimline bottom trays maintained the clean, modern aesthetic of the space. The robust fabric construction and memory pleats ensured reliable, consistent performance, with the curtains folding neatly back into the headboxes when retracted, leaving no visible traces of the fire barrier when not in use.

Real-World Results: A Safer, Smarter Building

The FireMaster Concertina curtains not only helped the project meet code compliance but also added an extra layer of protection beyond the baseline requirements. Their successful installation at 1 Martin Place exemplifies how innovative fire safety solutions can overcome complex design challenges, allowing architects and building owners to pursue bold, interconnected designs without compromising safety. For DLA Piper, this meant their vision of an open, collaborative workspace could come to life, confident in the knowledge that occupants were protected by state-of-the-art fire safety systems. Greene Fire’s expertise and the FireMaster Concertina’s unparalleled performance helped turn a potential compliance roadblock into a showcase of engineering excellence and safety innovation.

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