Fire Safety Engineering
Fire safety engineering allows building owners and building designers to tailor the fire and life safety requirements of the Building Code of Australia to a proposed building design for a new building or to an existing building, such as a heritage building, a building that is being upgraded or a building having its classification changed. We can facilitate this process by being part of the building design team or we can address a specific design issue. Fire engineered Alternative Solutions can be developed for the following. Egress from buildings, Smoke hazard management requirements for different types of building, Structural fire resistance of building elements, Fire spread between buildings and Fire services. DESIGN Preliminary design advice We can provide preliminary design advice that can either form part of a feasibility study or as part of our role in the building design team. The preliminary advice may be in the form of a report, and may involve discussions with the Approval Authority and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA). Preparing a Fire Safety Engineering Brief The Fire Safety Engineering Brief (FSEB) is the document used to advise the Approval Authority that Alternative Building Solutions are proposed for a building project. The purpose of the FSEB is to outline the proposed Alternative Solutions, Acceptance Criteria, Design Concepts and Fire Safety Measures and Strategy, and generally set down the fire engineering philosophy for the approval of the FSEB team, including the Approval Authority and FESA. Preparing a Fire Safety Engineering Report The Fire Safety Engineering Report is the document that justifies the Alternative Solutions proposed and demonstrates compliance with the Performance Requirements of the Building Code of Australia. LOCAL GOVERNMENT APPROVAL We will gain approval from the Approval Authority and FESA for the Alternative Solutions we develop. CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS Construction problems may arise as a result of incorrect documentation or a construction mistake made on site resulting in the building no longer complying with the approved plans. A fire engineered Alternative Solution may be developed that resolves the construction problem. COMMISSIONING OF FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS We can provide certification that the commissioning of the fire safety systems required for the Alternative Solutions meets the performance criteria set down in the Fire Safety Engineering Report. APPROVAL TO OCCUPY THE BUILDING We can provide certification to the Approval Authority that the requirements of the Fire Safety Engineering Report and any conditions of the Approval Authority related to the report have been met. MAINTENANCE, MANAGEMENT AND USE We can provide advice on maintenance requirements for any fire safety system forming part of an Alternative Solution, or develop a management and use plan for your building to ensure that any limitations placed on the building is documented.