Toll Dnata, Melbourne Airport

The building

The Airport Corporations in association with other relevant stakeholders identified the need for a new air side terminal to cater for the current and future anticipated inward/outward bound freight requirements for the state. The development was proposed in order to effectively, efficiently and safety meets the international and domestic flight lead-times and freight volumes. The activities, function and use undertaken within the Toll Dnata warehouse consist of passenger and customer services, cargo handling and warehousing. The building has a total warehouse floor area (including both the TAE and Dnata warehouse) of 9,570m², to which 694m² of this floor area is attributed to the two (2) storey office space. The warehouse has an overall height (at the ridge) of approximately 11.4m (approximately 9m clearance to underside of gutter purlin).

The approach

Scientific Fire Services provided extensive fire safety engineering consultation, design and documentation for the new air side terminal for Toll Dnata at Melbourne Airport. The industrial and office facility is located on the corner of Apac Drive and Francis Briggs Road at Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne.

From a fire and risk engineering perspective, the functional requirements and interactive ability for cargo handling and warehousing requires an open and non-complicated layout. Design issues relative to access/egress were scientifically justified by managing fire and smoke spread.

From a process viewpoint and with the site partially located within the airside, Scientific Fire Services Pty Limited engaged in consultation with Air Services Australia and furthermore, ensured conformance with the relevant Airports (Building Control) Regulations.