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Issue 16 | September 2017
Criminal charges imminent
in Grenfell fire negligence
Invisible industry to
raise training profile
Keeping the Waterview
Tunnel fire protected
FireNZ 2017
Conference & Exhibition
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Presidents Message............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Intelligent Fire Alarm Control Panels are the Brains Behind Modern Fire Systems.............................. 10
Criminal charges imminent in Grenfell fire negligence.................................................................................... 12
Keep it simple urges former IFE president..............................................................................................................20
Invisible industry to raise training profile................................................................................................................22
Brooks solutions provide protection for Supported Housing........................................................................26
MusterFire International – Leading Edge Technology in Fire Suppression..............................................29
The need for compliance in NZ’s developing cities...........................................................................................30
MBIE Fire Programme creeps toward closure.......................................................................................................32
Sprinkler stalwarts reflect on lives saved................................................................................................................. 36
Managing safety and risk with FireForm................................................................................................................. 39
FireNZ 2017 Conference & Exhitition........................................................................................................................40
Keeping the Waterview Tunnel fire protected......................................................................................................46
The Future of Firefighting Equipment......................................................................................................................50
The status quo of computer evacuation modelling in New Zealand.........................................................52
FireNZ News........................................................................................................................................................................54
New UFBA Chief Executive Officer............................................................................................................................56
Events.....................................................................................................................................................................................58
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www.kingspanpanels.co.nzFire Protection Association New Zealand
President’s Message
In association with our key partners from stocking the right extinguisher their installation and maintenance
we are pleased to bring you the to knowing fire classes, remain the practices. FPANZ will continue
second edition of Fire NZ for 2017. same, but technological advances to support the industry to lift its
FPANZ is the national body for fire build on the basics, making engagement in this area.
safety that provides information, firefighting quicker, easier, and more From the financial perspective
services and education to the effective. we have seen continued
fire protection industry and the There are some truly amazing improvements in the associations
community at large. We are technologies being produced performance which allows us to
fortunate to have people with to fight fires in the 21st century. reinvest in key areas to promote
significant interest and experience These advances make the most of the Association and its focus on
to share and promote our mission sound waves, video, and detection training and qualifications to ensure
statement and ongoing focus being. technology to keep us all safer we have the necessary tools to
“To provide a professional forum when fire strikes. You have the support the vision. We have been
and be the unified voice of the fire opportunity this year to visit the making significant steps forward
protection industry by drawing tradeshow at Fire NZ and sample with our training Sig and the wider
on our expertise and collective some of the advances we have industry partners involved to bring
knowledge to reduce the impact of made as the industry continues to new people into our industry. A Fire
fire in New Zealand” embrace new technology. 101 block course aimed at school
We are as an association This technology also allows us leavers being introduced this year
focussed on those issues that to introduce new mechanisms to as a continuance of the careers
create opportunities to add value to enable suppliers to enter the market work started at FIRE NZ 2016.
members .Over the last 6 months with product that has been tested Funding for ongoing standards
since our previous publication and meets the requirements we development is also a key
we have seen a marked increase have set in place to ensure we get industry topic as we prepare
in Fire related issues in the wider the reliability and effective controls for several standards which are
community much of which will be to help minimise product issues long overdue for a rewrite. The
reviewed and discussed at Fire NZ . and poor operating performance. funding model required to do this
Faster, smarter technology Recently in the electrical industry over multiple standards involves
suggests better fire safety in Auckland a supplier/contractor several hundred thousand dollars,
technology. The basics of fire safety, has been importing and installing which is supported by contractors
substandard electrical product ,manufacturers and industry
which has resulted in many leadership organisations. FPANZ will
customers having to rewire their be supporting initiatives that help
projects, with significant cost ,time to provide financial and intellectual
and delays now being experienced capital in these areas.
by other trades including our own As the association and its
as a direct result. partners are the recognised group
We are leading the way in to talk to on Fire related issues,
implementing product control Scott Lawson as FPANZ Executive
registers in the passive ,extinguisher Director continues his key focus
and sprinkler markets and key on improving systems ,industry
suppliers are supporting this relationships , SIG Group activity
initiative to ensure we continue and delivery of tangible outcomes.
to improve our product supply We expect FIRE NZ 2017 to be
chains to these industry groups. another successful showcase of
This is not the only answer our industry capabilities.
however as we continue to identify Over the next 12 months we
product that does not meet the look forward to these and other
required performance. It relies events, it promises to be exciting as
Keith Blind on people understanding their we continue to see growth in our
President FPANZ responsibilities and being diligent in industry association.
6 Issue 16 | September 2017PEACE OF MIND LONG AFTER
YOU’VE LEFT THE SITE.
We put all our time, energy and care into delivering reliable
products, systems, services and support that help your jobs
run smoothly. So you can move on with confidence.
TRIED. TRUSTED. TRUE.
WWB0077/FISHING/A4New Zealand Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers
New Zealand
President’s Message
Welcome to FireNZ! The year seems retirement village having to effect on fire behaviour appears
to have flown by with the FireNZ evacuate buildings due to poor fire to be widespread in the UK from
conference just around the corner rated construction. reports after the fire. This race to
again. It seems like only yesterday The news media and building the bottom is common everywhere
that the conference was on, and owners took great interest in the including in New Zealand where
this year promises to have some Grenfell Tower fire and a number there is pressure to use an incorrect
interesting topics. of SFPE members appeared in print, solution since “company ABC
Behind the scenes this year, radio and television to explain the managed to do it last time, so they
SFPE has been involved in various tragedy. must be better engineers than you”.
working groups including a group Others have been involved in As engineers, we have a duty of
with BRANZ testing “real” passive building survey and assessments care to society and anyone using
fire stopping as well as providing to look at how widespread the building, and to FENZ (Fire
feedback into a roadmap going similar issues are here, or what Service) personnel to keep them
forward of research priorities. These implications are for New Zealand. safe. The fact that a friendly peer
are exciting projects as they will The incident made it clear that we reviewer signed the design off
allow us to make risk informed as an industry need to be proactive along with a Council that relied
decisions on an “as near as in what we do in our work, and to on those engineers to do the job
reasonably practicable” basis rather be prepared to act and inform the properly does not absolve the
than a gut feel, and it lets designers public when there is a need for us designers of their legal and ethical
and regulators focus on the issues to do so. responsibilities. The increasing
that matter most. While the main causes of the number of litigation cases that
Fire safety has been in the Grenfell fire are known, it is clear start as leaky building claims
news this year with the Grenfell that like in most disasters there and end up including company
Tower tragedy, which brought the are multiple factors in addition and personal claims against fire
issue of fire safety to the fore, and to the cladding. If these other engineers due to fire defects
closer to home has been lower factors had not occurred, then the makes it clear that the “what could
profile events such as the Eastcliffe disaster would have been reduced possibly go wrong” attitude will
or averted, and as fire engineers lead to a disaster in more ways
there are some important lessons than one.
other than the obvious ones of As some engineers and
construction. architects in the UK will be learning
A key lesson is that fire safety soon regarding the use of non-
design depends on defence in compliant cladding, when it goes
depth, and relying entirely on a wrong, the knock on effects can
single system such as sprinklers or be significant, even if your building
passive fire protection without any was not was not the one originally
redundancy, combined with some at fault.
assumptions such as occupant We have the opportunity to get
behaviour and abilities, can lead to ahead of issues in New Zealand
a solution that is not safe when it before it is forced upon us by a
is tested in a real world fire. Does disaster or knee jerk regulation.
meeting the bare minimum building We need to take advantage of the
code limits by exploiting a loophole opportunity through education and
go far enough? developing skills – which brings
An example of loopholes is the us back to FireNZ and how the
widespread use of “expert opinions” value of it has been recognised
Geoff Merryweather that compare the cladding to by the ongoing growth and the
BA MEFE MBA CPEng MIPENZ entirely different materials or that increasing quality of the displays,
President New Zealand Chapter of the take no account of the installation presentations and workshops. See
Society of Fire Protection Engineers details, such as cavities, and this you there!
8 Issue 16 | September 2017Institution of Fire Engineers (NZ Branch)
IFE our Vision
“A global organisation of fire professionals striving to build a
society safer from fire”.
President’s Message
Kia ora koutou katoa.
Greetings everyone, I hope you
have all purchased your tickets
this year to the FireNZ conference.
This year’s conference is shaping
to be another good one with a
wide range of speakers and topics
that will hopefully whet all your
appetites.
As you will see, there are topical
speakers who will touch on some
recent events, and in particular the
exterior cladding fires that are still
plaguing us. Unfortunately, being
on the exterior of existing high-rise
buildings it is not easy to replace
the cladding or come up with a
solution. This can be seen again
recently with the second fire in Fire engulfs the Torch Tower in Dubai
the Torch building in Dubai. I look the industry. I recently presented the main topics on the agenda is
forward to some healthy discussion our proposed pathway to the electronic voting.
on those topics. Ministry of Education, Tertiary You will notice that the last two
Many of you are aware that we Education Commission, Education editions of the IFE Bulletin have
have been working hard behind the 2 Engineering (E2E), Institution of been electronic instead of being
scenes to develop a fire industry Professional Engineers NZ (IPENZ), mailed out in hard copy. Electronic
pathway for the future of the and to about 15 Polytechs and voting will undoubtedly save time
industry and to attract people to Industry training companies. and money for the branch just as
This was well received by all, going electronic with the bulletin
and the government agencies were has done. We are just going
encouraged by the work we had through the process now of calling
done in developing a pathway. nominations for two branch council
Many of the Polytechs wanted positions, so shortly you will see
to know more and were keen on this in the post. Hopefully this will
progressing with the Diploma. be the last time to do this manually.
IPENZ was also encouraged by With that in mind, I encourage
the diploma, as they would like you to put your hand up to be on
to see a benchmark qualification the branch council. It is a very
for IQPs and BCOs and Fire and rewarding job but does require
Emergency NZ too for their Fire Risk a few hours each week. We are
Management Officers. In this way, looking for people with energy and
all people working in that space drive to help grow the branch and
should have the qualifications and to help generate more CPD events.
experience needed to carry out If you are interested or know of
their roles. someone who would be good
The IFE Annual General Meeting please fill in the nomination form or
Trent Fearnley (AGM) will be held at the conference contact me for more information.
GIFireE, GradDip Building Fire Safety this year. I hope that those going I look forward to seeing you at
and Risk Engineering to the conference will attend, but the conference.
President Institution of Fire I also encourage those living in
Engineers New Zealand Branch Auckland to attend also. One of Noho ora mai.
9 Issue 16 | September 2017 9Intelligent Fire Alarm Control Panels are
the Brains Behind Modern Fire Systems
Automatic fire systems in large
complex facilities demand powerful,
intelligent fire alarm control
panels, capable of analysing and
responding to large amounts of
data.
The Waterview Tunnel fire
system is a typical modern, high-
performance automatic fire system.
Its primary objective is simple: To
automatically detect a fire, safely
evacuate people, and minimise fire
damage.
Each part of the Waterview Tunnel
complex is covered by fire detection The problem could be a heat panels. Each F120A provides up
equipment tailored to the area’s risk detector alarm (suggesting a fire) to 50 independent timers and
profile. The roadway tunnels have in one of the roadway tunnels. 200 programmable logic blocks.
duplicated fibre-optic linear heat Or, it might be a high reading Timers can be programmed
detection systems, backed up by on a hydrocarbon sensor in the as one-shot, continuous, or
closed-circuit TV, for zone-based drainage system, or smoke from an latching. The logic blocks can be
fire detection with extremely low electrical switchgear cabinet in an programmed as Boolean AND,
susceptibility to unwanted alarms. equipment room. OR, and ANY2. In addition, the
Ventilation building equipment Fire engineers need to be able F120A allows inputs, timers, and
rooms are covered by aspirating to programme this type of system logic blocks to be grouped and
smoke detection systems for very to respond appropriately to a interconnected in complex logical
high sensitivity to incipient fire wide range of situations. That’s sequences.
conditions. why intelligent fire alarm control No two projects are identical.
In the event of an alarm panels have comprehensive Most fire systems address a
condition, the Waterview programmable cause and effect common objective, but the
Tunnel fire system automatically logic and versatile input and detail varies from project to
initiates a pre-planned response output capabilities. The Waterview project. An advanced fire system
designed to address the specific Tunnel system has twenty-three programming and diagnostic
hazard that has been detected. Pertronic F120A fire alarm control application such as Pertronic
FireUtils® makes it easy to
configure intelligent fire alarm
control panels to meet the specific
needs of each project. FireUtils®
presents configuration data in
spreadsheet-like grids. It also
provides a flowchart-like display of
logic functions within panels, and
across an entire network of panels.
Large, complex facilities such
as motorway tunnels, high-rise
buildings, shopping malls, and
transportation hubs are increasingly
common. Fire alarm control
panels such as the Pertronic F120A
and programming tools such as
Pertronic FireUtils® are critical to the
success of large facilities.
10 Issue 16 | September 2017Intelligent Automatic Fire Detection
for the Waterview Tunnels
Photo courtesy of NZTA
A network of 23 Pertronic F120A Fire Alarm Control Panels controls the
automatic fire detection, alarm, suppression, and ventilation systems in
Auckland’s 2.4-kilometre Waterview motorway tunnels.
The roadway tunnels have a heat detection system monitored by the
Pertronic network. In the event of a fire, the system automatically calls the
fire brigade, starts a water deluge fire suppression system, initiates a jet
fan ventilation system, and signals an alarm to the tunnel operation staff.
Tunnel operators are able to manually control alarm, suppression and
evacuation equipment when appropriate.
Ancillary buildings and the eighteen cross-passages between the
two roadway tunnels are also protected by fire detection, alarm, and
suppression systems controlled by the Pertronic network.
Contact Pertronic for more information.
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sales@pertronic.co.nz sales@pertronic.co.nz
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
www.pertronic.co.nzCriminal charges imminent in Grenfell fire negligence In the wake of multiple high-rise tragedies, Keith Newman reviews the tragic consequences of failing to promptly address fire safety concerns – and what’s being done about it.
The Grenfell Tower apartment blaze in June 2017. Photo: Natalie Oxford, Wikimedia
I
f the Coroner’s aluminium composite panels was “a
recommendations in contributing factor to fire spread”.
the aftermath of the Davey’s concerns echo those
Lakanal House fire in East of coroners and fire and rescue
London in 2009 had been services that local government
followed through, the ministers did not compel social
Grenfell Tower tragedy housing providers to retro-fit
with its loss of more than sprinklers or conduct thorough fire
80 lives might not have risk assessments.
happened, says expert
witness Brian Davey. Cladding accelerant
After viewing photos and videos The 14 June 2017 Grenfell Tower
of the rapid spread of the June fire fire in Kensington, West London,
at Grenfell Tower, now the subject caused at least 87 deaths and over
of the biggest non-terrorist police 70 injuries. Allegedly sparked in a Brian Davey, international past president
investigation in British history, fridge-freezer on the fourth floor, of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)
Davey’s immediate reaction was “oh, it then spread rapidly with exterior
no, not another one?” cladding acting as an accelerant. Kiwis less exposed
He was thinking of multiple fires The fire which burned for 60 Building and Construction Minister
in recent years where “there was hours in the 24-storey, 67-metre Dr Nick Smith announced the day
rapid external fire spread due to the high public housing block involved after the tragedy that New Zealand
composite panels”. over 200 firefighters and 70 was less exposed to the risks of
Davey, international past appliances from across London. high-rise building fires because
president of the Institution of Fire Police say officials from combustible cladding was now
Engineers (IFE) and a former NZ Kennington and Chelsea councils restricted.
Fire Service national operations and the tenancy management Following the 2014 fire in
manager, was an expert witness in organisation could face charges Melbourne, where a discarded
the 2013 inquiry into the Lakanal of corporate manslaughter and be cigarette sparked a blaze fuelled
House blaze in July 2009 where six liable for significant fines. Further by combustible cladding at the
people died and 20 were injured. criminal charges may also be Lacrosse Apartments, and fires in
He says it appears post-Lakanal laid relating to health and safety Dubai, amendments were made
recommendations, including legislation, fire safety legislation and to the Building Code in January
clearer evacuation processes, building regulations. tightening restrictions on the
weren’t acted on, and the use of It had been presumed the fire product allowed into the country.
could be contained within a single On advice from the Ministry
flat and people would be safe if of Business, Innovation and
they stayed inside rather than Employment (MBIE), Dr Smith said
Officials from evacuating, but the flames spread these systems were not prevalent,
Kennington and rapidly once the exterior cladding although the ministry was asked
caught fire. to require New Zealand councils
Chelsea councils The Grenfell Action Group had to conduct an inventory of any
and the tenancy repeatedly expressed concerns, high-rise buildings constructed
including in November 2016 using these materials prior to the
management following a major renovation, saying amendment.
organisation management failed to maintain
fire related systems or address fire
Early in July, two Auckland
buildings were identified as having
could face charges precautions. combustible cladding that needed
The renovation contract was replacing; the Spencer on Byron
of corporate accepted based on lower cost less in Takapuna and the Nautilus in
manslaughter fire-resistant aluminium cladding. Orewa. Both claimed adequate fire
Criticisms have since been protection measures were in place,
(with) further levelled at the local council for fire although upgrades were planned.
criminal charges safety and building maintenance
failures, the fact the fire escape path
Auckland Council was checking
around 150 buildings and was
laid relating to was limited to a single staircase, and continuing to review those.
two thirds of gas pipes remained MBIE continues to gather
health and safety exposed. information on the number
legislation, fire Davey says genuine panels may of high-rise buildings within
have passed the tests imposed by metropolitan council areas
safety legislation the UK Government but there’s not that are potentially clad with
and building enough information about those combustible aluminium composite
that failed, suggesting some may panels (ACPs), and says 14 of
regulations. have been substituted with lesser the 18 councils approached had
quality “counterfeit panels”. responded by mid-August.
14 Issue 16 | September 2017WORLD LEADER OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
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Contact: Kevin Borley Contact: Dale SykesIt expects councils to notify (SCA) representing body corporates,
building owners if a “potentially suppliers and services to the
affected building is identified” and industry, suggests the problems
if deemed dangerous they have the appear to relate to “a generation
power to act under Section 121 of where the design wasn’t necessarily
the Building Act 2004. fit for purpose.”
Earlier estimates suggested over She says the discovery that
200 high rise buildings may have combustible aluminium cladding
potentially be clad or partially clad product is widely used throughout
with combustible ACPs, but an Australia’s main cities meant it was
MBIE spokesperson says it was still highly likely another three or four
analysing the data and didn’t want discoveries may be made in New
to speculate. Zealand once councils complete the
“The majority of these identified required inventory.
buildings are used for public non- Barreto says “there’s definitely
residential or commercial use (e.g. an issue” and she wants more care
car parks, businesses, offices and taken with fire protection systems
restaurants).” from building design to sign-off.
MBIE is continuing to work with
the remaining councils but its main Coroner urged review
focus is on Auckland, Christchurch, Following the Lakanal House
Joanne Barreto, president of the Strata
Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga inquiry, coroner Judge Frances
Community Association (SCA)
and Dunedin due to the greater Kirkham, urged all UK councils to
concentration of high-rise buildings. review their policies and procedures
“Once MBIE has more information to ensure risk assessment in high “The Lakanal and Grenfell
we will assess whether there is rise buildings was carried out apartment buildings are 50-60
any systemic risk that requires a by people with the appropriate years old and there were no major
regulatory response.” competencies. fire events in that time so the
Reiterating that fire protection Those people should have common thing appears to have
in most modern New Zealand access to relevant information been renovations,” says Davey.
buildings typically incorporate a about “design, construction and
number of fire safety requirements, refurbishment and whether
including sprinklers, building-wide compartmentalisation had been
alarms and ‘all out’ evacuation breached”.
procedures, the spokesperson Judge Kirkham had urged
added, “this means that ACP panels local authorities to walk residents
cannot be looked at in isolation through procedures, including
when fire risk is being assessed.” escape balconies and demonstrate
Joanne Barreto, president of how to open fire exit doors, where
the Strata Community Association they led and how people should
react in a fire.
She said more work clearly
needed to be done by councils
The Lakanal and to explain the process, including
placing notices and signage in flats
Grenfell apartment and common areas and published
buildings are 50- material showing clearly when
residents should remain inside and
60 years old and in what circumstance they should
leave.
there were no “Whether these
recommendations were translated
major fire events to other councils is speculative at
in that time so the the moment,” says Davey.
He says most high-rise building
common thing fires have been safely evacuated
with no loss of life, with the fire
appears to have contained or slowed down by
been renovations sprinklers.
Australia, New Zealand and most
Brian Davey, International Past other countries other than the UK
President of the Institution have legislation requiring sprinklers Recommendations of the Lakanal
of Fire Engineers (IFE) be fitted to high rise residential House inquiry in 2013 appear to have
buildings. been ignored
16 Issue 16 | September 2017which had started in a television set He says there’s a global and
in a ninth-floor flat, spreading with industry-wide problem in trying to
great ferocity through the 98 units. ensure different parts of legislation
Residents, including the six are easily understood and well
people who died and at least 20 linked together so everyone
injured, had been told to stay involved can understand what is
in their homes by emergency intended.
operators who believed fire safety SCANZ chairperson, Joanne
measures were in place to protect Barreto blames regulatory failure
them from smoke and flames. for the fact combustible materials
The London fire brigade, have been allowed to be used in
responsible for enforcing fire safety the first place, and wants more
laws, brought four charges against stringent oversight to stop the
Southwark council as the landlord flow of unsafe material into New
and owner of Lakanal House. Zealand.
There had been repeated calls While conceding specified
from the London Fire Brigade and products have not always been
others to learn from the tragedy used, she says there’s no evidence
and ensure large housing providers yet of what might be considered
knew their legal responsibility for counterfeit product being used in
meeting all fire safety requirements New Zealand.
Michael James, vice president of the Society
and keeping residents safe. The Building Industry Federation
of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
Davey says Coroner, Judge estimates non-conforming building
Kirkham, recommended to the products cost the country $92
With Lakanal “part of the Department of Communities and million annually in enforcement
timber staircase into the common Local Communities that national and replacement costs. Barreto
corridors” was exposed and guidance be provided “in relation wonders whether New Zealand has
fire spread rapidly through the to the stay put advice and get out been so focused on getting itself
aluminium composite cladding and stay out policies” and how this out of the housing crisis, especially
on the outside. He wonders if the was disseminated. She identified in Auckland, “that we haven’t paid
original fire engineering design “insufficient clarity” around previous enough attention to other areas that
was changed at Grenfell during advice. are clearly important”.
the 2016 renovations and whether Davey says the Grenfell
sprinklers should have been added. tragedy is another reminder that Back to design basics
This was debated with a number passive and active fire systems are While there’s been a lot of focus on
of prominent fire engineers at the interconnected and work together — passive fire protection systems, she
IFE meeting in Manchester in July, if one fails it creates vulnerabilities. urges the fire protection industry
where it was insisted “sprinklers “Fire stopping in buildings has to gather more information about
aren’t everything”. While agreeing, often been abysmal and contractors where defects are occurring
Davey says that sprinklers may need to understand how wall and what needs to be looked at
have “contained the fire to the penetrations for different services to “ensure current designs and
room of origin”. may undermine this.” standards are up to scratch”.
After the 2013 Lakanal inquiry, He says it’s imperative there While building compliance and
a resident’s representative sent an is appropriate testing in building Building Warrants of Fitness (BWOF)
email to Davey concerned at the renovation, construction and are looked at regularly “they need
lack of follow-up action, stating certification and verification “to to be fit for purpose at design stage
some local councils did not have stop counterfeit product being and implemented properly for them
fire certificates for buildings, deliberately or accidentally to work because when it’s tested is
had incomplete certification substituted for what is stipulated when it falls apart.”
for renovation work, and that a in the original design work”. It’s an Meanwhile, Barreto wants
number of contractors that had “emerging problem” caused by a some clarity on who would pay for
gone into receivership. continual drive to cut costs. inspections and repairs, concerned
Davey says this reminded him that building owners might be held
of the leaky building crisis in New Simplifying legislation responsible and have to pay even
Zealand. “How many construction Davey says fires that cause loss of though they had nothing to do
industry companies closed down or life and huge damage are a global with defects in construction. She
went bankrupt and disappeared?” problem and “we need to take note was hopeful liable parties might be
of what’s happening, fully learn our forced to contribute to repairs and
Council fined for negligence lessons and relate it to what we do replacement of non-complying
In February this year, Southwark here.” product.
council was fined £270,000 plus Part of that, he says, “links back Minister Nick Smith says our
£300,000 costs after admitting it to legislative requirements and how building regulations need to keep
failed to address fire safety risks in the fast legislation or building codes pace with the shifting trend of
years leading up to the Lakanal fire, can be changed”. more people living in high-rise
Issue 16 | September 2017 17apartments and the greater risk
from fire hazards to ensure “New
Zealand never experiences what
occurred at the Grenfell Tower in
London”.
Michael James, vice president
of the Society of Fire Protection
Engineers (SFPE) says the cladding
suspected to have been used
is ACM (aluminium composite
material); two sheets of aluminium
sandwiched around a low-density
core, which can be either fire
retardant or polyethylene. “The
polyethylene core can melt and is
quite combustible,” he says.
“Up until this year it could be
installed on a building up to 25m (7
floors) high provided the building
had a sprinkler system installed,
it was considered that sprinklers
would be enough to protect the
building.”
Following Building Code revisions
this year an ACM panel with a
polyethylene core can now only
be used on low rise buildings up to
around seven metres in height.
Proposals for further tightening
fire safety requirements for high-
rise buildings went out for public
consultation with submissions
closing in July.
Up until this Recommendations of the Lakanal House inquiry in 2013 appear to have been ignored
year aluminium
A month after the Grenfell fire, requiring buildings with quick
composite material a Honolulu high-rise, not equipped burning side panels to replace these
(ACM) could be with sprinklers, claimed three lives with more fire-resistant product. It’s
with 122 people injured. The 1970s been acknowledged that at least
installed on a condominium was built when 30,000 buildings across that country
building up to 25m legislation did not require sprinklers, have cladding or panelling likely to
although local authorities were now accelerate fires.
(7 floors) high considering a law change to retrofit Meanwhile, the London Fire
provided the building such buildings. Service says an investigation report
Then in the first week in August into the Grenfell Tower blaze will
had a sprinkler one of the world’s tallest residential not be released publicly until the
system installed… buildings, Torch Tower, lived up completion of full inquests into
to its name when 40 floors of the those who died, which allegedly
Following Building 86-storey structure caught fire, “could take years”.
Code revisions (it) sending debris plummeting to the Police are conducting a criminal
ground. investigation into the blaze and a
can now only be No injuries were reported but it public inquiry requested by Prime
used on low rise was the second time in two and a minister Theresa May could take
half years that the 355m tall tower place before the inquests.
buildings had been ravaged by fire. In fact, UK local authorities are now
up to around 7 several skyscrapers in the United urgently inspecting 4,000 tower
Arab Emirates have caught fire in blocks across the UK, many of
metres in height recent years including the New which are covered in similar
Michael James, vice president Year’s Eve 2016 blaze that engulfed cladding to that used on Grenfell
of the Society of Fire a 63-story luxury hotel. Tower. At last count, 60 had been
Protection Engineers (SFPE) New fire safety rules came into identified as failing to have had
place in the UAE earlier this year follow-up fire safety tests.
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Auckland - Melbourne - Sydney - Brisbane - Perth - SingaporeKeep it simple urges
former IFE president
Fire engineers around the world She said such documents should
are struggling with the challenge be revised so they were expressed
of understanding complex in words within a format that was
legislation, code compliance and more intelligible to the wide range of
the appropriateness of building people engaged in construction and
materials, says Brian Davey, after a maintenance and refurbishment of
year as international president of the buildings.
Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). Her concern was that critical
Davey says it’s essential that documents should not only be
building elements that need to accessible to “professionals who may
be fire rated have appropriate already have a depth of knowledge
certification from a reputable testing of building regulations and building
facility, and a greater effort must be control methods”.
made to ensure the legal documents Davey says fire engineers around
relating to construction and fire the world struggle with different
safety are more easily understood by solutions because of their local
everyone expected to use them. codes but “generally looked to the
“All those involved in building same reputable sources for solutions
construction or refurbishment need based on well researched and
Brian Davey, international past president
to understand that any variation authoritative codes and standards.”
of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)
from a specified product can have He cites British and European
fatal consequences for building standards including the International
occupants.” Standard Organisation (ISO) and the work they’re doing “and gain
Davey refers to the findings NFPA, which develops and publishes a greater understanding of fire, its
of the 2013 Lakanal House fire more than 300 consensus codes problems and solutions”.
inquiry, which determined that a and standards intended to eliminate He says a building that has been
Building Regulations document with death, injury, property and economic designed as fire safe, relies on all
important guidelines for common loss due to fire, electrical, and related components to work together to
situations failed to achieve its hazards. maintain the safe integrity of the
purpose as it was “a most difficult “When you look at the research building. “Failure of one element,
document to use” that goes into building and product accidental or deliberate, can affect
Davey, an independent expert safety, the large testing houses the overall safety of that building.”
witness at the inquiry, says Coroner around the world have good solid Davey says it’s clear that some
Frances Kirkham complained that it reputations which rely on the quality tradespeople lack understanding
was necessary to refer to additional of things and how this can be of the need for appropriate fire
documents to find answers to translated to your own standards.” stopping in walls and ceiling spaces
relatively straightforward questions when additional building services
concerning “the fire protection Reduce variances and wiring have breached the fire
properties of materials to be He says countries often work compartment.
incorporated into the fabric of the with the NFPA, Underwriters He says New Zealand’s open
building”. Laboratory (UL), the British Research approach, its world recognised
Establishment (BRE) and British university courses and its experts
Clear guidance needed Standards “to reduce variances in the field mean it is held in
Coroner Kirkham recommended between different standards that are high esteem. For example, at a
documentation be reviewed to coming out”. recent seminar on tall buildings in
ensure “clear guidance in relation Davey says the IFE provides an Sommerset, in February there were
to building regulations around the opportunity for members to meet four keynote speakers and one was
spread of fire over the external other specialists in fire engineering, a New Zealand fire engineer working
envelope of the building”. listen to their research, hear about with the London Fire Brigade.
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Our Brands www.altexfireproofing.co.nz A Resene Group CompanyInvisible industry to
raise training profile
Despite being on a growth curve with an insatiable appetite for specialist skills, Keith
Newman writes that the fire protection industry remains virtually invisible on the
careers radar.
T
he fire protection the industry and special interest
industry admits it’s been Many workers in groups (SIGs). “We’re not waiting for
short on long-term the government to do something,
thinking as it moves to the industry are the FPA is putting together its
attract young people
into its rapidly aging workforce,
about to retire; a own programme…Everyone’s now
wondering why the industry didn’t
upskill those without qualifications lot of experience do this before.”
and curb the need to import Trent Fearnley, President of the
professionals to plug the gaps. is going to be lost Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and
A gap analysis in 2015- Chairman of the FPA Training Special
16 confirmed the industry is
over the next few Interest Group, says up until recently
unprepared for the increased years and that gap there’s been no clear pathway for
level of accountability sought by school leavers to enter the industry
councils, the insurance industry is being filled from and a lack of support for industry
and the Government who want qualifications. “We need young
qualified specialists to confirm fire overseas. people,” he says. “We have known
safety systems have been installed FPANZ Training SIG chairman for some time that many workers in
correctly. Trent Fearnley the industry are about to retire; a lot
of experience is going to be lost over
the next few years and that gap is
Fire Protection Association of being filled from overseas.”
New Zealand (FPANZ) Executive
Director Scott Lawson, admits Keeping cowboys out
pretty much all companies in the Having the right qualifications
industry are desperate for staff. will be a competitive advantage
“We’ve seen companies poaching and “in the employer’s interest”
staff from one another and hourly to more clearly differentiate from
rates going up continually over the “cowboys who don’t do a
recent years but we haven’t actually quality job”. Trent says it’ll also
been fixing the problem by bringing equip apprentices and others with
people into the industry at the right more rounded skills to progress to
level.” supervisor or management roles.
In the past, he says, getting Michael James, Vice President
school leavers into the industry of the Society of Fire Protection
and establishing an industry Engineers (SFPE) says the real gap is
qualification may have appeared in the middle where fire engineers
insurmountable but now FPANZ is who have five to eight years’
tackling this in “bite sized chunks” experience are needed right now.
Scott says a new training It’s a problem that’s not going to go
FPANZ Executive Director Scott Lawson approach has the full support of away until the next generation of
22 Issue 16 | September 2017engineering graduates have some Bridging the gap. six-week Fire 101 course run early
experience under their belt. The FPA Training SIG has been next year and it’s hoped the first Fire
He says the bulk of candidates working overtime to get training Engineering Diploma will be offered
are imported and the challenge is and qualifications back on track, at Manukau Institute of Technology
how to keep them engaged and attract school leavers via careers (MIT) from January 2018.
loyal. “Some people are in it for the advisors and upskill those already Once the Ministry of Education,
money and might keep moving on involved in fire protection industry the Ministry of Social Development,
but we really need people who find An introductory half day MIT and the industry are fully
a deeper purpose for their work selection course will be held in on board, Trent believes the fire
and enjoying making life safer for Auckland before the end of the protection industry will qualify
people and saving lives.” year, followed up by the four-to- as part of the career pathways
programme, which feeds school
leavers into apprenticeships.
A key priority though, is to get
existing workers qualified, because
councils are no longer prepared to
accept “industry experience” when
registering independently qualified
persons (IQP) to sign-off fire safety
work.
“While many people have a lot
of industry and work experience,
which was either self-taught or
learnt off someone else, they have
no formal qualifications largely
because they’ve not been available,”
says Trent
Although Canterbury
University offers a Masters in Fire
Engineering at level 8 or 9 there’s
Trent Fearnley, FPA training special Michael James, VP of the Society of Fire no entry or middle level diploma
interest group chairman Protection Engineers (SFPE) qualification.
Issue 16 | September 2017 23“We’re seeing a lack of credibility The Tertiary Education
in the industry; councils are a bit The real gap is in Commission has tasked e2e with
gun shy and looking for a particular getting 500 or more additional
standard which we don’t have apart
the middle where engineering graduates into
from the Masters’ degree.” fire engineers who the workforce annually. While
it achieved that in 2016, it is
Immigrants in demand have five to eight oversubscribed at the degree level
Trent says the fire industry is on a years’ experience and beyond but still not getting
growth curve driven by the need enough technicians.
for specialised people across all are needed right It was agreed that qualifying
levels of the industry, but many IQPs, building officials, fire systems
companies are having to import
now…That’s not designers, fire engineering
skilled staff. … going to go technicians and fire risk management
He recently met with a fire officers should be a priority.
engineering company where only away until the
seven of the 32 fire engineers were next generation MIT breakthrough
Kiwis. Most had been recruited Initially it was thought
to the industry from South Africa of engineering developing coursework might take
and Australia where diploma level a year, but a major breakthrough
courses in fire engineering were
graduates have came in July when MIT agreed
more widely available. some experience to help develop a Diploma in Fire
To address that imbalance, Trent Engineering.
has been successful in getting under their belt. It will keep 45-50% of its core
the full support of Education to Michael James, VP of the engineering diploma and, with
Employment (e2e) Engineering Society of Fire Protection FPANZ input, compile and localise
group chairman Sir Neville Jordan Engineers (SFPE) the best from fire engineering
for a Diploma in Fire Engineering. courses around the world.
Hands on training at IFE House
24 Issue 16 | September 2017Part of the challenge is filling to those in the marketplace, a range of problems, including
the gaps around existing Level 3 including self-employed IQPs, to passive protection, alarms not
and 4 certificate courses, including decide.” talking to each other and smoke
alarms and sprinklers, currently “There is demand nationally detection not being connected
being revised by Competenz. and once the course is developed to ventilation systems and
Competenz, participates in it will available throughout the doors, which are supposed to
the FPANZ special interest groups country at various Polytechnics.” automatically open.”
(SIGs) which will be encouraged He says Michael Spearpoint
to help develop core subjects in Unacceptable solutions of Canterbury University had
fire science, and on-line modules The fact there are currently no proposed a diploma course in fire
from FPA’s Australian equivalent industry qualifications has led engineering to the Christchurch
are also being customised to form to architects, mechanical and Polytechnic Institute of Technology
part of the new Level 3 and 4 structural engineers and others about ten years ago, but it lacked
qualifications and Diploma. dabbling in fire protection using support from CPIT as they thought
It’s hoped the Diploma in Fire the current acceptable solutions. they would not get the numbers.
Engineering course will attract 30- That, says Trent, “has not often “No-one saw the need for
40 people each year. It’s still to be gone well” in many instances and it because we weren’t facing
determined whether employers or “while these people might be very the problems we have today:
individuals will pay. capable in their own disciplines leaky buildings, lack of passive
“It’ll come down to whether they often misinterpret the code fire stopping, alarms not being
it’s a necessity,” says Trent. “Fire and the design… the design hasn’t integrated with other systems.”
and Emergency NZ supports this been done correctly because Now with the full backing of all
endeavour and will encourage they’re not coming at it from a the SIGs, the Tertiary Education
their Fire and Risk Management purely fire perspective.” Commission and MIT, he’s hopeful
Officers to take up the challenge. The resulting ad hoc approach more qualified people will emerge
Councils will hopefully support fails to see fire protection systems to take the reins of the fire
their staff too, so it’ll be up as interconnected, “giving rise to industry.
Pathway to employment &
formal industry training
The fire protection industry, in they get interviewed for a range of industry makes them safe. “We
desperate need of young blood, jobs. Ideally there’ll be at least 30 want people to be engaged in the
is looking to entice school leavers positions to fill with starting dates fire industry from when they leave
and job hunters into its ranks with in March 2018. The benefit for school, but it’s not sufficiently
introductory courses covering off employers is that they will be keen defined in people’s minds as a
all the potential career options. to work in the industry because they career option.”
A half-day introduction to fire are aware of what it entails. At the 2016 FireNZ Conference
protection will be offered to the This approach is part of a wider careers day, Trent says school
curious after October’s FireNZ plan to qualify the industry for careers guidance people and a
Conference in Auckland, as a the Ministry of Education’s career Ministry of Social Development
gateway to potential employment . pathways programme in schools, (MSD) advisor “had no idea
The next step, the Fire 101 which helps pre-qualify those this industry existed… thinking
course, will involve a 4-5-week seeking apprenticeships. sprinklers and alarms, for example,
course which will include a couple While schools have schemes were part of the plumbers’ or
of days work experience in passive, to get students into mechanical, electricians’ job.”
sprinkler, alarms, evacuation, fire automotive, plumbing and electrical He’s hoping to see a more
equipment and manufacturing trades, fire has had no clearly informed approach at this year’s
and the role of the independently defined pathway despite employers, careers day. “This is a pilot course…
qualified person (IQP). They will including equipment manufacturers, If it’s successful employers will
also gain a certificate from FPANZ being desperate for apprentices. get pre-qualified people who are
and some valuable unit standards. genuinely interested in being in the
This will give them a good idea of Higher profile needed industry rather than the current
what areas within this industry they Trent says the only logical path situation of word of mouth.”
want to be in, says Trent Fearnley, currently is by moving sideways Trent believes Fire 101, part of an
President of the Institution of Fire from mechanical, structural or initiative to introduce school leavers
Engineers and Chairman of the FPA civil engineering or becoming to the industry, and the development
Training Special Interest Group (SIG). a firefighter (which mostly takes of the Diploma in Fire Engineering,
If they’re still keen after passing people in their mid-20s). will open the way for fire protection
the FPANZ Fire101 certificate, the He says, basically, the architects to become part of the school careers
special interest groups will ensure design the building and the fire pathway by 2019.
Issue 16 | September 2017 25You can also read
