The objective of this Standard is to provide manufacturers, suppliers and installers of roller shutters with minimum requirements for the design, installation and operation of roller shutters for use in walls and elements of construction required to provide fire resistance.

Experience with uninsulated fire-resistant roller shutters, (i.e., with curtains manufactured from steel) in actual fires has demonstrated their ability to impede the passage of flame and hot gases; however, they become extremely hot and can represent a significant heat radiation hazard. Accordingly, such fire-resistant roller shutters are recorded with a ‘zero’ or ‘not applicable’ rating for insulation in the Fire Resistance Level. The Building Code of Australia may not permit the use of such roller shutters in situations where insulation is required. Where fire shutters are the only product option and insulation is critical, an alternative is to use them in conjunction with water drenchers. This option requires a formal opinion from the registered testing authority.

Fire-resistant roller shutters need to be inspected on a regular basis and re-certified as operable. The timing of these inspections would appropriately be considered in consultation with the regulatory authority. The requirements for maintenance of fire-resistant roller shutters are not covered in this Standard.

Requirements for standard configurations and permissible variations that do not require assessment have been moved from this Standard to AS 1530.4, Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures, Part 4: Fire resistance test of elements of construction, in line with the ISO 834, Fire resistance tests—Elements of building construction Standards.

In this edition of the Standard, emphasis is placed on performance-based products demonstrated through the fire resistance test and, as such, the Standard is to be used in conjunction with the appropriate sections of AS 1530.4.

The 1989 edition allowed suppliers to manufacture and install fire shutters to a specification that was set out in an informative Appendix. The Appendix has been removed, with the view to providing incentive for research and development of lower cost production options. This edition also provides greater guidance for users of the Standard in relation to product options and variations.

The opportunity has also been taken to further refine the Standard and reduce ambiguity and to provide clearer advice.

This Standard will be referenced in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) by way of BCA 2006 to be published by 1 May 2006, thereby superseding the previous edition, AS 1905.2—1989.

Reconfirmed: 2016-05-27

First published as AS 1905.2-1981. Previous edition AS 1905.2-1989. Fourth edition 2005.