Of all the responsibilities facing a business, residential or industrial establishment, keeping people and property safe from the dangers of fire is among the greatest. A fire can happen at any time and any place. You can expect a fire at any structure whether it is residential, commercial or industrial. Therefore, you need to ensure that proper and well-functioning fire detection, prevention and suppression systems are in place within your premises.
Buildings are often designed to comply with standard regulations, and for most buildings in Australia, this is often the simplest approach. On the other hand, a code-compliant solution can severely restrict freedom for the design. However, fire protection engineering services can be used to achieve a building’s architectural design aspirations, commercial objectives while maintaining higher standards of fire safety. Fire protection engineering is the practice of applying engineering principles from mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical disciplines related to fire dynamics concerning the protection of life, property and surroundings. Addressing issues of structural integrity, safety and compliance Omnii’s fire protection engineering services can help you achieve complete compliance as well as many other benefits. Among the benefits are greater freedom for the use of material, design flexibility and open-plan arrangements, reduced staircase and exit requirements, and maximising use and performance of fire safety systems. Beyond the aesthetic design of a building, fire protection engineering services must also consider other aspects such as structural integrity, costs, fire safety and compliance, and sustainability. The discipline of fire protection engineering services requires rigorous mastery of all aspects of fire codes, fire protection engineering, security system design, and emergency planning. It ensures that the magnitude of damage by fire can be minimised when the structures are designed, constructed, equipped, maintained and operated in a code-compliant manner based on deliberations with expert fire safety consultants. Engage fire safety consultants at an early stage of your project Engaging fire safety consultants and fire protection engineering services at an early stage will allow for mechanical smoke ventilation systems to be specified and employed. Combined with customised and intelligent fire strategies, fire protection engineering services allow for the creation of larger- sized rooms and extended travel distance for the fire. By adopting an engineered approach, fire protection engineering services can suggest possible methods of overcoming fire safety issues within a design as it is being created. It can also incorporate fire safety within the holistic building design. Why fire protection audit is important for your building? A fire safety audit is an examination of your premises and relevant documents by fire safety consultants. This covers how your premises are being managed with regards to safety. It may involve the inspection of below but is not limited to:
Offering a structural path for continual improvement A comprehensive fire protection audit by Omnii will address the inherent fire hazards with day-to-day activities in an occupancy and recommend the best measures that can help reduce the potential fire hazards. Fire protection audit is a useful tool in evaluating fire safety implementation across multiple site business facilities. Omnii’s fire safety consultants will focus on the key aspects of managing fire safety during their fire protection audit. It also offers a structured path for continual improvement towards the best practice status. A substantial report will be provided by Omnii’s fire safety consultants to identify the strengths and areas for continual improvement within the organisation’s health and safety management systems. Avoid prosecution and loss of reputation With fire protection audit and fire protection engineering services by Omnii’s fire safety consultants, you will be able to bring value to the workplace by avoiding litigation, absence costs and loss of reputation. It will also help you in reducing insurance premiums, indirect costs of workplace injuries, and foster workplace wellbeing. Omnii provides its fire protection audit, fire protection consulting and fire protection engineering services in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and other regions of Australia. Cladding fire engineering services provided by Omnii include computer pathways tailored to the client and State Government requirements, bespoke insurance cladding assessment reports, and due diligence cladding assessment reports. In addition, Omnii is pre-qualified with the Residential Cladding Rectification Register (RCRR) on behalf of the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. Omnii’s fire safety consultants have provided services to a variety of businesses in Australia, including aviation & airports, defence, mining, oil, gas & petrochemical, retail, senior living, and more. You can contact Omnii for a comprehensive range of fire protection engineering services, and fire protection audit.
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Fire Consultants to Make Your Buildings NCC, DFES, and Other Fire-Regulatory Compliant in Australia8/11/2022 Based on the size, construction, and use of a building, the National Construction Code (NCC) specifies the requirements for fire detection and protection for the building and fire services. The goal of building and fire services is to ensure that building occupants are informed about safe evacuation from the premises; asset and property protection is a secondary consideration.
Fire protection design for public and commercial buildings can be complex, requiring specialised building and fire services consultation to ensure that, in the event of a fire, the active and passive fire protection systems in the building work collaboratively to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible. Building and fire services would invariably include the coverage for below by the fire consultants:
To assess a building's safety properties, fire consultants would also conduct tests for combustibility, heat release rate, ignitability, and fire resistance. A new building in Australia built in accordance with NCC standards provides occupants with a high level of safety. It will include provisions to limit fire spread, notify occupants of smoke detection, and facilitate evacuation. Specific requirements may differ from building to building; however, fire consultants in Australia would strive for the following outcomes for high-rise buildings:
Fire safety requirements for cladding: NCC specifies the following requirements for external wall cladding: If using a Deemed-to-Satisfy solution, the external walls must be non-combustible, with the exception of low-rise buildings. The Deemed-to-Satisfy provision states that any attachment to the external wall must not impair the external wall's fire resistance. Attachments permitted by the NCC are generally incidental in nature, such as an awning, blind, or downpipe. In the absence of a Deemed-to-Satisfy compliance pathway, NCC requires that the Performance Solution for the combustibility of external walls be capable of containing the spread of fire within the building. Every part of the building must be built in a way that is appropriate for its intended purpose. Furthermore, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) requires building and fire services in Western Australia to ensure that buildings are safe in accordance with the Australian Building Code (BCA). The DFES fire safety assessments are mostly concerned with the needs of professional building and fire services, such as the location of hydrants, automatic fire detection systems, the adequacy and dependability of water supplies, and smoke-management systems. DFES inspects major projects to ensure that firefighting equipment is installed in accordance with approved plans. Omnii is Australia's leading provider of building and fire services. The company's fire consultants offer comprehensive, one-stop solutions for all of your fire safety needs, including the following: Fire Engineering: The company offers performance-based, fire-engineered solutions, fire engineering report preparation for building approval applications, master planning and concept advice, value management and value add review, and other services. Fire protection: Omnii's fire consultants provide services for fire sprinkler systems, fire detection and alarm systems, fire hydrant and fire hose reel systems, special hazard design, and more. Structural fire engineering: The company's fire consultants provides s services such as value management reviews of builder bid designs and structural design refinement, structural fire engineering analysis, calculation of structural fire behaviour for structural stability, providing design strategies to optimize fire protection, and more. Cladding fire safety: Omnii's fire consultants assess each building individually to determine the client's needs and to meet state legislative requirements. Clients receive bespoke insurance cladding assessment reports as well as due diligence cladding assessment reports. Omnii's fire consultants use detailed CFD modeling and analysis to predict fire spread for building-specific assessment and reporting. Serving fire safety needs of any complexity Omnii's fire consultants provide a comprehensive range of scheduled building and fire services, as well as inspection services, to help building owners compile the annual fire safety statement. Furthermore, Omnii's fire consultants offer specialised services such as hazard identification surveys, design, and recommendations for detection equipment supply and installation. Omnii's fire consultants can service almost any fire extinguisher and any building requirement. Even if you have multiple service providers, you only need one - Omnii building and fire services. The Key Advantages of Hiring Fire Safety Consultants, As Well As the Added Value They Bring to Your ProjectsModern buildings must prioritise fire safety while also delivering the architect's aesthetic vision. No building owner wants to see a fire disaster caused by poor fire engineering, combustible building materials, or wear and tear. It not only results in the loss of life and property, but also in the loss of credibility. Furthermore, the building owner may face penalties for noncompliance and negligence. The loss of life and property caused by fires is frequently extensive and widespread. Modifications to the architect's original design and specifications are common in the conventional approach to fire engineering solutions. However, a professional fire engineering and solutions provider company can assist building owners in achieving architectural design applications and commercial goals of a project while maintaining higher fire safety standards.
Aside from the aesthetic design of a building, architects must account for fire engineering solutions in order to construct safe structures. Fire engineers can identify potential risks and prescribe mitigation measures to lessen the severity and impact of a fire outbreak. The involvement of fire engineers during the early stages of a project's development would allow for more design freedom without compromising the project's safety. Using an engineered approach, fire engineers can suggest potential solutions to fire safety issues within the overall building design, rather than modifying plans at a later stage. Omnii, as a leading provider of fire engineering solutions, does not believe in jeopardising the projects of its clients. Its fire safety consultants work with architects to achieve their objectives. They utilise scientific and engineering principles based on an understanding of the effects of fire, people's reactions to fire outbreaks, and how to protect people, property, and the environment. Fire engineering solutions provided by Omnii’s fire safety consultants include:
Cladding fire safety solutions provided by Omnii’s fire safety consultants include:
By availing fire engineering solutions offered by Omnii’s fire safety consultants, building owners can get a variety of benefits, such as:
Early partnership means added value and cost-savings Early involvement adds value to your projects. By involving Omnii's fire safety consultants early in a project, whether it's a new build, a commercial or residential development, or a refurbishment, you can ensure the safety of your occupants and property at a lower cost. The consultants will ensure that you can maximise your space while also improving your cost-efficiency. An early collaboration of Omnii's fire safety consultants means that they will be able to use advanced modeling practices, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), to predict the movement of heat and smoke from fires, allowing them to determine the best course of action. Fire engineering Services and risk assessment services are required by building owners in Australia not only to stay compliant but also for the evaluation of the level of risk to life that may result from a fire, and then make the necessary recommendations. A team of highly experienced professionals at Omni fire consulting and fire engineering services is more than qualified to offer you expert fire protection consulting and support during your fire risk assessment. A professional risk evaluation by Omnii’s fire protection consultants will safeguard your properties, reputation, and most importantly lives, as well as help you steer clear of any legal liability claims. The company provides services for the prevention of fire, escape routes, containment of the fire, and communication systems that immediately inform building occupants of a fire incident, and trigger any active fire safety systems installed in the building.
Some of the key fire engineering services provided by Omnii’s fire protection consultants in Australia include: Performance-based, fire-engineered solutions: Omnii’s fire protection consultants offer full consultation for code-compliant and fire-engineered approaches to the development of your fire strategy. Working with Omnii's fire engineers in Australia to develop your fire strategy will expedite approval by the state government because Omnii fire engineering services adhere to fire code guidelines and eliminate any ambiguity regarding the performance of a strategy or systems used. Preparation of fire engineering reports for building approval application: Fire engineering report (FER) created using Omnii’s fire engineering services will provide you with a detailed and documented design for approval. FER will include the development of a detailed analysis, safety reports and audits, details of relevant performance requirements, and more. Value management and value add reviews: With its value management and value add review services, Omnii’s fire engineers in Australia endeavour to design systems that achieve an adequate level of fire safety. In the event of a fire outbreak or societal resource constraints, the company's fire protection consultants may recommend more efficient fire protection or building design to maximise the number of lives saved. Master planning and concept advice: Omnii’s fire protection consultants can help you with professional advice on fire and resource planning, and implementation actions. The plans are prepared at an appropriate level of detail for every aspect of fire management, including prevention, detection, and large fire suppression and restoration. Fire risk assessment and audits: Omnii’s fire engineers in Australia will perform a fire audit for your property, keeping the key aspects of managing fire safety within a building while offering a structural path for continual improvement. The company’s fire protection consultants perform fire risk assessment and audit that objectively evaluate preventive and protective fire safety management systems. Builder bid review and refinement: Under its builder bid review and refinement services, Omnii will uncover unbalanced construction bidding in relation to your building’s fire safety. Instead of just going for the lowest evaluated bid, Omnii’s fire engineers in Australia will strike a balance between cost and fire safety design which is necessary to meet the intended fire safety goals. Preliminary fire safety strategies and advice: The Company’s consultants will provide you with professional level advice for reducing the risk and number of fires, reducing loss of life and damage to your property and assets. Advisory services would include smoke alarm maintenance, secondary escape routes, implementing measures for fire risk avoidance and reduction, and more. Feasibility studies: Buildings need to be designed or have a fire protection system in place that offers an acceptable level of safety and minimise the risks from heat and smoke. The primary objective of Omnii’s feasibility studies is not only to ensure the safety of building occupants but also to ensure the safety of firefighters involved in fire suppression and allow the building to continue to function after a fire, and that it can be repaired. A comprehensive range of solutions for fire engineering services Omnii’s fire protection consultants also provide fire engineering services for a variety of building fire protection services that include fire detection and alarm systems, hypoxic atmosphere systems, fire hydrant and fire hose reel systems, portable fire extinguisher system, fire sprinkler system, and more. Structural fire engineering services provided by Omnii’s fire engineers in Australia include value management reviews of builder bid designs and refinement of structural designs, structural fire engineering analysis, calculation of structural fire behaviour for structural stability and resistance for fire spread, and more. Additionally, Omnii’s fire engineers in Australia also provide cladding fire safety services through compliance pathways tailored to client and state government requirements, bespoke insurance cladding assessment reports, due diligence cladding assessment reports, and more. Omnii’s fire protection consultants assess each building individually to identify your needs, the extent and impact of the issue, and addressing the compliance requirement of the state. Detailed CFD modelling and analysis is utilised by Omnii’s fire engineering services for predicting the spread of fire, enabling Omnii fire engineers in Australia building-specific assessment and reporting. Building cladding is an outer skin that is applied to high-rise buildings to improve thermal energy efficiency, aesthetics, noise dampening, and weather protection. Building cladding can be retrofitted to an existing structure or incorporated into the design of a new structure.
Building cladding materials are typically chosen based on their appearance, durability, and colour availability. The most commonly used material for building cladding is ACM, or Aluminium Composite Material, which is composed of two aluminium skins bonded to a non-aluminium core. HPL, or High Pressure Laminate, panels used for building cladding, on the other hand, are created by pressing layers of wood or paper fibres into a resin and then bonding them together with heat. Rainscreen building cladding systems necessitate an open cavity to allow the insulation behind the weather-resistant panels to breathe. Other materials used in building cladding include wood, glass fixed to a steel frame, and fibre cement weatherboards. Furthermore, building cladding protects the privacy and security of the building's exteriors, provides thermal insulation, and improves the building's appearance. Almost every building cladding system incorporates fire-resistance measures. Emphasis on fire cladding of buildings With numerous incidents of widespread use of combustible cladding, a new wave of concern has hit the Australian construction industry. When selecting a building cladding material, fire safety has become especially important. However, before selecting a fire cladding, make sure that it provides excellent fire protection. For this, you should consult specialist fire safety and fire cladding engineers who can advise you on the best design, easy installation, and versatility of use. High quality fire cladding can provide building occupants protection for two hours in the event of a fire. The right heat-resistant wall panels offer protection for air handling plenums also. Using metal for fire cladding The International Building Code recognises metal fire cladding as non-combustible but this does not mean that buildings with metal cladding are exempt from fire regulations. However, metal cladding does provide significant advantages compared to wood and other materials. Metal cladding made of lightweight aluminum honeycomb cores can be the lightest fire cladding option. This metal fire cladding is lightweight that makes it easy to transport and install, and the fire cladding does not add to the dead load of the building. Moreover, metal fire cladding panels can be made of recycled materials, making them an environmentally-friendly option as it will reduce the amount of raw material that needs to be extracted, or the waste cladding material that needs to go a landfill. Omnii’s team has a thorough understanding of cladding legislations, and has team members who have completed specialised combustible cladding CPD courses to assist you in determining the best paths towards rectification. An addition, Omnii has also prequalified with the Residential Cladding Rectification Register (RCRR) on behalf of the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. Building cladding and fire cladding services offered by Omnii include:
Undertaking Building Fire Safety Risk Assessment (BFSRA) A Building Fire Safety Risk Assessment (BFSRA) is required by the Queensland Government to assess the risk of fire spread caused by combustible cladding. If combustible cladding is identified or reported in your building, you are required to have BFSRA completed by the due date, failing to do so means your building may be notified as an “Affected Building”, with a fire safety risk, and you may be asked for further action to replace the cladding. Omnii’s dedicated team can be contacted to help with your BFSRA certification. Omnii offers a range of fire safety engineering services including:
Omnii provides specialist services for fire safety engineering, building cladding and fire cladding in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and other parts of Australia. The company has provided its specialist fire safety engineering services to a variety of projects including healthcare, public buildings, residential, retail, entertainment & leisure, transport and more. Code Compliant Fire Protection Services with an Integrated Approach to Save Lives, Property & Assets7/20/2021 Fires often cause disruption to business activities, loss of employee work hours, loss of crucial business information, and liability claims resulting from damage caused due to fire. Fire prevention codes in Australia require proper maintenance and repair of building exit systems, fire alarm systems, and fire suppression systems. In Australia, the codes for fire protection services and protective fire services require building owners to submit plans with complete fire protection arrangements, as well as means of access and escape.
In a small building, fire detection systems may be as simple as a set of smoke detectors. However, in larger buildings, the range and complexity of detection devices is broader. The goal of protective fire services is to prevent the loss of life, damage to property, and downtime in the use of a building. Fire protection services may provide you with either active or passive fire protection. Active protective fire protection systems require some kind of action, be it an alarm, or the release of a clean suppression agent. Though fire detection systems appear to be passive, they are considered active because they can be combined with a fire suppression or sprinkler system to provide additional protection to the building and its occupants. Active fire protection systems Active fire protection systems receive signals, both manual and automatic, to perform their intended functions. These systems usually identify the presence of fire by detecting smoke or heat. The systems are used for the activation of extinguishing systems or for notifying the building occupants and emergency personnel through alarms at the onset of a fire. Some premises or shared facilities may have active fire protection systems as part of a wider managing agent’s controlled system. This aspect needs to be considered at the design stage itself, so at a later stage, the client can participate in the shared facility’s safety management and evacuation procedures with other building owners and occupants. Passive fire protection systems Fire protection services may put passive fire protection systems in place within the structure of the building which requires no human intervention. Passive fire protection services use building components to control or limit the fire. Walls, floors, and ceilings can be designed using fire protection services and constructed to resist the passage of fire and smoke. These barriers include compartmentalization or subdividing a building to reduce the size and spread of fire. For example, a wall with a one-hour fire resistance rating is built to resist the passage of fire for one hour. Fireproofing walls and compartmentalization of a building can prevent the spread of fire without any human intervention. These passive fire protection systems work even without requiring any electricity. However, a passive fire protection system may not work if the wall, floor, or ceiling of the compartment has an unprotected opening through which a fire or smoke can spread. Similarly, a passive fire protection system with a fire door being blocked or that is inoperable will no longer serve as an effective fire barrier. Fire protection consulting services There may be exceptional circumstances where a compartmentalization strategy may not work, such as an explosion, before, during or after a fire. There may be more complex and unlikely scenarios that the consultants at a fire protection services provider can advise you of. Omnii is the leading protective fire services and fire protection services provider in Australia whose fire consultants can provide you with professional advice to handle unexpected circumstances and ensure the building is prepared. Moreover, even a small fire can create considerable smoke and fire damage, so you should always ask your protective fire service consultants about how far the design will prevent smoke, heat and water leaving the area of compartmentalization. An integrated approach to a building design for fire protection Omnii’s fire protection services and protective fire services audits may recommend you keep both active and passive fire protection systems in place to ensure people and property are safe in the event of a fire. Active and passive fire protection systems are linked to each other, and as a building owner, you should ensure that the lead designer has ensured an integrated approach to the design. Omnii’s protective fire service and fire protection services are aimed at reducing or eliminating the occurrence of fires during the day-to-day operations of a property. Fire protection services provided by Omnii include:
A fire safety audit is conducted by trained fire safety consultants to ascertain how a building, be it commercial, industrial or residential, is being managed with respect to fire safety. A fire protection audit is performed to assess the effectiveness of fire extinguishing systems in the event of a fire outbreak. A fire and life safety audit demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to health and safety, highlights non-conformities, and brings security to a workplace by preventing the possibility of prosecution and litigation.
A fire protection audit can include the evaluation of a range of fire protection services, and can include the following:
Fire safety consultants have an important role to play in fire safety as they work to make your workplace or residential building safer for the occupants. They do this by conducting a fire protection audit and a fire risk assessment onsite, generating a report on building safety, and providing their professional advice and recommendations. The consultants will explain the potential areas in your building where a fire could start and suggest appropriate preventive measures. They will also advise you on the employer’s legal obligations to their staff. Fire safety consultants with a deep knowledge of fire safety codes Planning for system upgrades is important for fire alarm and life safety systems. Omnii’s fire safety consultants possess deep knowledge of all fire safety code regulations. Omnii is Australia’s leading fire safety consulting company and can help you evaluate the best commercial alarm system for your building, including all associated costs. The advisory services provided by Omnii’s fire safety consultants include analysis of the escape paths and sprinkler systems, and emergency lighting. The consultants may suggest battery-operated emergency lighting so it will not be affected in case the electricity goes off in the event of a fire. The consultants can decide on an appropriate fire exit plan that is convenient for all occupants, and suggest a designated assembly area outside of the building. An innovative approach to fire engineering services Fire safety engineering services involves the application of scientific and fire engineering principles, and understanding how fire impacts a building in different ways. It ensures the safe exit of people and safe access for firefighters. These services include commissioning and testing services related to hydraulic calculations, alarm and voice communication systems, smoke management systems, special application extinguishing systems, and laser smoke detection systems. Omnii’s fire protection engineering services are designed to deliver cutting-edge solutions and innovative approaches to the protection of life and property. The comprehensive suite of fire protection engineering services from Omnii includes:
Fire risk assessment and solutions for specific tasks Whether your need a fire protection audit, fire protection engineering services, a fire risk assessment, or looking for support for long-term projects, Omnii’a fire safety consultants can help you with all aspects related to fire safety. Fire safety consultants are always up to date with the latest Australian fire protection audit regulations, fire protection engineering services and other services related to fire safety and protection. Fire safety consultants provide code-compliant fire and life safety systems, meeting all state, federal and local regulations. Omnii has some of Australia’s best pure-play fire safety consultants onboard, providing fire protection engineering services, fire protection audit, structural fire engineering and cladding fire safety services across all sectors in the built environment. Omnii’s fire safety consultants have provided their fire protection audit and fire protection engineering services in Australia for a wide variety of projects including commercial, industrial, public buildings, mining, oil, gas & petroleum, retail, seniors living and more |