Conference Paper

Author

Ellis, Andrew J.

Title

A History and Development of Fire and Life Safety in Australia

In

Second Australasian Conference on Engineering Heritage, Auckland, 14-16 February, 2000: Proceedings

Imprint

Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand, 2000, pp. 97-101

ISBN/ISSN

0980960352

Url

https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.910147095226396

Abstract

Many of us grew up wishing that we could be a fireman when we were older. However, as the time has passed, most of us have moved on from that childhood dream and chosen another profession to follow. Still, there are those few who have chosen a career in the area of fire and life safety. The work of a fire engineer is full of excitement and challenges with many stringent code requirements demanding consideration in every single design solution. The aims of a fire and life safety package are twofold. First and foremost is the protection of people from fire and smoke - also known as life safety. Secondly, it is important to minimise damage to buildings, their surrounds and everything contained therein. Today, there are many aspects of a fire services package, each with an important place, in the protection of life and equipment. The Building Code of Australia and assorted Australian Standards call upon tools such as sprinklers, hydrants, hose reels, extinguishers, smoke exhaust fans, building occupant warning systems, smoke and heat detectors to be used. They also address items such as fire compartment sizes, structural integrity and paths of escape or egress from the building. All of these things form part of the fire services package. The fire and life safety package is always individually tailored to meet the application. For example, offices, prisons, shopping centres, hotels, hospitals, apartments and factories all have different needs and requirements depending on size, classification and construction. We have much to learn from our past tragedies. This paper addresses the code current requirements and considerations of a fire and life safety package in the light of these past tragedies and developments.

Related Published resources

isPartOf

• Second Australasian Conference on Engineering Heritage, Auckland, 14-16 February, 2000: Proceedings edited by Lowe, P. G.; Hill, R .F. (Auckland, New Zealand: Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, 2000), 248 pp, https://search.informit.org/doi/book/10.3316/informit.0980960352. Details