Frequently Asked Question

  • No — bushfire assessments are entirely separate from NCC fire safety compliance.
    If your site is in a bushfire-prone area, you'll need to engage a Bushfire Consultant to carry out a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) or BMO (Bushfire Management Overlay) assessment. This is typically a much more straightforward process than fire engineering.

    If your site is in a bushfire-prone area, you'll need to engage a Bushfire Consultant to carry out a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) or BMO (Bushfire Management Overlay) assessment. This is typically a much more straightforward process than fire engineering.

    These assessments do not require a fire safety engineer and are best handled by a specialist Bushfire Consultant. We recommend searching locally for a qualified provider.

  • Only if a performance solution is required — otherwise, no.

    Fire-rated walls are part of the architectural design and are based on the NCC’s standard (Deemed-to-Satisfy) requirements. It’s the responsibility of the architect or building designer to select tested, certified systems and incorporate them into the building’s design.

    If a performance solution is required to reduce the FRL (Fire Resistance Level), or to address non-standard construction during a renovation or retrofit, then a fire safety engineer may be involved.

    Most of the time, wall design is not part of our scope unless there’s a performance-based issue to solve.

  • No — product and system testing must be done by certified fire testing laboratories.

    If you need to test a custom wall system, product, or material, it must go through an accredited testing facility like Warrington Fire or Ignis Labs.

    Most projects use already-tested, certified systems. New testing is only required in rare or bespoke situations.

  • No — full BCA/NCC audits are done by your Building Surveyor or a Building Code Consultant.

    We focus on fire engineering and protection design. Your Building Surveyor is responsible for reviewing and approving the entire building against the NCC, including fire, access, energy, structure, and more.

    We work closely with Building Surveyors as part of the fire approval process, especially for performance solutions.

  • No — Dangerous Goods (DG) compliance requires a separate consultant.

    If you’re storing flammables, aerosols, gases, batteries, or other classified substances, a Dangerous Goods Consultant must carry out a formal assessment and classification.

    That said, we often work on sites storing DGs. We’ll review your DG report and factor it into our fire design to ensure the fire strategy aligns with the identified risks.

    We don’t provide DG assessments, but we integrate them into our design where relevant.

  • No — installation and maintenance is handled by licensed fire services contractors.

    We specialise in fire protection system design (sprinklers, hydrants, detection, alarms, block plans), but we don’t supply or install equipment.

    However, we do offer:

    - Direct communication with your installer (as an optional service)

    - Installation Audit Reports to assess whether the system was built in accordance with the approved design

    - Referrals to trusted installers

    For ongoing servicing, contact a licensed contractor. For changes to the design, contact us.

  • Fire Engineering is the practice of designing buildings for safety from fire.

    Fire Engineering involves fire protection engineering and fire safety engineering.

    Buildings are constructed per legislation and regulations and are subject to regular inspection and audit by a Fire Safety Engineer. Fire Safety Engineers ensure that buildings or facilities comply with the fire safety codes.

  • In building construction, fire protection engineering is a specialisation of fire safety engineering. It is the application of the principles and practices of engineering analysis and the related science of fire to the design of buildings and other structures intended to resist and contain fires.

    The ultimate goal of fire protection engineering is to ensure, in the event of a fire, that the building occupants are secure, safe, and able to exit safely, with minimal damage to the building and its contents.

    A Fire Protection Engineer designs the fire protection services and systems, for example, sprinklers, manual suppression systems, and alarm and detection systems.

  • Fire Safety Engineering deals with fire detection and suppression systems for fire safety.

    Most buildings will benefit from Fire Safety Design using Performance Solutions. The Fire Safety Engineering process develops a Fire Safety Strategy. The strategy consists of meeting the required Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions and Performance Requirements.

    The Fire Safety Engineer creates an alternative building design for the BCA's fire safety requirements, contributing to developing the building's alternative strategy.

    Fire Safety Design is developed through the engineering analysis application and accepted by the relevant authority having jurisdiction. Most commonly, the Building Surveyor will sometimes ask for Third Party certification.

  • A fire safety design is the built environment (buildings, structures, and installations) and materials used to protect people and property from fire.

    Most buildings will benefit from Fire Safety Design using Performance Solutions.

    The Fire Safety Design process develops a Fire Safety Strategy. The Fire Safety Strategy meets the required Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) provisions and Performance Requirements.

    This is achieved through the process of the Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) and the Fire Engineering Report (FER). In addition, a registered Fire Safety Engineer justifies the Performance Solutions and is approved by stakeholders.

  • Most buildings will benefit from Fire Safety Design using Performance Solutions.

    Fire Engineering Performance Solutions are designed to meet the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Australian Standards and reduce the cost of designing, building and maintaining buildings.

  • A fire safety strategy is a well-thought-out plan to reduce fire hazards, reduce fire loss, and increase first responder safety. Fire safety strategies must be developed and implemented according to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Australian Standards.

  • There are two ways to achieve Compliance with the BCA.

    1. The first option is Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS), following the 'recipes' in the Building Code required for your building type and class.

    2. The second option develops an optimal alternative strategy through a combination of DtS with Performance Solutions, which meets the Building Code's Performance Criteria.

  • The Fire Safety Design process meets the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

    The Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) outlines the building's Fire Safety Strategy. Stakeholder approval of the Fire Engineering Brief is required to ensure the strategy meets all the objectives and goals.

    The agreed Fire Safety Strategy is analysed in Fire Engineering Report for Authority acceptance and approval.

    The Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) and the Fire Engineering Report documents become part of the Approved Building Design.

  • A Fire Safety Audit checks that the building matches the approved building design.

    It's an annual inspection and review of Fire Safety Measures and is part of the building's Essential Safety Measures (ESM) requirement performed by a registered Fire Safety Engineer.

    A Fire Safety Audit includes a review of the building and related documentation such as equipment test reports, training procedures, block plans etc. The registered Fire Safety Engineer conducts the Fire Safety Audit in accordance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Australian Standards.

  • Third-Party Peer Review aims to assist the Relevant Building Surveyor in determining if the fire-engineered building design demonstrates that the building and building work will comply with the Building Act and Regulations and are in line with the Building Code of Australia.

  • While we don't offer a specific list of fire engineering and fire risk-related services in Victoria, it's important to note that there are specialized services we do not provide. These services require the expertise and skills of other professionals in the field who are equipped to handle them. These services are provided by other experts in the field who have the necessary skills and expertise to handle them.

    Below is a list of fire engineering in Victoria and fire risk-related services that we can not or do not provide. These services are provided by other types of specialists.

  • No — installation and maintenance is handled by licensed fire services contractors.

    We specialise in fire protection system design (sprinklers, hydrants, detection, alarms, block plans), but we don’t supply or install equipment.

    However, we do offer:

    - Direct communication with your installer (as an optional service)

    - Installation Audit Reports to assess whether the system was built in accordance with the approved design

    - Referrals to trusted installers

    For ongoing servicing, contact a licensed contractor. For changes to the design, contact us.

  • No — this work is done by licensed ESM (Essential Safety Measures) contractors.

    After construction, the following need ongoing inspection and maintenance:

    - Extinguishers and hose reels — regular tagging and pressure testing

    - Emergency lighting — periodic discharge testing

    - Fire alarms, panels, and doors — routine service

    - Annual compliance reports — depending on state and building class

    We don’t provide these services — but if you need to change or redesign the system, we can help.

    For regular ESM compliance, speak with your Building Surveyor, facility manager, or ESM contractor.

    For changes to the system design — **contact us

  • Yes — but only as part of a full-scope project, or for returning clients we've already worked with holistically.

    We don’t offer this as a standalone service. For smaller one-off needs, a workplace safety or evacuation planning contractor is your best option.

    If you’re an existing or past full-service client, we can include emergency diagrams and procedures in your scope.

    This is an optional add-on service for clients we've worked with holistically — where we’ve delivered or are delivering broader fire strategy and design.

  • We’re not project managers — but we can make the fire scope much easier by guiding you and coordinating with your team.

    IFS delivers Fire Safety Engineering, Fire Protection Design, and R129 submissions all in-house. While we don’t manage your full build, we regularly:

    - Collaborate with Building Surveyors, architects, and engineers

    - Liaise with water authorities and the Fire Brigade

    - Coordinate with installers

    - Recommend other consultants (e.g. DG, BAL, ESM) where needed

    We’ll help you simplify the fire side of your project but all decisions are still made by you or your project manager.

Fire Engineering Glossary

The Fire Engineering Glossary is an essential tool for building managers who require a reliable resource to help them understand the terms used in this important field.

Learn more