Use of behavioural insights to reduce improper service penetrations

What we did and why

Through our proactive inspections and Statewide Cladding audits, we identified frequently occurring service penetrations (plumbing, electrical, gas) that can compromise the fire safety of internal walls in Class 2 to 9 buildings.

In the event of a fire, a compliant fire-rated wall should contain the fire to a particular area of a building for a specified time period. A service penetration occurs when a service such as cabling, conduit or plumbing passes through a wall. An improper service penetration occurs when a fire or smoke wall is penetrated by a service but is not properly sealed. The Building Code of Australia sets out minimum standards to reduce the impact of service penetrations.

An improper service penetration of a fire-rated wall can create a weak point, allowing fire and smoke to spread. Improper service penetrations present a risk to the health and safety of building occupants and to the structure itself.

We partnered with BehaviourWorks Australia , a leading behaviour change research enterprise at Monash University, to find out how improper service penetrations of fire and smoke walls can be reduced through behavioural insights.

What we found

The research analysed what drives these behaviours and the types of interventions that could make a difference.

We engaged extensively with a wide range of stakeholders to create a shared understanding of the behaviours that lead to improper service penetrations. Through a literature review and discussions with stakeholders and the BPC, BehaviourWorks Australia identified three key themes:

• The ‘design and construct’ model has implications for behaviour.
• Ambiguous regulations and guidelines may exist.
• Knowledge gaps may drive behaviour.

Our stakeholders shared what they know about these themes and told us how we could reach target groups. They also suggested ways to promote good behaviours that will lead to correct work practices.

BehaviourWorks Australia worked closely with practitioners and industry stakeholders to understand the drivers and barriers to desirable behaviours among those working directly on-site. From these discussions, BehaviourWorks Australia helped develop behaviour change tools, including visual communication materials designed to influence positive on-site behaviours by practitioners and tradespeople.

What difference this made

The BPC launched a communications campaign for building and plumbing practitioners in March 2023 using the visual communication materials developed through the research project. The campaign aims to increase awareness of the consequences of poor service penetrations and strengthen practitioner and tradesperson responsibility for compliance when carrying out service penetrations.

Drawing on insights from this project, a Practice Note about Service penetration installations in fire-rated and smoke-proof walls was published in 2022. It provides guidance on the selection and installation of service penetrations in fire-rated and smoke-proof walls.

Insights gained from this research informed the development of an enhanced Essential Safety Measures (ESM) Responsibilities Framework (PDF, 1.56 MB) to support ongoing regulatory interventions relating to the maintenance of ESMs in Class 2 to 9 buildings.

The research insights have also informed our Proactive Inspections Program and ongoing consumer education initiatives. It complements other fire safety research supported by the BPC, including investigating passive fire protection defects in residential multi-owned properties.