Fire Safety in NZ: Tips for Design and Compliance

Advanced fire safety strategies involve not only fire separation and alarm systems but also the careful integration of all active and passive fire protection measures. Experienced designers use fire modelling tools to predict how fire and smoke will behave in complex spaces. They must also consider compartmentalisation, fire-resistance ratings of materials, and suppression systems that meet higher-risk occupancy requirements.

Tradespeople must be precise in fire-stopping, ensuring materials are correctly installed. Verification is needed to ensure all passive fire systems comply.

Building control need to watch that fire safety measures are comprehensively integrated into designs.