Fire Protection Equipment & Consultants

Businesses specialising in the manufacture, sale and installation of fire protection equipment are routinely contracted by developers and home construction companies; as their services are required by law.

Fire Protection consultants inform clients what type of fire protection is appropriate for any given situation, and importantly, assess the types of fire hazard that may be faced. In Australia fires are classified into six classes, from A to F. Class A is the most common type of fire involving flammable solids such as wood, cloth, rubber, paper, and some types of plastics. The remaining classes include fires that feed on solvents and flammable gases, and those that involve electrical wiring and other hazards.

Each class requires a different method of fire protection: water-based or chemical foam extinguishers, for example, a sprinkler system or electrical by-pass circuitry. But there is a minimum system of fire protection that can be introduced into the home or business and this includes the use of extinguishers, alarms, evacuation systems and sensors. Building codes require the installation of fire safety devices such as fire alarms inside the house and extinguishers in common areas such as stairwells. Some alarm systems are connected to a fire protection service so that fire services officers can be notified as soon as a fire starts. A fire protection system can only work if all the elements of that system are functioning. If the sprinkler system or fire alarm system is inoperable for lack of knowledgeable maintenance, or if the building occupants prop open a fire door, then the system has been compromised.