14 MAY
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1369

3. Aims—
   The aims of this code are to:

(1) Provide a standard for volume and pressure in reticulated water supplies for fire fighting in any Fire District or within any area that the Fire Service is under an obligation to protect under sections 38 or 39 of the Fire Service Act 1975, or by agreement under any other Act.

(2) Provide a measurement against which to assess the adequacy of existing reticulated and auxiliary water supplies for fire fighting in any Fire District or within any area concerning any property that the Fire Service is under an obligation to protect under sections 38 or 39 of the Fire Service Act 1975, or by agreement under any other Act.

(3) Make territorial authorities aware of the sufficiency or otherwise of the water supplies available for fire fighting and the effective operation of fire protection systems.

(4) Provide standards for the installation and positioning of fire hydrants.

(5) Provide for minimum reserve storage capacities or alternative supply in the event of a breakdown in the reticulated supply.

(6) Provide the standard from which the New Zealand Fire Service shall give advice to territorial authorities, other authorities, Government agencies, companies, organisations and private individuals on matters regarding water supplies for fire fighting.

4. Application—
   This Code shall apply to reticulated and auxiliary Fire Fighting Water Supplies within any Fire District or within any area concerning any property that the Fire Service is under an obligation to protect under sections 38 or 39 of the Fire Service Act 1975, or by agreement under any other Act.

5. Quantities of Water—
   (1) The quantity of water required for fire fighting as shown in Table 1 and in paragraph 7 of the Code refers to the minimum total flow available from the required number of hydrants within a radius of 270 metres. These hydrants shall be readily accessible to fire appliances by unobstructed roadway.

(2) The rates of flow required for fire fighting shall not be additional to any water required for domestic purposes.

6. Risk Classification—
   Areas of fire risk shall be categorised into one of the following 5 classes for the purpose of determining the appropriate water supply classification:

(1) Class A—The central urban areas of the cities of Auckland and Wellington which because of their size, construction, contents or processes present a serious risk of fire.

(2) Class B—Congested industrial and commercial areas in the larger cities containing multi-storied buildings, large department stores, extensive shopping malls, factories, commercial and office property, theatres and cinemas. Bulk liquid fuel terminals.

(3) Class C—Concentrated built up areas of cities, secondary cities and larger towns not falling within classes A or B. Areas of multiple industrial risk. Large schools, large colleges, and large hospitals in the city suburbs.

(4) Class D—Business and commercial areas of towns of medium size and in city suburbs not falling within classes A, B or C.

(5) Class E—Any area within a Fire District that has a reticulated water supply and does not have risks that would place it into classes A, B, C or D including detached and semi-detached household units.

(6) Isolated Risks—An isolated risks within any area with a lower water supply classification should be classed at a level appropriate to the risk:

(a) An isolated risk within a reticulated area that has a significantly higher fire risk category than the surrounding area may use auxiliary water to make up the balance of the water supply required. When this is done the auxiliary supply shall provide the required flow for 1 hour and access to that water shall be available within 90 metres of the risk. Hydrants, connections and access to the auxiliary supply shall be provided to the standard required by the Area Commander.

(b) An isolated risk classified A, B, C, D or E, within an unreticulated, shall have sufficient auxiliary water provided to meet the required flow for 1 hour and access to this auxiliary water shall be available within 90 metres of the risk. Hydrants, connections and access to the auxiliary supply shall be provided to the standard required by the Area Commander.

(7) The Area Commander in consultation with the Local Water Supply Authority, shall establish the classes of the reticulated water supply.

7. Water Supply Classification Table—

(Also see Table 1).

8. Running Pressure—
   When 1 hydrant is fully opened the minimum running pressure in the main should be 100 Kpa.

9. Design of Fire Hydrants—
   All fire hydrants installed in mains shall be as required by NZS/BS 750 : 1984.

10. Fire Protection Systems—
    (1) Where a risk is fitted with an automatic fire sprinkler system the water supplies for the sprinkler shall be as required by New Zealand Standard 4515 : 1987.

(2) Where a fire sprinkler system is fitted to a residential premises the water supplies shall be as required by New Zealand Standard 4541 : 1990.

(3) Where drenchers, fixed monitors or any other fixed system for applying fire fighting water is installed at a risk, sufficient water is to be available to operate that system efficiently.

(4) A risk within a reticulated area that is fitted with a fire protection system that requires more water than the principal main is able to supply shall have an auxiliary water supply, fitted with an automatically operated pump. The water supply shall make up the balance of the water required to efficiently operate the system for a period of 30 minutes, or as required by New Zealand Standard 4541 : 1987.

(5) A risk within an unreticulated area fitted with a fire protection system shall have an auxiliary water supply, fitted with an automatically operated pump. The water supply shall be able to provide the water required to efficiently operate the system for a period of 30 minutes, or as required by New Zealand Standard 4541 : 1987.

11. Spacing of Hydrants—
    (1) Table 1 (affixed) shows the maximum spacing between fire hydrants for each class of water supply.