Fire safety is a key component of any building today, whether residential or commercial, although the standards are more complex for commercial structures. Fire safety measures, such as smoke detection systems, sprinklers, smoke and fire alarms can be incorporated during construction or retrofitted to existing buildings. They can be simple manual fittings, or complex automated systems, depending on the purpose, need and size of the building..

Fire Safety

Fire safety systems are one of the most important elements in any building, whether residential or commercial, although the standards are more complex for commercial structures. There are a wide range of fire safety systems available, suited to different types of fire hazards and building sizes and styles. Whether it’s a simple, manually installed heat or smoke detector, or an automated system throughout a whole building, the fire system in place will determine the overall safety of the building - for people and property.

What are the best options for smoke detectors and sensors?

In a residential setting, the choice exists to install manual, battery-operated smoke alarms or have them hard-wired into the electrical system. Most hard-wired smoke alarms are interconnected so if an alarm is set off in one area of the home, it will trigger all alarms in the house.

Smoke alarms are generally split into two further categories: photoelectric and ionisation, each of which has a different method for detecting smoke. Some alarms combine both photoelectric and ionisation technology.

Ionisation alarms are considered to be more effective at detecting fast-spreading fires while photoelectric alarms are more effective at detecting slow-burning or smouldering fires such as electrical fires, so it may be the case that an ionisation alarm is more suited to a kitchen area, for example, where quick-burning fires could be more likely to erupt as a result of cooking.

Fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are useful for containing small fires and may assist in preventing the spread of a fire in the home. There are various types of fire extinguishers available including water, foam, wet chemical, dry powder and carbon dioxide. Each is designed to extinguish a certain type of fire. It is always best practice to mount fire extinguishers on the wall, out of reach of children, in an obvious place that is easily accessible in the event of a fire.

What is a fire door and when is it needed?

A fire door is used as part of a passive fire protection plan. Fire doors have a fire-resistance rating and are installed to prevent the fire from spreading between different areas of a building. There are different rules in place depending on the type, size and use of a building detailing requirements around fire doors.

When should fire sprinklers be installed?

Sprinkler systems are not a requirement in most New Zealand homes but can be installed by a qualified plumber, if the design was completed by a person who holds a BRANZ, Unitec or equivalent qualification in home sprinkler design. Commercial fire protection systems often incorporate sprinkler systems as part of a multi-faceted system.