How do you structure the agenda for a Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) meeting with Queensland Fire & Emergency Services (QFES)?
Your application with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services is in.
You’ve figured out who you should invite to the Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) meeting.
There’s just one thing left to do – figure out what you’re actually going to talk about!
Structuring an agenda that’s actually going to work for you is a skill. Luckily it’s one our team of experienced fire engineers has has a lot of practice doing.
We’ve put together a complete draft agenda for you to use as a cheat sheet, along with our top pieces of advice for how run your next Fire Engineering Brief meeting so that you’re a lot more likely to get the result you’re after.
Before we dive in, a quick recap on who will be there:
Let’s look at an example of a standard Fire Engineering Brief meeting – because of course, different projects will call for different specialists.
For a typical project, the guest list would generally include the following stakeholders:
- Building Certifier
- Architect
- Fire Engineer
- Client Representative
It could potentially also include
- Fire Protection Services Designer
- Mechanical or Structural Engineer
Your draft Agenda for a Fire Engineering Brief Meeting
1. Introduction
To kick things off, the Architect gives a high-level overview of the building and any significant features.
2. Key Building Characteristics
Next, the Building certifier provides the key building characteristics such as:
- effective height
- rise in storeys
- number of storeys contained
- large isolated building (if applicable)
- required fire safety systems under the BCA etc.
4. Fire Strategy Presentation
Te fire engineer then presents the fire strategy for the development:
- Systematically works through the fire engineered Performance Solutions and supporting fire design requirements, proposed assessment methodologies and acceptance criteria.
- Seeks feedback and endorsement of the Performance Solutions proposed.
- Resolves any feedback during the meeting, if possible (otherwise feedback may require further consultation with the design team post meeting).
Once again, the team fields any questions that the QFES may have.
Often there are queries with respect to the fire safety systems in the building and their design.
This is where a fire protection services designer being present in the meeting can also assist, particularly for complex developments.
5. Fire protection services
Should the fire protection services designer be attending the meeting, it is often advisable to provide an overview of the fire safety system design. For example:
- booster locations
- what standards the fire sprinklers and detection system will be designed to
- etc.
This can occur between the building certifier giving an overview of BCA compliance and the fire engineer presenting the fire strategy.
This can help set the scene and provide QFES with a better understanding of the building in terms of safety provisions before getting into the fire engineering detail.
6. Mechanical Engineering
Should the mechanical or structural engineers be attending the meeting, it is often advisable for them to support the fire engineer when the relevant Performance Solutions applicable to their specialised field are raised.
The QFES may ask questions pertaining to the mechanical design or structural design to understand cause and effect or other ambiguities.
Meeting Minutes
The building certifier typically takes meeting minutes and distributes these post Fire Engineering Brief meeting.
All attendees need to read the meeting minutes and provide applicable comments to ensure that everything is captured.
The meeting minutes play a key role in ensuring that feedback and discussions are recorded to enable project stakeholders to take appropriate action – whether this is to resolve any outstanding feedback items or to proceed to the Fire Engineering Report based on endorsement of the fire strategy presented.
Remember - it's a team effort!
Whilst the building certifier and fire engineer drive the meeting, everyone is working towards the same goal of demonstrating that the design proposals makes sense, meets the Performance Requirements of the BCA and is safe.
It’s a team effort to arrive at the best possible outcome for our clients.
