What if the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) rejects my performance solution?!
You’ve slaved over your application. You were sure you’d thought of everything. Then, bam – the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) rejects your fire safety performance solution.
It’s the last thing you want to happen.
That’s why it’s so important to take steps before you submit your fire safety solution to mitigate the chances of things going sideways.
How likely is it that I need to worry about this?
There are a few things you need to consider at the outset to determine if rejection is a likelihood for your project.
There are a few questions you can ask yourself to check, like:
- What departures are there from the National Construction Code (NCC)?
- What new departures might arise during design that need to be considered?
- Are any of the items risky and if so, what is the likelihood of them being supported?
First, is your fire engineer satisfied?
Is your fire engineer satisfied that the Performance Solution proposed can meet the mandatory Performance Requirements of the Building Code of Australia?
The answer should always be YES! Otherwise, they should not be supporting and presenting the Performance Solution to QFES in the first place. This is your first check box.
An experienced fire safety engineer may have encountered similar Performance Solutions previously and can draw upon their prior experience to provide a guide to whether the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is likely (not guaranteed!) to support the proposal.
TIP: Control the controllable
Remember that the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service does not recognise precedence and each development is subject to its own assessment based on its own merits and the ever-changing built environment. Just because it has been done before, doesn’t mean that it can be done forever.
A better question to ask is: What can we do in our zone of control to set ourselves up for the highest chance of success?
What practical steps can you take to increase your chances?
Build a strong case: After ensuring that your Performance Solution meets the Performance Requirements of the Building Code of Australia, your fire engineer can make a strong case for their Performance Solution and demonstrate the validity.
Communicate clearly: Clearly explain the departures from the Building Code. Detail provisions in layman terms so all stakeholders in the QFES meeting can understand. Explain what a solution looks like and how it demonstrates compliance.
Use visual aids: Markups on architectural and design drawings clearly showing the fire safety requirements proposed to support the Performance Solution. Architects can even provide 3D models to help explain where the concept is complicated!
TIP: KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID
A picture paints a thousand words: QFES building approval officers are not intimately knowledgeable of your development. Markups of drawings and 3D models go a long way to bridging that knowledge gap in a short period of time and clearly explaining what you are proposing.
Don’t get too technical: QFES are educated in fire safety and have extensive experience in fire brigade operations, but they may not be across all technical and esoteric aspects of fire safety engineering – so be careful not to delve into too much detail, unless requested.
You can't be too prepared.
Anticipating the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services position is a critical element to ensuring success.
You can do this by:
- Trying to predict fire brigade questions before the meeting.
- Being prepared to answer with respect to their concerns.
- Being open to feedback and actively listening.
Where appropriate rebut if confident the strategy addresses the feedback. Be respectful and remember – we are in the same business which is to make buildings safe.
TIP: It's ok to ask for more time
If you don’t know the answer and/or need to review their feedback, it is often advisable to take it away and resolve with your team.
Then provide formal feedback addressing each item for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services review.
Consider a second meeting if there are still concerns or clarity is required.
Honesty is the best policy
If there is no rationale to propose a Performance Solution for the design departure, be honest with your clients.
Don’t try to pin it on the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services hoping that when you walk into the meeting that they will shut it down.
This goes back to the fact that the fire engineer must be certain that their Performance Solution meets the mandatory Performance Requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
TIP: Be prepared with a back-up plan
Prepare for the eventuation that the QFES does reject the higher risk performance solutions by preparing additional alternative options in advance.
This way, you can be prepared with a ‘worst case’ plan and costing earlier so there are less surprises for your client down the track!
