Risk Assessments and Fire Safety Audits

Fire Engineers do not certify fire safety systems or fire rated construction. The installation contractor (and/or independent certifier) must certify that an installation complies with the relevant Standards. A fire engineer can undertake witness testing to ensures that system generally operates in line with the required strategy. Similarly, Fire Engineers do not certify fire-rated construction. There are typically many elements and requirements for fire wall construction. Many of which cannot be confirmed by a single visual inspection. The installing contractor must certify that their installation complies with the requirements. An independent certification would be from a passive fire specialist.

No. Provided the fire engineer has the necessary registrations to practice in your state (varies from state to state), they can be engaged as the fire engineer for your project. Physical attendance at meetings and any site inspections (as required) can then be included in the required scope.

Existing buildings may have been constructed under previous versions of the Building Code (or predated the Building Code). Therefore, the fire safety measures may have changed. There is generally no regulatory requirement to upgrade a building to the current Building Code requirements retrospectively. However, some building owners commission a Fire Safety Audit. This aims to identify any gaps between the existing building and current BCA fire safety measures as a way to identify potential fire safety risks. A plan can then be developed to mitigate these risks in line with the potential impacts. Newer buildings can also be audited against the requirements of the applicable BCA and any Fire Engineering Reports. Often, tenancy fit-outs or changes made to suit the operations of the building unknowingly compromise the requirements of the fire safety strategy. This can range from locked egress doors/wedged open fire doors to entire detection/sprinkler systems being isolated or inadequately maintained.

Buildings over 500m² will typically have some form of fire safety systems (e.g. extinguishers, hose reels, hydrants and exit signage). Larger buildings will also have more complex systems such as detection, occupant warning, sprinklers and mechanical systems. An Essential Services Maintenance schedule is provided for each building to outline the required maintenance of the building’s fire safety systems. Maintaining the fire safety systems is a key part of managing fire safety. Furthermore, all buildings require egress paths to be kept clear and fire drills for some buildings. Finally, as more and more buildings are subject to Fire Engineering Reports, it is important to know any building management or facility management items for the building in general and potential new tenants.

A Fire Engineer designs the fire safety strategy, which is a high-level concept. The Fire Engineering Report is not a construction document, as each respective designer must then include elements of the strategy in their design documentation. For example, the fire system requirements are documented by the Fire Services Engineer. The architect documents the fire compartmentation and egress requirements. The mechanical smoke management requirements are documented by the mechanical engineer, and structural design requirements are documented by the structural engineer.

A Fire Engineer is not a Certifier (NSW has some unique definitions). The installing contractors will certify individual systems, and the Building Certifier/Surveyor will review the various certificates and provide overall project compliance certification.

A Fire Engineer works with the design team and project stakeholders to develop a fire safety strategy that meets the objectives of the specific project. Depending on the type of project, these objectives can range from architectural vision/aesthetics, maximising tenant flexibility, minimising maintenance/operational costs or simplifying construction. The Fire Engineer considers these aspects and also liaises with the Fire Service to document a fire safety strategy (typically in a Fire Engineering Report) that is then used by the relevant authority (Building Surveyor/Certifier) to confirm the building complies with the National Construction Code / Building Code of Australia.

A Fire Engineering Report (FER) is a document that outlines a Fire Engineering Performance Solution to demonstrate compliance with the National Construction Code / Building Code of Australia. The FER should include the fire safety strategy for the building and inform designers and the relevant authority (Building Surveyor/Certifier) of how the building shall achieve compliance. This is generally for the design to comply with the Deemed to Satisfy provisions, with specific elements covered under the requirements of the Performance Solution.

A Fire Safety Audit aims to identify any gaps between the existing building and current fire safety measures of the BCA as a way to identify potential fire safety risks. A plan can then be developed to mitigate these risks in line with the potential impacts. Newer buildings can also be audited against the requirements of the applicable BCA and any Fire Engineering Reports. Often, tenancy fit-outs or changes made to suit the operations of the building unknowingly compromise the requirements of the fire safety strategy. This can range from locked egress doors/wedged open fire doors to entire detection/sprinkler systems being isolated or inadequately maintained.

A Performance Solution is an alternate compliance pathway to “prescriptive compliance” or “Deemed to Satisfy Compliance” under the Building Code of Australia. A Performance Solution should consider the specific building type, fire safety systems and building characteristics to provide an outcome relevant to the particular building. Due to the nature of how the Code is written, the Deemed to Satisfy provisions are often a broad brush solution which can be onerous or provide limited flexibility in some case.

A Fire Engineer develops fire safety strategies through the Performance Solution framework of the NCC/BCA. Their work is typically associated with risk assessment and occupant life safety. The fire safety strategy and requirements in the Fire Engineering Reports become a design input for the remainder of the design team. A Fire Services Engineer will design the various fire safety systems in a building in line with the NCC/BCA and requirements of the Fire Engineering Report. For example, the FER may require a sprinkler system. The Fire Services Engineer will then prepare drawings and a specification showing the sprinkler layouts, pipe runs, pump/tank sizes and locations, valves, etc, that the contractors use to install the system.

A Fire Engineer prepares a PBDB and FER to document a fire engineering Performance Solution. A Performance Based Design Brief (PBDB) outlines the proposed Performance Solution for the building, including any departures from the BCA Deemed to Satisfy Provisions, design requirements, how the issues will be assessed and the acceptance criteria for the assessment. More complex issues may also require a discussion of the fire scenarios, evacuation scenarios and modelling parameters. Various stakeholders will then review the PBDB. The design team will typically review the design requirements concerning impacts on their discipline or the building operation. The authorities, fire service, and peer reviewer (where in place) will review the more technical elements of the brief. Once the various stakeholders agree on the proposed solution and assessment methodology, the Fire Engineering Report (FER) can be produced.

The FER includes the analysis required to demonstrate that the Performance Solution satisfies the stated acceptance criteria and Performance Requirements of the NCC/BCA. The FER shall clearly outline the design requirements needed to be included in the various design documentation as part Performance Solution, as well as any ongoing building management requirements and limitations.

Maximum value to the project is achieved when a fire engineer is engaged in the early stages of a project. It is at this stage that the best strategy for the building objectives can be established. Often small changes in the early concept phases can simplify the fire safety strategy which results in cost efficiency in the end build and/or a reduction in rework and changes if elements of the design need to modified. Early engagement can also increase the flexibility of then end solution if the right strategy is included in the early stages.

There are specialist firms that prepare emergency management plans. Fire Engineers can assist in identifying key elements of the Fire Engineering Reports that should be considered in an emergency management plan. These elements may be building-specific and need to be considered when compared to a typical/generic emergency management plan that may be provided.

The project architect documents fire walls. A fire wall Fire Resistance Level will be defined by the NCC/BCA or the Fire Engineering Report. That wall must then be documented in line with a tested system that has been subject to a Standard Fire Test (AS1530.4). There are standard details for blockwork/masonry/concrete walls, and various suppliers have standard details for lightweight wall construction for various applications. Departures from the tested systems must be reviewed by a Registered Test Authority (i.e. a test lab) or materials/testing expert and are not part of a typical Fire Engineer’s remit.

A Fire Services/Protection Engineer will typically design the fire safety systems. They will prepare drawings and specifications that the builder and their contractors use to install the system. Depending on the contracts, the engineers often produce a 50% design for the builder to price. That design is then completed and installed by the builder and their contractors. This is called a design and construct building contract.