Greene Fire was engaged to provide a suite of fire curtain solutions enabling the successful conversion of multiple floors within Liverpool Civic Place into a highly interconnected university campus for the University of Wollongong.

The transformation from Class 5 office floors to a Class 9b educational facility introduced several fire safety challenges, particularly relating to oversized inter-floor compartments and open vertical circulation elements that no longer conformed to the prescriptive requirements of the Building Code of Australia.

Architecturally, the University intended to create a modern, flowing learning environment with open stair connections and transparent floor layouts. This vision conflicted with the requirement for fire and smoke segregation between levels. Conventional fire-rated walls or enclosures would have significantly compromised the spatial openness sought by the designers.

Greene Fire’s deployable fire curtain systems became the crucial element enabling the design, preserving the open aesthetic while reinstating compliant fire compartmentation in a concealed and unobtrusive manner.

Project context

The UoW tenancy within Liverpool Civic Place spans the Ground Floor and Levels 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Levels 1–3 and Levels 5–6 are connected by internal non-fire-isolated stairs. These connections triggered two principal compliance issues. First, they exceeded the maximum of two storeys permitted for non-isolated stairs under BCA. Second, they created inter-floor compartments above the 2,000m² limit, which would ordinarily necessitate mechanical smoke exhaust.

To avoid redesigning the University’s circulation strategy or imposing heavy fire-rated construction, a performance-based fire engineering solution was required. Greene Fire’s FireMaster™ Concertina systems were identified early as the optimal method of re-establishing robust fire boundaries during a fire event, while remaining invisible during normal operation.

Greene_Fire_UoW_Liverpool_Civic_Place_ FireMaster_Curtain_Systems2.jpg — *During a fire, each floor can be rapidly and reliably isolated*

Greene Fire solution overview

Greene Fire supplied and installed FireMaster™ Concertina curtains across Levels 1, 2 and 5. These systems provided the required level of fire separation to meet the building’s performance requirements without altering the architectural layout.

Level 5: FireMaster™ Concertina system

Level 5 was equipped with a FireMaster™ Concertina fire curtain enclosing the stair penetration between Levels 5 and 6. The Concertina presented the ideal solution due to the geometric requirements of the opening and the need for uninterrupted compartmentation. When deployed, the system forms a seamless four-sided enclosure, delivering an FRL of –/120/– and providing full integrity separation around the stair void.

Level 2: U-shaped with one additional FireMaster™ Concertina

Level 2 required a hybrid configuration. A U-shaped FireMaster™ Concertina curtain was installed around the stair opening to form a three-sided enclosure upon deployment. To complete the compartment, an additional FireMaster™ Concertina curtain was installed along the remaining side. Together, these two systems close off the entire stair perimeter, achieving complete fire separation without the need for permanent fire-rated construction.

Level 1: L-shaped with two additional FireMaster™ Concertina curtains

Level 1 involved a more complex geometry. An L-shaped FireMaster™ Concertina curtain was specified to wrap around the majority of the stair opening. Two additional single FireMaster™ Concertina curtains were installed to complete the fire boundary where the stair intersects with architectural elements that could not accommodate a continuous Concertina unit. When deployed, all systems operate in coordination to establish full compartmentation equivalent to a fixed –/120/– fire-rated enclosure.

Across all levels, the coordinated interaction of these systems reinstates the fire-separating function lost through the introduction of interconnecting stairs, enabling the building to function as intended without compromising occupant safety.

Control, warning and life safety features

All of the Greene Fire curtain assemblies were supplied with a dedicated Greene Fire control panel positioned in standardised locations, simplifying management and maintenance procedures for building operators. The curtain systems are fitted with integrated light and voice warning devices that activate prior to deployment, providing clear audible and visual cues to occupants. These warnings ensure that people near the openings have adequate time to move clear before the curtains descend. To further enhance safety, every curtain incorporates obstruction detection sensors. These sensors identify any interference within the deployment zone and send a signal to the voice warning unit to say “obstruction detected” until the obstruction is cleared. In the unlikely event that occupants require temporary re-opening, an emergency retract button was installed on each floor. This function is time-limited and controlled, ensuring that overall compartmentation performance is not compromised. Together, these features result in a sophisticated and highly reliable deployable fire separation system suited to a high-occupancy educational environment.

*Pressure testing of FireMaster™ Concertina fire curtain systems*

Fire engineering performance

The FireMaster™ Concertina curtain systems were integral to the fire engineering strategy. Their –/120/– fire resistance performance meets the integrity requirement under BCA Specification 5 for both Class 5 and Class 9b occupancy types. Although deployable curtains do not require insulation ratings, their installation around open circulation voids, areas devoid of fuel load, ensures that radiant heat transfer cannot ignite secondary materials. The presence of an AS 2118.1 sprinkler system further suppresses fire growth and smoke generation, significantly reducing the exposure conditions that the curtains need to withstand. The Fire Engineering Report validated that Greene Fire curtains effectively restore compartmentation and prevent the spread of smoke and heat between levels for the full duration required to support evacuation. Combined with early detection, sprinkler suppression and engineered management protocols, the system satisfies Performance Requirements relating to fire spread and tenable evacuation routes.

Outcome

Through the installation of Greene Fire’s FireMaster™ Concertina fire curtain systems, the University of Wollongong successfully achieved its architectural and operational goals for Liverpool Civic Place without compromising building compliance. The curtains allow the tenancy to remain open, visually connected and aligned with modern educational design principles, while ensuring that in the event of fire, each floor can be rapidly and reliably isolated. Greene Fire’s systems have enabled the project team to overcome significant DtS non-compliances, reinstating the fire safety performance originally intended for a Type A high-rise building. The result is a safe, compliant and highly functional learning environment supported by a concealed yet high-performing fire containment solution.

Project details

Project: Liverpool Civic Place

Location: Liverpool, NSW

Client: University of Wollongong

Fire Engineer: e-Lab Consulting

Product: FireMaster™ Concertina fire curtain systems

Application: Fire compartmentation

Architecture & Design Team

Greene Fire

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