HVAC Pipe Fire Protection for Oswald Bond Store Refurbishment

Challenges

• The refurbishment involved a heritage-listed building, requiring modern services to be installed without compromising existing
• structures or aesthetics.
• The HVAC system featured 80-100mm insulated copper pipes, which needed to maintain their R-value while meeting fire-stopping requirements
• Traditional fire collars or wraps were unsuitable due to tight service penetrations and the need to preserve pipe insulation continuity. 
• The system had to achieve up to a -/120/120 FRL in accordance with AS1530.4 to ensure compliance with modern building standards.

Solution

Understanding the complexities of working within a heritage structure, Trafalgar Fire’s engineers and system specialists provided dedicated on-site support to ensure compliance and installation accuracy:

• Coordination and Collaboration: Trafalgar Fire worked closely with the contractor, Australian Passive Fire, to review service penetrations and insulation continuity requirements. This collaborative approach ensured that both fire rating and thermal performance objectives were achieved without compromising the building’s heritage features.
• Project Specific Solution: Detailed instructions were issued outlining how to seal weak points in the lagging using Armaflex adhesive and vapour seal tape, minimising condensation risk and ensuring full system integrity through fire-rated barriers.
• Installation Inspections: Trafalgar Fire’s technical support provided follow-up support and inspections during installation to confirm correct application and compliance with AS 1530.4 testing standards.