Fire Australia Magazine | Issue 2 2022

PAST LESSONS BUILD FUTURE CAPABILITY NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAM NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO THE FALLEN THE FUTURE OF FIRE PROTECTION: FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022 ISSUE TWO 2022

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28 Fire Australia 2022: offsite tours

42 Engineered wood products: a safe solution

243036

40 Seasonal Bushfire Outlook autumn 2022

46

47 Standards update Readers’ corner

48

22 Lessons Management Forum: building a learning culture

50

In a similar vein, an increasing emphasis on gender diversity is exposing deficiencies in our traditionally male-dominated sector, and more work is needed to understand how to redress that imbalance.

Having only recently taken the role of CEO at FPA Australia, I am very excited about attending my first Fire Australia.

KILGOURJOHN AustraliaOfficer,ExecutiveChiefFPA

24 Fire Australia 2022: for industry insights and innovations

26 The latest fire protection solutions at Fire Australia

Get insights into the future of fire protection at Fire Australia 2022. PHOTO:

Fire Australia is a joint publication of Fire Protection Association Australia and AFAC. We aim to bring the latest news, developments and technical information to the fire protection industry, fire and emergency services organisations, and hazard and emergency management agencies. Fire Australia is produced quarterly and distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand. Editorial submissions and letters to the editor are welcome and can be sent to magazine@fpaa.com.au. For more details on submitting a contribution, please contact the editors.

39 Farewell to a pioneer of Australian aerial firefighting

18 Australia Day Honours List 2022

FPA Australia is exploring these questions in our Fire Australia 2022 Conference and Tradeshow.Thelargest fire protection event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, this year’s Fire Australia will look at the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry over the coming decade.

And, of course, there will be the Conference Gala and Awards Dinner, where once again we will recognise the best in the industry and raise money for the Fiona Wood Foundation.

Our Tradeshow is drawing some of Australia’s and the world’s leading suppliers, with more than 80 exhibitors showcasing some of the newest innovations in the industry.

30 Introduction to prescribed fire

36 Connecting communities, creating resilience

43 Women in fire: data supports gender diversity

Finally, the significant stress of our members’ roles points to a growing potential mental health risk that could become endemic if not identified and managed effectively.

OUR COVER FPA AUSTRALIA FIRE AUSTRALIA

REGULAR FEATURES

IN THIS ISSUE

4 News

32 Memorial for lives lost

44 Q&A: perspectives from the sector Blast from the past

THE FUTURE OF FIRE PROTECTIONWhereisthefireprotection

One issue—competition for employees— is making it difficult for an ageing industry to rejuvenate itself and to replace retiring practitioners. Fewer school leavers are seeing fire protection as a vocational option, and it’s getting harder to reach them, but it’s vital for the future of the industry that we do.

3ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of FPA Australia or AFAC. Articles and advertisements are published in good faith but Fire Australia magazine and its agents do not warrant the accuracy or currency of any information or data contained herein. Fire Australia magazine and its agents do not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the material in this publication. It is not possible for FPA Australia to ensure that advertisements published in this magazine comply in all respects with the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the provisions which apply to advertising. Responsibility lies with the person, company or agency submitting the advertisement for publication. Material in Fire Australia magazine is subject to copyright. This publication may not be reproduced in printed or electronic form without permission. Contact +61 3 8892 3131 ADVERTISING LISTING 2 PERTRONIC 5 FIREMATE 9 FIRESENSE 13 SEA TO SUMMIT 15 ARCHER TESTING 19 AUSTRALIS MUSIC 21 REDMEN 29 UPTICK 33 WL GORE ASSOCIATESAND 35 WARRINGTONFIRE 37 AFAC CONFERENCE 2022 41 POWER EQUIPMENT 42 WOOD SOLUTIONS 51 FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022 52 WINDSOR To advertise in Fire Australia, contact: Paul Waterhouse, magazine@fpaa.com.au FPA Australia, PO Box 1049, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia Fire Australia magazine is printed by a printer with ISO14001 ISSNISSNFSCvegetable-basedAccreditationManagementEnvironmentalSystemusinginksonto-certifiedpaper.1032-6529(Print)2200-9221(Online) JOINT EDITORS PAUL WATERHOUSE (FPA Australia) Tel +61 3 8892 3133 paul.waterhouse@fpaa.com.au ALANA BEITZ (AFAC) Tel +61 3 9418 5233 alana.beitz@afac.com.au

industry headed? What does the next decade hold for the sector and the community it protects?

The program has several topics looking at the future, how demographics will influence it, what changes to regulation are likely, and how technologies are going to change.

49 Calendar Movers and shakers

14 Complacency can lead to the coroner

And, for the first time, we will be holding a couple of workshops to give members a chance to contribute to the future of their industry, and we are looking forward to seeing what ideas emerge.

16 Enabling national fire and emergency services capability

20 Safety of alternative and renewable energy technologies

But that’s not the only focus. We’ve also got presentations about residential sprinklers, the role of owners in fire safety, and the views of a coroner, with technical sessions on bushfire design, megastructures, defects and special hazards fire safety.

38 Vale Bob Bell

ABOUT

It will be a busy—but rewarding—three days, and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

34 Boosting confidence in safety-critical products

These and other issues will be explored from 3 to 5 May at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.

making its own changes to WHSThislegislation.meansthat the leadership of companies across Australia will have similar obligations and requirements wherever they operate.

The Western Australian Government’s new work health and safety (WHS) laws commenced on 31 March 2022.

STORYBLOCKSPHOTO: NEWS 4 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

WA employeestoresponsibilityanowexecutiveshavegreaterkeeptheirsafe.

It is important to note that insurance will no longer cover penalties, meaning that people who breach the legislation will be held accountable for their actions and be responsible for financial penalties.Thenew laws bring WA into harmony with the other states and territories, except Victoria, which is

The Resilient Australia Awards are proudly sponsored by the Australian Government in partnership with the states and territories and are managed by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.

For more information on the award categories and submission guidelines, visit www.aidr.org.au/raa.

AIDRPHOTO:

The Resilient Australia Awards return in 2022 to celebrate and promote initiatives that build whole of community resilience to disasters and emergencies around Australia and promote images capturing resilience in action.

They recognise modern work relationships, such as subcontracting and the ‘gig’ economy, and introduce the term ‘person conducting a business undertaking’.Thechanges mean that anyone who engages a WA worker now has a legislated duty to protect their health and safety. A key component of the change is the introduction of industrial manslaughter laws.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR 2022 AUSTRALIARESILIENTAWARDS

They specify that officers (senior decision-makers) must exercise due diligence to comply with the laws, and that the responsibility for workplace safety sits with the leaders of an organisation.Thesenew provisions carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $5 M fine for an individual and a maximum $10 M fine for a body corporate.

For more information, www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/WHS.visit

Fire and Rescue NSW won the 2021 Resilient Australia National Award for their childreneducationbasedevidence-firesafetyforprogram.

The awards recognise collaboration and innovative thinking across all sectors.

WA MANSLAUGHTERNEWINTRODUCESINDUSTRIAL LAWS

The new laws are intended to improve protections for the state’s workers, bringing WHS for general industry, mines and petroleum operations together under a single statute in an Australian first.

Submissions and nominations are now open in each state and territory across seven categories: business, community, government, local government, mental health and well-being, school and photography. Submissions close on 6 June 2022.

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DOES LEGISLATIONPROJECTQUEENSLAND’STRUSTACCOUNTAPPLYTOYOU?

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has developed a project trust account tool to help parties determine if a project trust account is required, which can be found at myQBCC/s/trust-accounts-toohttps://my.qbcc.qld.gov.au/l.

Since March 2018, project bank accounts have been used on certain building, construction and services contracts in Queensland. In 2020, the Queensland Government amended the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 to simplify the regime, and the latest phase started on 1 January 2022, since when accounts have been required for non-government contracts.

Given the administrative and financial burden of complying with the regime and penalties for noncompliance, parties should ensure they

CHANGES TO THE SA MANAGED FIRE SERVICEALARM

The requirement currently applies to contracts worth $10 M or more, but will drop to a threshold of $3 M from 1 July 2022 and $1 M from 1 January 2023.

For further information, please contact the Telstra MFAS Operations Manager on 1800 959 555 or mfasoperations@team.telstra.com.email

STORYBLOCKSPHOTO:

A publicly available register of trust accounts can be found at coveredlegalAsaccount-registermy.qbcc.qld.gov.au/myQBCC/s/trust-https:always,practitionersshouldseekadviceaboutwhethertheyarebythislegislation.

NEWS 6 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

Telstra has been commissioned by the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service and SA Country Fire Service to upgrade the state’s fire alarm monitoring service (including alarm signalling equipment, network program.andarebuildingmadeThesetheysitescontactscontactingnewcoursecompletetosignallingwillprotectingflexibleownersbeingServicethroughinstallationcommunications,andsupportservices)theManagedFireAlarm(MFAS).Anew,improvedMFASisrolledout,whichwillprovidewithamoresecure,andfunctionalsolutionfortheirbuilding.Allcontractorsandstaffwhoneedtoaccessthenewalarmequipment(forexample,setitintotestmode),mustashortonlinetrainingandberegisteredtotheTransITFirePlatform.Telstrawillbeseparatelyallidentifiedsitetoadvisewhentheirwillbeupgradedandhowcanundertakethetraining.MFASupgradeswillbeatnoadditionalcosttoowners,providingtheyperformedinbusinesshoursinlinewiththeupgrade

subcontractors.intobuildersQueenslandneedholdmoneytrustfortheir

are prepared well before the relevant date for commencement.

NEWS 7ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA

The National Aerial Firefighting Centre offers its sincere condolences to Adam’s family, friends and colleagues, and expresses gratitude for his significant contribution to the sector.

Watch https://youtu.be/3-n_wLD4O_k.online:

„ Episode One—with Mark Finney, US Forest Service

Watch https://youtu.be/w8tVKF8XU1w.online:

„ Episode Three—with Kamaljit Sangha, Charles Darwin University Determining understandingenvironmentalbushfire-relatedlossiscriticaltothetotaleconomic costs

The Centre of Excellence for Prescribed Burning webinars are available online.

Watch https://youtu.be/HweTcEBbj-s.online:

This presentation summarises some familiar questions concerning approaches to fire management, identifying ‘valuable assets’ and ways to ensure their protection. Our experience and scientific evidence favours proactive management rather than emergency response, accepting fire as an ally rather than declaring it an enemy.

The Centre of Excellence for Prescribed Burning has developed a three-part webinar series: ‘Valuing ecological assets to correct the bushfire management investment balance’. The topics covered in the series encourage a more holistic mindset when making decisions about the application of prescribed fire. The webinar series includes:

IN MEMORY OF ADAM DAMEN

RedEye present its vision for solving the multidimensional problem of shifting the investment focus around the irresistible forces that drive response expenditure and post-disaster recovery costs. Its bushfire platform aims to elevate natural assets in prevention and preparedness thinking, and provide a traceable, consistent, science-based methodology to quantify how investment in mitigation changes bushfire risk.

On 22 February 2022, Adam Damen passed away at the age of 40 after a battle with cancer. Adam worked for many years in the area of radio communications and aerial intelligence technologies for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria. He had a great passion for this type of work and made a significant contribution towards the evaluation and development of aerial intelligence technologies, on a national basis, working with his colleagues in other agencies around Australia and with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre.

VALUING ECOLOGICAL ASSETS—WEBINAR SERIES

„ Episode Two—with Wayne Gerard, Ben Twomey and Andrew Sturgess, RedEye

of bushfires and to plan for disaster management and resilience policies. When bushfires destroy our environmental assets, current techniques typically fail to consider or document their loss because there is no loss of infrastructure. Developing appropriate accounting techniques to estimate disaster-related losses from environmental and human well-being perspectives is essential.

Dr June.willAustralia,ResearchHazardsNaturalCEOThornton,Richardofretirein

AFAC welcomes the participation of Surf Life Saving NSW, Ambulance Tasmania and the National Biosecurity Response Team in the AFAC Member network.

was right for him to move on to other projects.“Ithas been a privilege to watch the growth and impact of natural hazards research over the years,” he said.

and Natural Hazards CRC (2013–21), and finally as CEO of the new Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre) from July Having2021.been appointed to lead the Centre through its busy establishment year, Dr Thornton decided that the time

NEWS 8 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

You can read the full statement from the Centre’s Board retirement.ceo-dr-richard-thornton-announces-and-events/news/statement-board-www.naturalhazards.com.au/news-at

AFAC WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS TO NETWORK

NATURAL HAZARDS RESEARCH AUSTRALIA CEO TO RETIRE

Learn more about AFAC Membership at the AFAC website: www.afac.com.au/teams/network.

Bishop Druitt College Coffs Harbour, St Patrick’s College Campbelltown and Christian College Geelong have been selected as joint winners of the National Large Air Tanker (LAT) Naming Competition.

The three winning schools all proposed the name ‘The Phoenix’. Students from the schools said that it is “a symbol of renewal and rebirth”, that the National LAT “is curing the land with its tears by putting out fires” and that it will allow “new life rising from the ashes”.

“Over the course of the last 20 years, the outcomes of the CRCs have saved lives, homes, businesses and communities,” she said.

AFAC is pleased to welcome one new Member and two new Affiliate Members to its network.

Surf Life Saving NSW has joined AFAC as a Member, with CEO Steve Pearce appointed as the delegate to the AFAC NationalAmbulanceCouncil.Tasmania and the National Biosecurity Response Team have joined AFAC as Affiliate Members.

The Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, visited Bishop Druitt College on 24 March, 2022, to congratulate one of the winning schools and announce the National LAT’s future name.

The competition received entrants from every Australian state and allowed young Australians to get involved and contribute to Australia’s disaster resilience.

“The Board thanks Richard for his leadership over many years and his legacy developing a globally recognised capability of research in natural hazards mitigation, response and recovery.”

Dr Thornton has had an accomplished 20-year career in natural hazards research in Australia—as Research Director of the Bushfire CRC (2004–13), then CEO of the Bushfire

SCHOOLS NAME NATIONAL LARGE AIR TANKER

BROADWAYDAVIDPHOTO:

“The CRC program enabled us to harness this good work and link it in with the needs of those who are preparing for and responding to natural hazards across Australia. The funding of Natural Hazards Research Australia for ten years from 2021 by the Australian Government was a testament to the success of this model of doing collaborative research with real-world uses, and I am proud to be a part of its formation.”DrKatherine Woodthorpe AO, Chair of the Centre, said Dr Thornton’s work was a remarkable legacy for natural hazards research in Australia.

Dr Richard Thornton has announced his retirement for the end of June this year.

F re ense www. firesense .com.au sales@firesense.com.au0288502888 salesvic@firesense.com.au0396464557 salesqld@firesense.com.au0738908842 Experienced. Technical. Certified. FireSense is 100% Australian owned and operated. We specialise in the design, manufacture and supply of high quality fire protection equipment, as well as our own range of certified TPS and fire rated cable to the fire alarm and electrical/mechanical industries. Focusing on strong relationships, technical solutions and continuously going above and beyond for our customers, we are proud of our business, and the products and service we supply. With over 30 years of experience specialising in fire alarm products and supplying large commercial infrastructure projects. We have the expertise so that you can be confident knowing you are partnered with the best. Call our friendly staff to see how we can help you.

Since 2019, the Tasmanian Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management (DPFEM) has been working across emergency services to support personnel well-being through the ‘MyPulse’ program.

MyPulse is a collection of health and well-being content and services offered to ambulance, fire, police and state emergency services personnel in Tasmania. It is tailored specifically to their unique needs and place in the community, and includes well-being coaching, educational resources, face-to-face sessions and health clinic

In recognition of the MyPulse program, DPFEM was awarded the Leading Practice in Mental Health Award,

STEWART AND HEATON AWARD WINNERS LEAD WELL-BEING MASTERCLASS

The second session of the masterclass will look at something completely different: how the Australian Antarctic Division delivers well-being

support to expeditioners. The final session will focus on the well-being support response to the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle disaster that occurred in Tasmania in December 2021. The focus will be on the response plan and the lessons learnt.

This masterclass is aimed at those who assist emergency service personnel—including human resources staff, deputy chiefs, regional managers and mental health professionals, as well as frontline emergency personnel who have an interest in this topic. Participants aim to increase awareness and understanding of different approaches to well-being, while providing a model to enable organisations to respond to major incidents.

sponsored by Stewart and Heaton, at the virtual AFAC21 Conference and Exhibition in October 2021.

A component of the award is a masterclass on a topic of the winner’s choice, sponsored by Stewart and Heaton. DPFEM has decided to run a masterclass, ‘Wellbeing: the Tasmanian context’, with support from the AFAC Mental Health and Wellbeing Network.

The masterclass will be held in Sydney on Wednesday 11 May 2022 at the Rydges Sydney. For those unable to attend in person, virtual participation is available. For more information and to register, visit www.afac.com.au/events.

The masterclass, to be hosted in Sydney and virtually on 11 May 2022, will explore how emergency services in Tasmania have worked together to redefine every aspect of supporting people. Its purpose is to describe the approach taken, the investments made and the outcomes achieved. The masterclass will commence with an examination of the strategic approach, and it will then look to the awardwinning preventive MyPulse program.

consultations.Theseproactive and preventative services are designed to provide early intervention and support to mitigate health and well-being risks for emergency service workers, while also establishing trust and reducing stigma about physical and mental health issues.

10 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 Award.HealthinPracticeLeadingandtheacceptsManagementEmergencyFireofDepartmentTasmanianThePolice,andStewartHeatonMental

combustion wind tunnel designed to help investigate flame propagation in bushfire fuels such as grass, forest litter and shrubs, under a broad range of burning conditions. This includes conditions such as those of an extreme fire danger day. It allows researchers to vary or control factors such as wind speed, fuel type and structure, fuel load and fuel moisture content.

the combustion and aerodynamic characteristics of embers formed by burning bark and other materials, which often cause spotfires to break out and are the main cause of bushfires escapingAlthoughcontainment.thebushfire lab is a CSIRO-owned national facility, it is available for use by arrangement by any external organisations wanting to better understand fire behaviour and impact.

The Natural Hazards Associate Student Program is open, with eligible postgraduate researchers able to become associates of the Centre. This grants them initial funding with access to further support, professional development, placements with Centre partners and other important industry opportunities.Quickresponse funding is also available, providing support to researchers to travel to areas recently affected by natural hazards to collect time-sensitive data and measure impacts, recovery, planning and community response.

NEWS 11ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA

Learn more and apply at program/associate-students.naturalhazards.com.au/education-www.

Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre) has launched a range of education programs designed to increase Australia’s resilience to the impacts of natural hazards, with many research funding opportunities still available to postgraduate and higher-degree students.

The VWT is designed to study

NEW ANNOUNCEDBUSHFIRECSIROLAB

NATURAL HAZARD RESPONSE AND STUDENT FUNDING AVAILABLE

This investigatefacilityresearchnewwill the physics bushfires.behaviourandof

The Centre particularly encourages applications from First Nations peoples, women, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ people, and those with family and caring responsibilities. The Centre, which was funded for ten years by the Australian

Natural available.fundingquickstudentassociateAustraliaResearchHazardshasandresponse

Government in 2021, has already begun investing in the next generation of natural hazard researchers through new industry-focused and partnerdriven research projects, with many more projects to come.

CSIRO has revealed its new $2.1 M research facility in Canberra, aimed at helping firefighters and other authorities better understand and predict bushfire behaviour by analysing what conditions make them worse and the best ways to respond.

The Pyrotron is a 29-metre-long

The new laboratory will boost the power of CSIRO’s Pyrotron and Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT), two unique instruments designed to allow the detailed investigation of the physics of bushfires.ThePyrotron and VWT were purpose-built scientific apparatus that could replicate aspects of real-life bushfires under a controlled range of conditions without the risks, safety concerns and access issues that a live bushfire presents to firefighters.

CSIROPHOTO:

NASH STANDARD UPDATED IN LINE WITH USER FEEDBACK

government areas of Greater Geelong, Hume, Whittlesea and Wyndham.

PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFY RISKS

„ extended roof pitches to cover all roofs in BAL-FZ

„ roof skylights/windows provisions

Proactive site inspections were conducted in more than 56 municipalities, including the local

Timber framing, wet areas and external waterproofing, and steel framing were the top non-compliant issues found by the VBA in domestic building work.

The National Association of Steel-framed Housing (NASH) Standard Steel framed construction in bushfire areas offers an alternative to AS 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas for building steel-framed houses in areas subject to bushfire attack.

The NASH Bushfire Standard has been referenced in the National Construction Code as a deemed-to-satisfy solution since 2015, providing economical and robust design options based on non-combustible steel framing, wall and roof claddings.

„ specific solutions for Class 10a buildings (garages/sheds)

„ additional drawings and details.

and weatherproofing, the biggest compliance issues were fire resistance and fire safety provisions.

trades.ofperformancecloselyareauditorsGovernmentVictorianlookingatthebuilding

STORYBLOCKSPHOTO:

„ solutions for tiled roofs in BAL-12.5 to BAL-40

„ an extended solution to cover cathedral ceilings in BAL-FZ

„ clarified requirements for air conditioning and service ducting

Following valuable user feedback, the new standard has been extended to include the following major items:

The new standard can be purchased through the NASH online shop.

Roof drainage, gas installation, sanitary plumbing systems and cold-water services were the key compliance risks highlighted in domestic and commercial plumbing.

12 NEWS FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

moreOverall,effectively.from October to December 2021, the VBA conducted 2,584 inspections—1,550 building and 1,034 plumbing inspections—across the state.

NASHPHOTO:

In commercial building work, damp

Built with input from the B ritish Columbia W il dfire Service and the LA Cit y Fire Department , t he SHIFT SC was developed f or Int ernational Fi re, SAR and USAR market s that n eed a 72-hour s ol ution and where a fire shelt er is not required. LeBlancRobertbyPhoto SpencerCONTACT:McDonald | Sea to Summit, 5 Eyre St Rivervale W.A. 6103 (0)411 685 553 | smcdonald@seatosummit.com.au mysteryranch.com Fully adjustable telescoping Futura Yoke Zippered lid pocket for small items 270� zipper for main compartment access Floating, padded sleeve for up to 15” laptops Two internal removable medical pockets Oversized removable zippered MOLLE wing pockets Fire Belt with PALS web for MOLLE accessories Modified Shift Frame base system with overload shelf Haul handle on upper yoke Shift System compatible for Remote Area versatility Removable Stick-it to carry awkward items 3M™ reflective accents Internal hydration sleeve Attachment points for MR lid accessories

THEINTRODUCINGSHIFTSC

7500

And in both cases a single individual had an immediate and direct effect on the fire itself.

In fleeing the apartment, the man left the balcony and unit doors open, increasing the intensity of the flames.

Retired Deputy Coroner Hugh Dillon served on the NSW Coroner’s Court for nine years and, in that time, he conducted at least 15 investigations into fire-related incidents. He was the presiding coroner responsible for two of the most high-profile cases of recent times—the Quakers Hill Nursing Home fire and the Bankstown apartment fire— which he said were among the most touching and moving cases he heard.

The nurse who started the fires pleaded guilty to the murder of the deceased residents and was sentenced to life without parole.

In the Quakers Hill Nursing Home, 11 elderly residents died when a nurse, who wanted to cover up the theft of drugs, started fires in two rooms in separate wings in the early hours of 18 November 2011.

Up to 100 residents were evacuated and approximately 32 people were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

The Bankstown apartment fire appears to have occurred when a cigarette in an ashtray, sitting on top of an airconditioning unit on the balcony, was not properly extinguished.

Quakers Hill

Building fires can have catastrophic effects on both people and property. Every year, people are injured or killed in preventable fires, and these cases often make it to the Coroner’s Court.

He was a drug addict, and he started the fires to destroy evidence because he was under investigation. While he may not have intended to kill the residents, he acted recklessly and with disregard for those in his care.

Bankstown

14 BUILDING SAFETY FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

PAUL WATERHOUSE

Both cases had a human impact. Both cases raised questions about the safety of the buildings and the culpability of those who designed and managed them.

When the residents saw flames on top of the unit, the male smoker attempted to douse the flames, but they increased in the windy conditions and sent black smoke into the unit.

PHOTO: NEWS LIMITED Inset above HughCoronerDeputyRetiredDillon Above reforms.firesignificanthaveHomeHillQuakersfireapartmentBankstownsuchincidentsMajorastheandtheNursingfireledtosafety

FPA Australia

The two girls eventually jumped, because they had nowhere to go.

Two of his flatmates, Connie Zhang and Ginger Jiang, were trapped in one of theTherebedrooms.wereno sprinkler systems in the unit, so the fire achieved flashover in very fast time—the ambient heat was so intense that the glass and aluminium window frames were starting to melt.

COMPLACENCY CAN LEAD TO THE CORONER

With 50 units in the building, the additional cost of a sprinkler system would have been just $10,000 per unit—hardly significant in Sydney’s property market.

The Bankstown case found that it would have only cost $500,000 to install sprinklers in the building at the time of construction, resulting in a small additional cost to each apartment owner.

Fires are not common events, so it is easy for practitioners and owners to become complacent and lose focus on safety.

Complacency and cost-cutting put people at risk and disregard the fire safety meant to be central to building design. You only have to see one terrible fire to understand the value of fire prevention—but we should not need to.

Put simply: you are not protected because you tick boxes on a document—the boxes are there to remind you what is at stake.

Yet, the developer of that building designed it to be just two centimetres below the height at which a sprinkler system would have been required.

Synthetic furnishings can burn very quickly and generate massive amounts of heat and highly toxic gases, making them very difficult to subdue and extinguish, and hampering attempts to rescue people.

It has happened time and time again. An explosion in a winery that Mr Dillon investigated in the Hunter Valley occurred because of this compliance mentality. The two people who died ticked all the boxes but did not make the connection between compliance and safety.

Safe design

A boarding house fire in Petersham showed the potential for catastrophe, because building owners had paid no attention to how the residents behaved

So, while councils may regularly receive annual fire safety statements, if these are simply filed and never audited, unskilled people are able to claim to be fire inspectors with no oversight or challenge from the single council clerk.

There is a lot of regulation and administration designed to keep people safe, but Mr Dillon said that they can too often focus on the process of compliance.

Mr Dillon said there were other inquiries that have influenced his outlook.

Hugh Dillon will 2022.AustraliaatspeechapresentingbekeynoteFire

Some of these were arson cases, committed for insurance payments, which were not very expertly carried out and revealed interesting insights into the mindset of the perpetrators.

in the building. While there were no deaths, negligent management could have ended in disaster.

Key lessons

If the developer had set out to build a good, protected building, and sold the units for a slightly higher amount, the fire would not have reached the high heat and dangerous conditions that led to Connie’s death and Ginger’s injury, and two lives would not have been ruined.

Other cases

They also showed the significant risk posed by fire in modern buildings containing modern materials.

Mr Dillon observed that very often, catastrophic fires occur because people do not pay attention to the reason for the regulations, not because the regulations are bad.

Another was a catastrophic fire in the Warrumbungle National Park, which started with a campfire and burnt out 50,000 hectares—black as far as eye can see—and which showed the devastating effect of climate change and Australia’s need to become more resilient.

Fires are not common events, so it is easy for practitioners and owners to become complacent and lose focus on safety.

These cases were important, not just because of the direct effects on those who were killed or injured, but also because they revealed systemic issues that, if they had been addressed beforehand, might have prevented the fires or resulted in them being less intense and more manageable.

A common theme from these events has been complacency about fire safety.

Connie died, and Ginger was paralysed by the fall.

BUILDING SAFETY

16 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 NATIONAL RESOURCE SHARING CENTRE

The AFAC NRSC thanks its members, resource managers and deployed personnel for their support during the severe weather season and their dedication to protecting communities.

From bushfires to floods, the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre has been assisting members with resourcing and deployments throughout the 2021–22 severe weather season.

COMMONSWIKIMEDIA/TREEJARRAHPHOTO:PHOTO:FRASERCOASTREGIONALCOUNCIL

CAPABILITYSERVICESEMERGENCYFIRENATIONALENABLINGAND

Two of its biggest recent focuses have been the bushfires in WA and the floods in Queensland and NSW.

Reflecting on the deployments, AFAC NRSC Manager Luke Purcell said: “The collegial approach of AFAC Members to collaborate and support one another during times of crisis greatly enhances our ability to respond and position essential resources to where they are most needed.”

AFAC

MOLLY PRICE

The AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) enables national capability for fire and emergency services across Australia. It facilitates resource deployments to an interstate or international natural hazard emergency event through its established partnerships and national arrangements, as authorised by the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee (CCOSC).

FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES

In response to a series of significant fires during the recent summer in southwestern WA, several deployments were made through the AFAC NRSC. Throughout December 2021 and January 2022, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) cooperated with the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), deploying aircraft through the national aviation resource sharing arrangements1 and in consultation with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre, including:  a C130 Large Air Tanker (LAT)  the RJ85 LAT  two Bell 412s  the NSW RFS LAT and Citation lead plane.

On 1 March, deployments commenced to NSW following a request for assistance from NSW SES. Over the course of the following weeks, recurrent major flooding severely impacted communities across northern NSW. As of 7 April 2022 NRSC supported deployments of 759 personnel from Victoria, SA, Tasmania, WA and the ACT, Queensland and NT, with more personnel expected to deploy. Resources included swift water rescue technicians and flood boat crews, incident management specialists, field crews, command and administration staff, storm crews and community liaison officers.

1 The Standard Operating Procedure for Redeployment of Aviation Resources and accompanying Redeployment Agreement provide guidance on Category 1 and Category 2 redeployments of aircraft.

17ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA NATIONAL RESOURCE SHARING CENTRE

The AFAC NRSC supported the response to these floods through one of its largest activations to date. On 27 February 2022, following severe weather and significant flooding across multiple catchments within southeast Queensland, the NRSC responded to a request for assistance from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES). A total of 15 swift water rescue specialists from Fire Rescue Victoria, including command staff and swift water rescue operators, assisted with the flood response in the Beenleigh area between 28 February and 6 March.

“The crew were also able to assist for the first time with damage assessment, paving the way for future resource sharing in this area,” he said.

DFES A/Executive Manager Plant and Equipment Scott Hares said that the technicians have been very beneficial in clearing a backlog of work.

Inspector Scott Beasley, Manager for Professional Development, South Eastern Region at QFES said the Victorian crew was received well and helped bolster the state’s swift water capability. “Having extra personnel meant that we could manage fatigue and rest some of our own crews without diminishing our response capability.

Extreme rainfall in late February and early March resulted in widespread flooding across parts of the eastern seaboard.

Personnel from Country Fire Authority Victoria; Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management Tasmania; FRNSW; and NSW RFS were deployed on rotation throughout February to April 2022.

“Having visiting personnel work on smaller repairs enabled DFES technicians to concentrate on the longer duration tasks. Our technicians have enjoyed the opportunity to work with and share knowledge with personnel who bring different experiences from their respective jurisdictions,” he said.

In early February, hot, dry and windy conditions in the south-west land division in WA created ongoing severe to catastrophic fire danger, and several major bushfires broke out. With WA resources stretched, the NRSC responded to a request for assistance on 6 February and facilitated the deployment of 34 incident management specialists, together with a COVID Coordinator, from NSW RFS, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Corporation. Soon after their arrival, conditions eased in WA and the deployment was demobilised early. The NRSC also supported a long-term deployment of mechanical fleet technicians to WA to assist with the servicing and repair of firefighting appliances.

BUSHFIRE ACTIVITY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Mr David Ian BOSWORTH Dubbo, NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

Mr Timothy COOPER Jamestown, SA Country Fire Service

Riddells Creek, Vic Country Fire Authority, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Ms Fiona Le Nore DUNSTAN SA Country Fire Service

Assistant Commissioner David Vincent HERMANN Toowoomba City, Qld Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Mr Guy Stephen UREN Moana, SA Metropolitan Fire Service

John CLARKE

Mr Christopher Ronald NOLAN Oak Flats, NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

Mr Graeme William HIGGS Drouin, Vic Country Fire Authority

The Australia Fire Service Medal 2022 recipients

MrVictoriaErnest

Blackwood, SA Country Fire Service

MrTasmaniaMatthew

Mr Graeme Cedric JONES Burnie, Tas Tasmania Fire Service

AFAC

Mr Ian Charles SAUER OAM Pipers Brook, Tas Tasmania Fire Service

Further details of each recipient’s contribution can be found at the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia’s website: www.gg.gov.au/australia-day-2022-honours-list.

Mossy Point, NSW ACT Fire and Rescue, ACT Emergency Services Agency

Mr Brendan Lyal CROSS

BRAND

“It has been a challenging couple of years and the recipients announced today are a reminder and reflection of the richness of spirit, selflessness and good in our community,” the GovernorGeneral said.

Mr Andrew James HIGGINS Whyalla, SA Metropolitan Fire Service

Australian Capital Territory

Mr Christopher Helmut PETRIKAS NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

Ms Gillian Teresa METZ

Mr Donald Stuart FARLEIGH Morisset, NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

ALANA BEITZ

On 26 January, 1,040 Australians were recognised on the Australia Day Honours List, announced by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).

James BUCK Launceston, Tas Tasmania Fire Service

Mr Jonathon Stuart McKENZIE NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

Mr Brad QUINN Somerville, Vic Fire and Rescue Victoria

South Australia

Mr Wayne Andrew RIGG Sulky, Vic Fire and Rescue Victoria

Brooweena, Qld Queensland Rural Fire Service

Name Location Agency New South Wales

Ms Jane Louise HOLLIER Oakville, NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

RECOGNITION OF SERVICE

Mr Peter Craig JACOBS Berrilee, NSW Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service

LISTHONOURSDAYAUSTRALIA2022

Ms Tara Jane LAL Bronte, NSW Fire and Rescue NSW

Mrs Jennifer Joy LAWTHER Callala Beach, NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

Mr David James O’DONNELL Wingham, NSW Fire and Rescue NSW

Hilldene, Vic Country Fire Authority

“To the individuals being celebrated today, thank you for your contribution to Australia and congratulations on being recognised by your peers and yourOfnation.”theAustralia Day Honours recipients, 27 were awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM). Instituted in 1988, the AFSM is awarded to both paid and volunteer members, recognising those who have rendered distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service.

Australian Fire Service Medal recipients have been recognised for their commitment and service to the community.

Mr Brian Edwin McKENZIE Spring Ridge, NSW NSW Rural Fire Service

MrQueenslandWilliamRobert

Mr Malcolm Alan AMOS

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Renewable technology is becoming increasingly popular, but not much is known about its safety. A new research program, led by Fire and Rescue NSW, is looking at how to minimise the risks of these technologies as governments push towards net zero emissions by 2050.

SAFETY OF ALTERNATIVE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

However,sectors.with higher usage comes higher risk, and there has been a noticeable uptick in reported LiBrelated fires and casualties worldwide.

„ protracted processes for extinguishing and cooling the reaction

Fire and Rescue NSW PAUL WATERHOUSE

„ the risk of secondary ignitions

„ the containment of contaminated fire water

While such incidents are still not common, they are creating some alarm. We are trying to learn more about their potential causes and consequences, such as increased dangers for firefighters and increased propensity for explosions. In January 2022, one in a hundred calls to Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) involved a battery in thermal runaway (where a fire escalates until it is Someuncontrollable).ofthepotential difficulties and dangers from a LiB-related fire include:

For enquiries regarding the research or partnering with FRNSW, contact research@fire.nsw.gov.au.

This program will see the brigade partner with the private sector, government, tertiary and research institutions and other fire services to avoid duplication of effort and to get the most out of its research investment.

„ exposure to toxic gases and effluents

KIM THAI

„ difficulties rendering the site safe

„ issues with handling, transporting and disposing of fire-affected batteries.Tobetter understand these issues and

„ increased risk of explosion in confined environments

Australia hope that better methods and standards can be developed through this collaborative approach. These improvements will protect the community and ensure that energy storage is a safe, viable solution that will help achieve the zero emissions target.

Energy storage, particularly in the form of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs), has become almost ubiquitous over the last decade, and is increasingly used and accepted in a range of applications across the commercial, residential and transport

risks, FRNSW is leading a collaborative research and testing program largely focused on energy storage: Safety of Alternative and Renewable Energy Technologies (SARET).

„ higher fire intensity

FPA Australia

„ stranded electrical energy

Energy storage, particularly in the form of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs), has become almost ubiquitous over the last decade, and is increasingly used and accepted in a range of applications across the commercial, residential and transport sectors.

20 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 SARET PROGRAM

A significant focus of the program will be to investigate ways to mitigate the risks of LiB-related fires and to

identify the most effective methods for managingFRNSWthem.andpartners such as FPA

Late last year, the Australian Government committed to a net zero emissions target by 2050. Twenty billion dollars were earmarked to support renewable and low emissions technologies, such as carbon capture, clean hydrogen, solar power and energy storage.

Program 3: Electric vehicle fires in structures

Providing guidance on the efficacy of current personal protective equipment and clothing in protecting firefighters from exposures to gases, vapours, liquid electrolytes, chemical residue and electrical energy present in LiB-related incidents.

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Informing the management of hazards related to battery recycling, and the handling, storage and transportation of damaged and fire-affected lithium-ion batteries and battery systems to minimise first and second responders’ risks of exposure and secondary ignitions.

Program 2: End-of-life LiB hazard management

Program 4: Fire propagation in battery energy storage systems

Program 1: Fire service response to LiB-related fires

Providing a better understanding of the fire propagation behaviours of various battery energy storage systems to inform guidance on separation, detection and protection requirements for new installations, from residential-sized to commercial and grid-scale applications. looking to fire protection and training companies understand the of small – the needed

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Looking at the unique challenges of electric vehicle fires in parking garages and car parks, aiming to quantify the differences between battery-electric vehicles and conventional vehicles with respect to fire severity and propagation, building performance, detection and suppression requirements, air handling and ventilation, access, and charging effects.

Assessing the effectiveness of new and existing agents, products, and delivery systems for use in fires involving Lithium-ion cells, batteries and battery systems, in comparison with water.

SARET PROGRAM

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“Turning lessons into opportunities for growth and improvement is an important aspect of the process, but also one that requires perspective,” he “It’ssaid.one thing to draw lessons from a past event or program, but putting

them into action to improve outcomes in the form of public value, community resilience or reduction in risk requires a lot more consideration.”

CULTUREABUILDINGFORUM:MANAGEMENTLESSONSLEARNING

Fire and emergency services are frequently the subject of reviews, inquiries and royal commissions. It is an important part of the learning cycle to question what happened, why it happened and how things could be done differently. But how can we ensure that observations gathered during these inquiries are actually transformed into lessons learnt?

ALANA BEITZ

22 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 LESSONS MANAGEMENT

In his opening address, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Deputy Commissioner Mike Wassing set the tone for the day’s proceedings by highlighting the complexities of managing lessons.

Kylie Mercer from the Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management, Queensland, explained the importance of taking a communitycentred approach to incident reviews and reflected on the broader benefits of engaging with the Traditional Owners of K’gari, the Butchulla people, during the lessons learning process.

South Australia Country Fire Service Chief Officer Mark Jones provided his reflections on the Kangaroo Island bushfire review, led by C3 Resilience, and the benefits of owning and sharing your“Youmistakes.won’thave time to learn from your mistakes because you won’t live long enough to make enough of them to learn. That’s the importance of learning from other people, and the experiences of other agencies. It’s why we’re so

“Learning with the Butchulla people helped us better to understand First Nations peoples’ knowledge about fire management and the protection of cultural assets. It also helped us to understand that early engagement planning provides better results for First Nations communities if it is co-designed and co-delivered,” she said.

“There’s no point commissioning reviews, audits or surveys unless you know what you’ll do with them, whatever they find. And what would it say of me—who’s hoping to preside over a learning organisation—if I, in any way, try and alter the findings or hide the conclusions? What sort of learning organisation would we be then?”

transparent with our findings,” he said.

AFAC

The 2022 Lessons Management Forum, held in person for the first time since 2019 and hosted by AFAC and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR), explored the theme:

‘What does success look like?’ On 22 and 23 March, participants gathered in Brisbane and online to hear leading lessons management practitioners unpack the latest research and recent case studies.

AFAC and AIDR thank the 2022 Lessons Management Forum sponsors for their generosity and support to deliver this event: QFES (Gold Sponsor), Inspector-General Emergency Management, Queensland (Silver Sponsor), Phoenix Resilience (Bronze Sponsor) and C3 Resilience (Award Sponsor).

1. environment.areviewIslandtheofhisJonesOfficer4.Taskforce.COVID-19ofDepartmentAwardManagementtheCooperpresentsResilienceBailey3.incident.K’garireviewcentredcommunity-ledQueensland,Management,EmergencyGeneralthetheMercer2.Forum.Management2022addressopeningdeliversMikeCommissionerDeputyQFESWassingtheoftheLessonsKyliefromOfficeofInspector-aofthebushfireCarlaofC3GeoffwithLessonsforDefence’sChiefMarksharedexperiencereleasingKangaroobushfireincomplex

More information about lessons management can be found in the Lessons Management Collection on the AIDR Knowledge Hub: initiative/research/utilisation.theonAdditionalcollections/lessons-management.www.knowledge.aidr.org.au/informationcanbefoundtheResearchUtilisationpageofAFACwebsite:www.afac.com.au/

Commissioner Wassing, who said: “We cannot solely rely on lessons management to inform our future. For every challenge we face as organisations and communities and

23ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA

individuals, we need to work towards being effective in reflecting, learning and applying those lessons and sharing them.

“We need to recognise that we are just one part of the partnership, and shared learning requires both informing and listening.”

that we can learn to help us with the nextTheone.”winner of the 2022 AFAC Lessons Management Award was the Department of Defence, for its

From 3 to 5 May, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will host leading industry experts discussing the future of the industry, giving insights into regulatory change and guiding practitioners with informative technical sessions.

Fire Australia 2022 Conference and Tradeshow is just days away, and we are looking forward to seeing members and supporters at Australasia’s largest fire protection industry event.

Our technical stream covers most areas of interest, including future trends with sprinklers, fire safety

„ Andrew Cialini, Victorian State Building Surveyor, talking about his state’s regulatory future

The tradeshow will showcase the latest in fire protection, with over 80 stands demonstrating some of the most innovative solutions and newest technologies.Attendees can also cap off their conference experience with one of our site tours (see page 28), which will give them some insights into large systems and fire safety testing.

HAJNAL NAGY

„ former NSW Deputy State Coroner Hugh Dillon, who will discuss what coroners look for in their cases, drawing from his experiences with the Quakers Hill nursing home and Bankstown apartment fires

FPA Australia

in megastructures and automated buildings, and how to manage interfaces, among others, with continuing professional development points

It will be a busy and rewarding three days—we hope to see you there!

AUSTRALIAFPAPHOTO: largestThe speakers.programprovokingthought-withMelbourneisHemispherethetradeshowandconferenceprotectionfireinSouthernbackinaof

Our odd-numbered breakouts look at where the industry is headed, considering fire safety in complicated buildings, the role of owners, risk and liability, bushfire safety. They also include workshops on skills, women in fire and mental health.

Our keynotes include:

24 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022

„ Inspector John McDonagh, who will walk us through some real-life videos to show what firefighters are looking for when they attend a blaze, and what they hope fire systems may do.

After last year’s successful return to Sydney, Fire Australia is back in Melbourne this year, with a conference program that caters to the needs of fire professionals and a tradeshow that showcases the best in the industry.

Our even-numbered breakouts take a more regulatory direction, including Bronwyn Weir updating us on progress with the Building Confidence report and discussions about the National Construction Code and standards, balancing sustainability and safety and the role of digitisation.

„ futurist and demographer, Bernard Salt, discussing what trends say the future may hold

Fireavailable.Australia 2022 offers significant opportunities for networking, with a welcome cocktail event, the Fire Australia Conference and Awards Gala, and a free barista service. The dinner, at the Palladium, Crown Melbourne, will once again recognise leaders in the industry and raise funds for our charity partner, the Fiona Wood Foundation.

FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022 FOR INDUSTRY INSIGHTS AND INNOVATIONS

HUGH DILLON

ROB WEBB

FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022

BERNARD SALT AM

Rob Webb was appointed CEO of AFAC in December 2021. Previously he was Director, National Projects and Innovation at AFAC and served as Program Director for the Australian Fire Danger Ratings System. Mr Webb is an experienced leader in the emergency management industry. As Deputy CEO and at the Bureau of Meteorology for 26 years, he gained extensive experience across multiple jurisdictions covering some of Australia’s most damaging natural disasters. He specialised in extreme weather services, lead the Bureau in operations and gave expert evidence at coronial inquiries and post-event reviews. His meteorological expertise stretches from bushfires to thunderstorms, floods to heatwaves and tropical cyclones to tsunamis. He has a strong interest in social science, with a particular focus on empowering communities to make the right choices, at the right times, and he is acutely aware of the value of social capital in supporting appropriate action. He has forged strong partnerships with the emergency management sector at the local, state and Commonwealth level. Having spent a career working with state and territory emergency management authorities, Mr Webb has knowledge of the challenges facing the emergency management sector. He has experience in leveraging innovative practices to benefit multiple outcomes and understand the importance of taking a strategic view to create alignment across various activities.

Executive Director, The Demographics Group

Former Deputy State Coroner, Coroners Court of NSW Hugh Dillon retired as a Deputy State Coroner and magistrate at the end of 2016. In his nine years as a coroner, he managed about 6,000 cases and conducted about 300 inquests and fire inquiries. He is now an Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales Law School. He is co-author of Waller’s Coronial Law and Practice in New South Wales and The Australasian Coroner’s Manual He is now working on a PhD concerning the NSW coronial system.

CEO, AFAC

Bernard Salt is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading social commentators by business, the media and the broader community. He heads The Demographics Group, which provides advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business, and prior to that, he founded KPMG Demographics. He writes two weekly columns for The Australian newspaper and was an adjunct professor at Curtin University Business School between 2010 and 2020. In conjunction with KPMG Australia, Mr Salt hosted a top-rated podcast called What Happens Next, which discussed rising trends and important business issues. He is one of the most in-demand speakers on the Australian corporate speaking circuit, and he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2017 Australia Day Honours.

PRESENTERS

DR RICHARD THORNTON CEO, Natural Hazards Research Australia

Dr Richard Thornton is the CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre), a position he has held since it began in July 2021. He has overall responsibility for research direction and performance, as well as being the public face of the Centre. He has led the development of the Centre following the announcement of funding last year. Prior to that, Dr Thornton was the CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC for its entire eight-year funding period. He is a research management specialist with almost 30 years in the field, including with the Bushfire CRC and Telstra.

Amanda Leck is the Executive Director of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) where she leads a program of work on behalf of the Australian Government through the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, to support a disaster-resilient Australia. Ms Leck is a community development and engagement professional with a proven ability to provide leadership and strategic direction in the planning, implementation and delivery of programs in a complex environment. She has 30 years’ experience in the emergency management and community sectors, working with Country Fire Authority Victoria, local government and AFAC— the national council for fire and emergency services—prior to her appointment leading AIDR. Ms Leck has significant experience in establishing partnerships with all levels of government and the business sector, and she has demonstrated strategic leadership, executive management and corporate governance experience. Her skills include communications, relationship management and stakeholder engagement.

State Building Surveyor, Victorian Building Authority

As the State Building Surveyor, Andrew Cialini is an industry advocate for building surveyors and building practitioners across Victoria. He brings a wealth of knowledge to this important role, with more than 30 years’ industry experience as a building surveyor, as well as roles in the private sector as a structural design engineer and as an adviser to the Government of South Australia. Mr Cialini is passionate about the industry and its future. He has led the creation and implementation of the Code of Conduct for Building Surveyors to improve standards, trust and oversight in the building industry and help keep Victorians safe. He is also driving new career pathways to address the critical shortage of building surveyors. Active participation with industry is fundamental to his role and he chairs several state government committees and engages regularly with industry associations, forums and working groups.

AMANDA LECK GAICD

ANDREW CIALINI

BRONWYN WEIR Director, Weir Legal & Consulting

Bronwyn Weir runs Weir Legal & Consulting, a boutique legal and consultancy firm advising government regulators. She is the co-author of the Building Confidence report. Her appointment with Professor Shergold to undertake this work reflects her reputation as a legal adviser on building regulations for more than 23 years. Ms Weir is involved in the Australian Building Codes Board’s work to develop a national framework for the implementation of the report. She has also directly advised several jurisdictions in relation to building regulatory issues, including the Victorian Government on combustible cladding and Victoria’s Building System Review Panel, the NSW Building Commissioner and the Queensland Government on security of payment. She also advises regulators in a range of other sectors including education, health, emissions reduction and solar energy.

Executive Director, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

A mix of plenary, breakout, and technical sessions will deliver a range of relevant and interesting topics for all attendees.

PHOTO: FPA AUSTRALIA

ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA

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Some of Australia’s and the world’s leading suppliers will be showcasing their innovative products at the Fire Australia 2022 Tradeshow.

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26 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022

FIRESOLUTIONSPROTECTIONFIREATAUSTRALIA

Reece has been servicing fire protection customers for over 20 years. Last year, we opened our first dedicated fire branch in Victoria to better serve the specialist needs of the industry, with more branches opening across Australia in 2022. With an extensive range of fire protection products, we can help you find what you need or get it in for you. Visit www.reece.com.au/fire

THE LATEST

27ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022 Company Booth Company Booth ACADS-BSG 412 Kingspan Water and Energy 316 AMPAC 312 LI Door Protection 315 Bermad Water Technologies 407 Locatrix 110 BlazeMaster Fire Protection Systems 216 LVX IoT (FireM) 416 BRANZ 102 Pertronic 117 BSRA 317 Reliable Fire Sprinkler 113 DIS Fire Systems 202 S1 Fire Monitoring 319 Dynamic Composite Technologies 220 Securiton AG 116 Fire Industry Academy 209 SimPRO 417 Fire Protection Technologies 204 Smoke Control Systems P/L 207 FireMate 310 Tandm International 413 FireWorld 112 TBA Firefly 211 Firex 410 Tenmat 215 FlameStop 107 The Tank Inspectors 414 FPA Australia 304 Uptick 306 FPA Australia Training 406 Victaulic Australia 103 Fusion Fire 318 Viking Group, Inc. 219 Gould Instruments Pty Ltd 100 WAGNER Fire Safety Pty Ltd 221 Hilti Australia 400 Warringtonfire 408 Hochiki 114 Wastech Engineering 415 Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition 402 Windsor Management Insurance Brokers 401 Jinan Meide Casting 308 X-Fire Australia 320 Johnson Controls 205 Xtralis 403 At time of printing the above suppliers were confirmed. Please view www.fireaustralia.com.au for the most up-to-date listing.

TOURSOFFSITE

Come and look behind the scenes at some interesting and informative sites and testing facilities.

include a behind-the-scenes tour of the laboratories and short presentations from our testing experts about reaction to fire testing, with a focus on timber materials. Attendees will also have an opportunity

For over 30 years, Warringtonfire’s laboratory has been helping clients locally and internationally to achieve a competitive advantage, market entry and regulatory Thiscompliance.visitwill

First opened in 1997, Crown Melbourne is a large integrated resort with a casino, three hotels, function rooms, award-winning restaurants and shopping and entertainment facilities.

WARRINGTONFIRE LABORATORY, DANDENONG

UNSPLASH/CHAMBERSPAULPHOTO:

Located on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River, it is the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere, and every year thousands of people come through its doors.

28 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022

Warringtonfire’s world-class Melbourne test laboratory in Dandenong is a National Association of Testing Authoritiesaccredited facility that provides independent fire resistance testing, reaction to fire testing and bushfire testing.

The exclusive tour will examine Crown Melbourne’s leading-practice fire protection systems, emergency management systems and controls, including design elements and systems such as beam protection of atrium spaces, gaseous suppression, zone smoke control, compartmentation and more.

CROWN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX, MELBOURNE

The importance of fire for ecosystems worldwide has been compared with soils, water and climate and their prominence as ecological drivers (Bond and Keeley 2005). Although the effects of fire are universal, they can be locally variable and are often strongly influenced by humans—from both a suppression and ignition perspective (Parisien et al., 2016). Importantly, fire cannot and should not be thought of independently without considering the integrative influence of humans and, particularly, human use of fire (Coughlan and Petty, 2012).Finally, to begin to untangle the fear and contradictions, it is necessary to distinguish between wildfires and those fires that are intentionally set by humans.

The book Global Application of Prescribed Fire endeavours to provide globally relevant examples of firsthand application, techniques, local issues and methods of prescribed fire use. From lighting fires with sticks to ignition from an unmanned aerial vehicle (or drone), the ways in which fire is applied to the land is as diverse as our many cultures.Each chapter in the book presents a diversity of views and uses of prescribed fire. No other book, to our knowledge, has presented the definitive application of prescribed fire, including why, when and how prescribed fire is used in ecologically and socially unique regions of the world. Such a global perspective, particularly with a focus on human applications of prescribed fire, is of utmost importance because, as stated by Bowman et al. (2009), “An Earth system perspective is essential to understanding how fire has developed throughout Earth history, and

INTRODUCTION TO PRESCRIBED FIRE

JOHN DEREK SCASTA AND JOHN R WEIR

„ the common practice of some organised and available plan typically expressed verbally and/or in writing

The intentional use and application of fire by humans is often referred to as ‘prescribed fire’, ‘controlled fire’ or ‘cultural fire’. For each term, ‘burn’ or ‘burning’ is often used interchangeably with ‘fire’ (i.e. ‘prescribed burn’ or ‘culturalHistorically,burning’).regardless of the terminology or local vernacular, these fires were lit with specific objectives and under certain conditions (Weir, 2009), with both objectives and conditions being determined before any ignition. The objectives could be to reduce hazardous fuels or to structure habitat features for a specific organism. The particular conditions could include specific weather—such as low relative humidity or low wind speeds—or specific preparations—such as the installation of a certain type of firebreak (e.g. a mowed or ploughed bare soilTheline).word ‘prescribe’ has foundations in the medical terminology and is an indication that an authorised professional advises the application of a treatment in order to achieve some beneficial result (Merriam-Webster, 2020). The origin of the word comes from the Latin praescrībere (with derivations from late Middle English c. 1425–75) meaning ‘to direct in writing’, which is an indication that the recommendation from the authorised professional be explicitly provided in written form (Merriam-Webster, 2020).

Origins of prescribed fire

„ an a priori strategy for planned execution

Fire is often viewed as a contradiction. It has the power not only to destroy, but also to stimulate. Fire evokes fear in people, while simultaneously stimulating intrigue and fascination. Fire has facilitated the development of cultures, societies and industries, yet it has also destroyed infrastructures and lives (Pyne, 1997; Brown et al., 2009).

Although the applications of prescribed fire are inherently variable, it is the following key features that are consistent:

„ some form of authority indicating fire use

Prescribed fire—the intentional use of fire by humans—has been a universal practice of cultures for millennia. In this extract from their book, Global Application of Prescribed Fire, Scasta and Weir describe the use of this technique and the impact and implications it has on society and the environment.

The book

SCASTADEREKPHOTO:

Below

„ clearly identified objectives and conditions.Certainlythere are varying opinions about the acceptability and application of prescribed fires. These opinions are influenced by concerns about smoke, risk and competing objectives (Tiedemann et al., 2000; Williamson et al.,However,2016). whether a region wants prescribed fire may be a moot point because that region likely has had wildfires burning across the landscape at some point in time, regardless of whether the fires were desired or not. Functionally, the flammability of the landscape and the risk of wildfire must be considered in developing prescribed fire programs. Moreover, evidence suggests there may be increasing public support for prescribed fires (Gardner et al., 1985).

drippileslightingincludingignitionvarietywithconditionspreparationfuelweather,veryfireofApplicationprescribedunderspecificandaoftools,brushwithatorch. FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 202230 CONTROLLED BURNING

fire relative to a broad spectrum of cultures, constraints and objectives.

Extract reproduced with permission from Global Application of Prescribed Fire, edited by John R Weir and J Derek Scasta. Published in Australia and New Zealand by CSIRO Publishing, 2021.

1. to explore new techniques, ideas and thoughts on how to apply prescribed fire from a global perspective

torch and lines.ploughedandofcombinationamowed

with this ambitious publication:

teasing apart the direct and indirect interactions between humans and fire.”

31ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA SCASTADEREKPHOTO: SERVICEFORESTSTATESUNITEDDAWSON,W.CLINTPHOTO:

2. to provide regional case studies that present the local nuances and metanarratives that constrain or enhance prescribed fire projects

3. to stimulate conversationscross-culturalabouthow fire should, could or would function in ecosystems with a broad gradient of fire regimes, dependencies and objectives

4. to relate prescribed fire with novel wildfire regimes that are emerging globally with implications for the protection of life and property, as well as sustaining unique firedependent flora and fauna and fire cultures.

Available www.publish.csiro.au.from

Inset left terrasysteminvegetationunderstoreyLightingaforestedwithatorch.

Although there are numerous books about fire ecology that have a global perspective, this book is not focused on the successional impacts of fire in a particular region or ecosystem, but rather the specific logistics, constraints and social dynamics surrounding the intentional human application of fire.

Given escalating fire regimes, changing climate patterns, burgeoning human expansion into wild areas and the intensification of land use, such information is extremely timely and needed (Westerling et al., 2006). This book will enhance understanding and knowledge of the application of prescribed fire at a global scale in a way that has not been done before and at a time when such practical application could not be more important. We believe it will be the impetus for a global conversation about how fire as an ecological driver of disturbance, as well as a management tool, can be restored in the Anthropocene (i.e. the current geological age, when human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment) for the benefit of society and the Earth simultaneously.

Moreover, this book is not a prescribed fire manual intending to instruct on how to burn (if that is what you are seeking, see Weir, 2009); rather, this book provides fire practitioners—both neophytes and seasoned veterans—with key ecological and managerial insights into how prescribed fires are conducted around the world. Such a global assessment and quantification, with the inclusion of the social aspects of prescribed fire application, will allow each reader to discover a newfound knowledge about what is possible with

The National Memorial Service is an annual reminder of the courage and commitment of fire and emergency services personnel in Australia and New Zealand who have died in the line of duty, and a solemn reminder of the risks involved in keeping communities safe during emergencies and disaster events.

Fire and emergency services, family, friends and government representatives will gather on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin at the National Emergency Services Memorial in Canberra to remember the fire and emergency services personnel who have lost their lives while keeping communities safe.

3. A Memorial Medallion is presented to the families of those who have died.

1 2 3 4

2. NSW Rural Fire Service Protocol Officers undertake proceedings at the 2021 National Memorial Service.

PHOTOS: AFAC

The National Emergency Services Memorial was opened in July 2004 by Prime Minister John Howard in honour of the thousands of people who have served in Australia’s emergency services organisations. It provides a place for remembrance and quiet reflection beside Lake Burley Griffin for families, colleagues and visitors.

A digital version of the Honour Roll is available online, and details the names inscribed in the Memorial Wall www.memorial.afac.com.au/honour-roll.see

4. Attendees lay rosemary at the Memorial Wall, inscribed with the names of all those who have died in the line of duty since records began.

ALANA BEITZ

AFAC

“It is important for the fire and emergency service sector to come together to pause and reflect on the sacrifice made by those who have lost their lives while working to keep our communities safe,” AFAC CEO Rob Webb

For those who are unable to attend the National Memorial Service in person, the proceedings will be streamed live online.

Details about how to join the event either in person or virtually are available at the AFAC website see www.afac.com. au/events.

An AFAC Memorial Medallion will be presented to families of those lost and the service will acknowledge names added to the Memorial Wall, which lists all who have died in the line of duty since records began.

The service is a free event, open to all AFAC Members and the general public.

1. Commissioner Carlene York and Commissioner Darren Klemm lay a wreath on behalf of AFAC National Council.

MEMORIAL FOR LIVES LOST

“Thesaid.National Memorial Service provides a way for the fire and emergency service community to offer its collective support to the families, friends and colleagues and the presentation of an AFAC Memorial Medallion honours this incredible sacrifice.”

On Friday 6 May 2022, AFAC will hold a memorial service in Canberra to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who have died in the line of duty.

32 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE

A brief history

Warringtonfire

BOOSTING CONFIDENCE IN PRODUCTSSAFETY-CRITICAL

The impact of fires on both residential and commercial property over recent years has put fire safety back on the agenda. At its heart sits the integrity of building materials and components, and central to this is appropriate product testing, assessment and certification.

manufacturing process has been audited to assess the reliability of the quality procedures and traceability of the product. For manufacturers, this demonstrates that the product for sale is the same as tested. It also provides added assurance to the building industry that passive fire products and systems certified under the schemeRobustcomply.testing of all products incorporated in the construction of a building will help to ensure it remains fit for purpose. Third party certification brings additional benefits. Firstly, it is ideal for manufacturers seeking a competitive edge because it allows them to differentiate their products and processes from non-certified equivalents. Secondly, certification provides reassurance to the end user of ongoing reliability and traceability and builds confidence. And finally, for architects, specifiers, contractors and building owners, certification provides the reassurance that fire protection products and systems, correctly installed, will perform as required.

Legislation is used the world over to impose increasingly stringent requirements on specific products to ensure they are fit for purpose.

A focus on compliance instead of safety puts people and properties at risk. Despite the safety-critical nature of fire protection systems in the built environment, they are afforded no more guidance in Australian building legislation than areas such as weatherproofing or acoustics. For Australia to build a safer future, passive fire construction products and materials must face increased scrutiny to ensure they perform safely in the event of a fire.

Passive fire product certification is one of the world’s most prevalent certification fields, and it dates back to the early 20th century when standards for fire doors were developed in the US. Testing of fire wall systems commenced in 1913, leading to testing in a furnace—a process that is used around the world to this day.

fire protection products, but there is no requirement for recurring testing. This is because certification is not a mandated pathway. As such, a single successful test of just one product sample enables the manufacturer to sell that product indefinitely, based on the original performance, without declaring any changes.

Is certification the answer?

CHAD McLEAN

1. For Australia to build a safer perform.systemsproductsprotectioninstalledcorrectlyensures3.maintenance.andassessmentsfortraceabilityprovidescertification2.scrutiny.facematerialsproductsconstructionpassivefuture,fireandmustincreasedProductfutureriskCertificationthatfireandwill 1 2 3

Alongside consistent quality, product certification also provides

Certification demonstrates that a product or system has undergone the relevant fire testing and the

Current legislation in Australia calls for a single fire resistance test for building components, including passive

In some cases, components may be manufactured based on testing conducted many years prior, raising questions about quality. While this is not guaranteed to cause issues, changes may affect the performance of the end product. Even without intentional alterations within manufacturing, changes in equipment, staff and raw materials could all have effects over time, and there is no way to quantify this gap without a more robust system in place. Therefore, certification is an ideal way to provide confidence in product quality and performance.

34 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 CERTIFICATION

and effectively

Although part of a global organisation, we take a local approach to each and every project. Our staff have an excellent reputation for integrity and providing the highest level of care and expertise on all our projects, regardless of size or location.

Some state and territory governments have agreed to consider the implementation of all BCRendorsed responses. As such, it is anticipated that Australia’s building industry is likely to adopt stricter legislation and product certification requirements in the coming years.

Many third-party product certification providers are already operating in Australia, so the sooner manufacturers and installers begin the process, the easier it will be to comply if and when new regulations are introduced.

To achieve product certification, regular auditing of the production process is required. In doing so, any changes to the quality and performance of the product based on these fluctuating factors can be identified.

We have an established and extensive presence in Australia including at our NATA accredited laboratory in Melbourne and our offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth. Contact us at info.fire.melbourne@warringtonfire.com.

Each and every day, we deliver technically complex solutions in an increasingly complex world – to build the assurance that our clients and their end users need.

In general, prescriptive standards or codes satisfy the requirements of regulators or approval bodies. However, these standards do not explicitly address concerns such as safety of life or the integrity of a structure through its lifetime. With the adoption of a less conventional engineering approach in modern designs, the more fundamental fire safety designs face an even greater challenge.

The process

Introducing certification

To support the need for change in Australia, the Building Confidence report (BCR), published in April 2018, made 24 recommendations to building ministers to address systemic issues in the building industry. Recommendation 21 states: “The Building Ministers’ Forum agrees its position on the establishment of a compulsory product certification system for high-risk building products.”

The term ‘high-risk’ should refer to any product installed to restrict the spread of fire from one space to another. This includes separating elements such as wall/floor systems, doors, wall and ceiling linings, fire collars, sealant, structural steel protection, hardware and so on.

Warringtonfire offer a comprehensive range of fire safety engineering, independent fire testing, fire assessment and product certification services. Our unique ability to deliver a full suite of services provides confidence and certainty throughout the entire building cycle.

Visit us at stand 408 Fire Australia Conference & Tradeshow 3 - 5 May 2022 www.warringtonfire.com

CERTIFICATION

In review

It is critical that fire protection products perform as intended, and product certification dramatically reduces risk and avoids costly mistakes further down the line. While it may not currently be a requirement in all regions and territories, there is an increasing trend globally towards specifying third party-certified products, so it represents a sound investment for businesses to future proof their products by certifying them now.

traceability for future risk assessments and maintenance. Some schemes require products to meet established test performance criteria, as well as ongoing production manufacture audits. Independent certification schemes, such as the Warringtonfire ‘Certifire’ scheme, provide the regulator, specifier, customer and end user with confidence in the stated performance of a product and offer them an informed choice when selecting and purchasing it.

While testing is a critical step in a product’s development, building products require a robust method of ensuring ongoing quality and performance over time. This is where product certification comes to the fore. It can protect both reputations and lives by mandating best practice, something that is beneficial for stakeholders across the built environment. Moreover, there may well come a point when all products around the world require product certification, so now is the time to get one step ahead and ensure that products are high-quality, highperformance, compliant, traceable and—most of all—safe.

36 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 AFAC22

AFAC22 powered by INTERSCHUTZ is coming to Adelaide on 23–26 August 2022, to explore the theme ‘Connecting communities. Creating resilience.’ The program will feature examples of solutions to emerging risks, impacts and recovery from practitioners, researchers and leaders across the fire and emergency sector.

„ South Australian Country Fire Service

„ Metropolitan Fire Service SA

The emergency management sector is in a unique position to connect diverse communities. Through collaboration, engagement and partnerships, links are formed that bind us together. Through building connections, we are learning and working together to prepare for new challenges we face in a changing climate. We are sharing responsibility and building resilience in ourselves, our workplaces, our communities and the systems that support us.

„ South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission

Days two and three at AFAC22 will feature a multi-streamed program with over 100 presentations offering insight into the latest research and practice, centred on the conference theme. The program will also draw on supporting topics including social, physical, environmental, organisational and technological innovation.

„ South Australian State Emergency Service.Themulti-streamed AFAC conference, which will run concurrently with the Institution of Fire Engineers Australia National Conference and the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference, offers delegates an opportunity to learn from international and local thought leaders across the

Delegates will have a host of networking opportunities available throughout the conference, including Meet the Speaker and poster

„ Department for Environment and Water

The conference will commence with the AFAC Research Day, with presentations showcasing the latest innovation and research within the fire and emergency services sector. The industry’s key leaders and innovators will be recognised at the awards ceremony at the end of the day, after which delegates can attend the welcome drinks function at the AFAC22 powered by INTERSCHUTZ exhibition.

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES, CREATING RESILIENCE AFAC22 will explore how an inclusive approach by emergency management agencies is integral to reducing risk and fostering resilience now and into the future. MOLLY PRICE AFAC sincetheeventin-personreturnsandconferencemanagementemergencycomprehensiveandlargestAustralasia’smostexhibitionasanforfirsttime2019. AFACPHOTO:

AFAC22 powered by INTERSCHUTZ is Australasia’s largest and most comprehensive emergency management conference and exhibition, brought to you by AFAC and DeutscheAFAC22Messe.willbe hosted by South Australian AFAC Members:

„ Forestry SA

What will AFAC22 deliver?

emergency management, disaster resilience and fire engineering sectors.

Registrations are now open for AFAC22 powered by INTERSCHUTZ. Register before 30 June 2022 to take advantage of the early bird rate on the conference www.afacconference.com.auwebsite,

AFAC22 also includes Australasia’s most comprehensive emergency management exhibition. Each year, the AFAC22 powered by INTERSCHUTZ exhibition is a show like no other, showcasing the latest and best equipment, technology and service providers. The live demonstration zone and expo stage presentations will also be available to all attendees.

President and Chief Executive Officer, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Registrations open

REgIstR AtIONs ARE NOw OPEN 23–26 August 2022 ADELAIDE CONVENtION CENtRE Fire Emergency/ Rescue First Responders Public Safety Hazardous Mining Fire Prevention #afac22➤ afacconference.com.au Australia Branch Principal Partners Knowledge Centre Sponsor Lanyard WSponsor elcome Function Sponsor Conference Delegate Satchel Sponsor Café Naming Sponsor AFAC22 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED Discover inspiring action and leading thinking from keynote presentations.

5. Nic Marchesi OAM, Co-founder and Chief Delta Officer, Orange Sky Australia

AFAC22

4. Lucas Patchett OAM, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Orange Sky Australia

1. Dr Gill Hicks AM MBE, Artist, published Author, Musician and award-winning Director/Producer

3. Dr Niki Vincent, Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner, Victorian Government

1 24 53 6

6. Jim Pauley,

presentation sessions at the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Knowledge Centre. The AFAC22 social calendar will culminate with the vibrant Gala Dinner, providing an entertaining night and wonderful opportunity to meet old and new contacts.

The Professional Development Program on day four will close out the conference. Practical workshops, forums and field trips for hands-on learning will provide delegates a complete conference experience.

2. Dr Robert Glasser, Head of the Climate and Security Policy Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)

PAUL WATERHOUSE FPA Australia

was dogs. An avid exhibitor since his teens, mostly of collies, he travelled extensively over many years, judging competitions in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Africa and theBobPhilippines.wasnot just an Honorary Life Member of FPA Australia. He was given the same honour by the Kennel Control Council/Victorian Canine Association, the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, the Non-Sporting Dog Club of Victoria, the Caulfield and District Kennel Club and the Melbourne Royal, about which he said: “I’m very proud of that one—that’s the badge of an honorary life member of the society. I suppose that’s also got to do with age a little bit too—it means that you’ve been around a while.”

38 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

Bob was a strong supporter of the Association and its predecessors, and he played a pivotal role in the creation of FPA Australia through the merger of the Australian Fire Protection Association (AFPA) and the Fire Protection Industry Association Australia (FPIAA).

He saw the Association as a way of giving back to his industry, and he dedicated himself to it.

Robert (Bob) S Bell was well-loved and respected by his peers and is described by many as faithful, loyal, reliable, trustworthy and a very kind and giving bloke.

With the financial support and resources of Wormald, Bob took a leading role in turning around the affairs of the AFPA, building a community and working with other leaders to assist with the merger.

But his real forte was his client relationships. He knew and was trusted by a lot of people, which made him a valuable and successful Senior Technical Sales Manager.

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of FPA Australia Honorary Life Member Bob Bell on Sunday 27 February 2022 at the age of 83.

A through-and-through fireman, he had a background in industrial electronics that he turned into a 42-year tenure at Wormald, specialising in alarms and detection systems.

IN MEMORIUM

Bob was devoted to his family and is survived by his wife Jennifer, his daughter Louise, son-in-law Brett and grandchildren Joe and Harry.

never without a tie and always had a pot of coffee brewing in the corner of his office. His dress sense reflected his outlook on life—neat, professional, service-orientated and a little old-fashioned.Hewasawarded Honorary Life Membership for his tireless contribution to FPA Australia over many years. He was nominated by Norm Winn, who chaired the Victorian State Committee while Bob served for 30 years as his loyal Secretary, with Rod Buncle as Treasurer.Thethree of them turned a division that was on its last legs into one of the most successful in the country, contributing over $100,000 to FPANormAustralia.and Bob became inseparable and very close friends. They collaborated on initiatives such as the industrial fire officer course, and they were there to celebrate the successes of their students at every graduation dinner.

BOBVALEBELL

Bob was a consummate, disciplined

FPA Australia offers its condolences to Bob’s family, friends and colleagues for their loss of a “jolly good bloke”. Below Bob Jenniferand Bell. Bob played an important role in the creation and success of FPA Australia.

He was an innovative designer and an early adopter of technology, who was able to bring people together by thinking differently. He invested time in people and was a natural and talented trainer, not restricted to the theory of fire protection but delving into the practical side of the trade, mentoring many up-and-coming practitioners who went on to become stalwarts in the industry.

Vintage Aero Writer

IN MEMORIUM 39ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA

On 17 February 2022, Ben Buckley passed away in his hometown of Benambra. A farmer, pilot, local councillor and larrikin, he made a significant contribution to the East Gippsland community. Mr Buckley is remembered as a pioneer of aerial firebombing—laying the first operational drops of retardant on a lightning-strike fire in north-east Victoria 55 years ago.

would burn up to it, but the Phos-Chek [retardant] would suppress the burn, able to slow it right down, and then the ground team went in to make it safe

Read more about the history of aerial firefighting at the National Aerial Firefighting Centre website: org.au/about-aerial-firefighting/historywww.nafc.

On 6 February 1967, two Piper Pawnees contracted from Alpine Aviation of Benambra, Victoria, made the first operational drops of retardant on a small lightning-strike fire in northeasternTheseVictoria.twoaircraft, the VH-MOK and VH-GWS, were flown by experienced agricultural aviation pilots Ben Buckley and Bob Lansbury.

In what has become a classic example of firebombing, they were able to contain a remote fire until the ground crews were able to walk in some five hours later to ensure it was

“We’d dump on the flanks and then across the head of the fire. The fire

FAREWELL TO A PIONEER OF AUSTRALIAN AERIAL FIREFIGHTING

1. Two Pawnees and a onretardanttheVictoriaBenambra,Aviation4.3.seeding.doing1967.onVH-GWS,Pawnees,flying2.mixingBenambrathehangerBentheAirtrukTransaviaoutsidefrontoftheBuckley’satoriginalbase.BobLansburyoneofthetheused6FeburaryHereheisanaerialBenBuckley.Alpineofmadefirstdropsafirein1967. 1 2 3 4 GOODALLGEOFFREYPHOTO:

“Yes, I understand it was the first official—I see they’ve put that in, ‘official’—fire bombing effort in Victoria and Australia. It wasn’t like today’s machines with their huge loads, but once we’d done it, we knew what we wereMrdoing.”Buckley will be missed by all those who got to know him in his long and colourful life.

Previously,‘safe’. there had been a remarkable range of experiments with different aircraft (from heavy military four-engine bombers and single-seat fighters to agricultural aircraft) using differing drop materials, techniques and

But this was the first real firebombing job, and the start of modern aerial firefighting operations in Australia.AlpineAirwork, a successor company to Alpine Aviation, remains a contractor to the National Aerial Firefighting Centre, currently supplying two single-engine air tankers at Benambra.Awell-known and colourful character in Australian aviation, Mr Buckley reflected on that day back in “We’d1967.just got off superphosphate operations. We dropped 15 loads on the sixth—myself and Bob Lansbury. We’d been doing some spreading, and we’d done tests a couple of years before, in 1965.

equipment. Aircraft had also often been used for fire spotting, as they are today.

“Weafterwards.hadnoradios then; Bob Lansbury and I, we just kept going back with another load that day, until it was done. Lansbury was an engineer before becoming a pilot, and he helped me with my Pioneer 300 recently.

“See a bit of smoke, push the lever and drop in front of the fire!

AUTUMN 2022

SEASONALBUSHFIREOUTLOOK

AFAC

AFAC, the national council for fire and emergency services, has released the Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for autumn 2022, which identifies varied fire potential for locations across Australia.

ALANA BEITZ

Australia's national picture of fire potential for autumn 2022 has been released.

Recent rainfall has resulted in average to above-average soil moisture and streamflows across large parts of eastern Australia. Influenced by the current La Niña event, the Outlook for autumn suggests that aboveaverage rainfall is likely over large parts of the Above-normalcountry.bushfire potential is expected for lower south-east SA due to prolonged dry conditions and indications that above-average temperatures are possible over the next three months.

“As we move into autumn, fire authorities across many areas of Australia will use these cooler months to undertake mitigation activities, such as prescribed burning,” he said.

“The Outlook, developed by fire and emergency services and the Bureau of Meteorology, provides a national picture of fire potential that supports mitigation activity to enhance the safety of communities and landscapes. Agencies will continue to monitor local conditions and manage risks accordingly.”

WA experienced significant bushfire incidents over summer, and with forecasted maximum temperatures along the west coast likely to be above average, areas associated with higher

fuel loads will continue to have above-normal fire potential during autumn.Areas of NSW, Victoria and the ACT have below-normal bushfire potential, due to increased fuel and soil moisture from good rainfall received over summer and reduced fuel loads in areas recovering from the 2019–20 fireWhileseason.most of Australia shows normal bushfire potential during the autumn outlook period, anyone living and working in these areas needs to be vigilant. Destructive and deadly fires can still occur during normal bushfire seasons across Australia.

This Outlook was developed by AFAC, the Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, the NSW Rural Fire Service, ACT Emergency Services Agency, ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Country Fire Authority, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Victoria, Tasmania Fire Service, SA Country Fire Service, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA and Bushfires NT.

See the full Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for autumn 2022 at the AFAC website.

AFAC CEO Rob Webb said the Seasonal Bushfire Outlook is an important tool used by fire and emergency service authorities to balance operational and mitigation activity over the coming months.

40 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 SEASONAL BUSHFIRE OUTLOOK SPARKESDEBPHOTO:

SEASONAL BUSHFIRE OUTLOOK AUTUMN 2022 fireBelow-normalpotentialNormalfireAbove-normalpotentialfirepotential

Australia’s national picture of bushfire potential in autumn 2022.

SOURCE: AFAC SEASONAL BUSHFIRE OUTLOOK

Engineered wood products are increasingly being used for fire-protected timber construction following changes to the National Construction Code in 2019. From fire test reports to Technical Design Guides, WoodSolutions

WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS

Understanding and designing for these factors is critical to demonstrating that a performance-based fire strategy will meet building code requirements, and has successfully been done in several cases for projects up to ten storeys (built) and 15 storeys (approved).

ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS: A SAFE SOLUTION has to help you meet the requirements of the Code and appropriate fire every

While risks are common across all building materials and systems, one of

specify

With the rapid growth of engineered wood products (EWPs) in Australia, it is important to understand how EWPs may be different to other building materials and systems, and what you should be aware of when assessing a timber project.

WoodSolutions

Performance solutions are required when structural timber is exposed, but professional fire engineers can apply the same approach as with any other exposed structure.

The precautions during construction do not differ significantly from what is applicable to other materials.

timber

the perceived risks for timber mid-rise construction is fire safety, because timber is a combustible material. However, in 2019, the National Construction Code (NCC) introduced Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) solutions for fire-protected timber construction, up to an effective height of 25Undermetres.these changes, fully encapsulated EWPs will behave like non-combustible materials for the prescribed fire resistance levels and the DtS provisions. In fact, EWPs have very predictable and well-documented fire behaviour, and they maintain their strength and stiffness when temperatures rise.

For information and test reports related to the NCC-compliant fire-safe design of timber buildings, visit publicationswww.woodsolutions.com.au/

solutions for

situation. Visit WoodSolutions.com.au today or use the QR code to go straight to fire resources.fireInimmediatelyDownloadcaseofdesign

accurate, accessible information

When we refer to EWPs, it includes all the wood-based products where there is some form of engineering and offsite prefabrication. Such products range from stud frames, I-joists and cassettes to mass-timber components such as crosslaminated timber (CLT), glue-laminated timber (GLT), laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and nail-laminated timber (NLT).

PAOLO LAVISCI

National Construction

In North America and Europe, even taller buildings have been completed (18 storeys fully in EWPs, including the core; 24 storeys in hybrid construction).

The theme for the United Nations International Women’s Day on 8 March 2022 was ‘gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’—a fitting theme for women working in fire and emergency services and land management.TheUNstated: “The year 2022 is pivotal for achieving gender equality in the context of climate change, and environmental and disaster risk reduction, which are some of the greatest global challenges of the

The Champions of Change Fire and Emergency 2021 Progress Report provides an update on the actions taken and outcomes achieved over the past 12 months, against the group’s gender equality priorities.

AFAC

as a critical pathway to leadership positions in the sector.In2021, the group examined the specific barriers to increasing the recruitment of women to frontline roles and committed to develop a sector-wide leading practice approach to recruitment for frontline roles that will help to build a diverse and inclusive workforce.

21st century. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach.“This year’s observance is in recognition and celebration of the women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation and response, and to honour their leadership and contribution towards a sustainable future.”

VICTORIACFAPHOTO:

The Champions of Change Fire and Emergency 2021 Progress Report is available reportfire-and-emergency-2021-progress-org/resource/champions-of-change-www.championsofchangecoalition.at:

„ 96.2% of members have policies or initiatives in place to enable flexible access to parental leave for all parents.

The report details gender representation in the emergency services workforce, including frontline service delivery roles.

The 2021 progress by numbers includes:

„ 23.2% achieved for women’s promotions overall across the Group.

The Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group has 29 members who lead some 180,000 employees and volunteers. The group has been collaborating with AFAC on gender equality initiatives since 2017.

The Fire sector.forenvironmentsandrespectfulprofessional,andintodiversemoreadvancingequality,oftocommittedGroupEmergencyandarethegoalsgenderandwomenleadershipbuildinginclusiveallinthe

DATA SUPPORTS GENDER DIVERSITY

Coinciding with International Women’s Day 2022, the Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group released its 2021 Progress Report, which details the actions and impact of gender equality initiatives undertaken by members.

WOMEN IN FIRE 43ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA

A positions,frontlineofthepriorityparticularisbuildingrepresentationwomeninservicedeliverywhichcanserve

ALANA BEITZ

„ 92.3% of member organisations have initiatives in place to support employees experiencing, or supporting family/friends experiencing, domestic and family violence.

AFAC CEO Rob Webb said: “The actions we take now can shape the workforce we leave for the next generation. Frameworks and mindsets developed through our partnership with Champions of Change support us to build inclusive environments when working for and with diverse communities.”TheFireand Emergency Group is committed to the goals of gender equality, advancing more and a more diverse range of women into leadership and building professional, respectful and inclusive environments for all in the sector.

WOMEN IN FIRE:

delivered savings and efficiencies for AFAC Members. Do you have any reflections of the impacts of collaboration on organisational planning and procurement?

The most important aspect of developing standards is having a standardised approach to personal protective equipment (PPE) for fire and emergency services personnel across the world. While standards have an impact in other areas such as equipment and fleet, this approach particularly ensures that all emergency service workers’ PPE meets minimum safety requirements. Australian emergency services can collaborate when it comes to procurement by having consistent specifications that deliver standardised equipment, which supports interoperability.

AFAC Q&A

In this regular series, AFAC CEO Rob Webb interviews AFAC Director Standards and Strategic Procurement Russell Shephard AFSM on the cusp of his retirement, to reflect upon his career

effort and achieves savings that would have been otherwise spent on costly procurement processes—all while delivering standardised equipment to firefighters and emergency service personnel.Although the procurement of agency fleet and associated equipment is not directly linked to standards, it is an area that has seen great success in previous years with agencies sharing information and collaborating where possible, accessing other AFAC Member contracts through the CPBSG access clause. This has seen significant savings, not only with respect to the cost of running a full procurement process but also the cost of the vehicle, by creating a more competitive market and gaining greater buying power.

I developed an interest in PPE and the general health and safety of firefighters. I worked on numerous safety committees and in 1994 was awarded the ACT Government Achievement Award for the development of the first structural firefighting protective clothing made from an aramid fabric.

44 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

SECTORFROMPERSPECTIVESTHE

You’ve had a distinguished and dedicated career spanning 45 years of service to the industry as a firefighter, executive leader and respected standards influencer. What has been your path to AFAC Director Standards and Strategic

My first exposure to the fire industry was joining the [then] NSW Fire Brigade as a volunteer in a small country town, which incentivised me to become more involved in the industry. In December 1976, I successfully completed training with the [then] ACT Fire Brigade at the Australian National University, the first training college for the newly established ACT Fire Brigade.

I spent many more years representing firefighters on health and safety issues and national training competencies and held numerous positions on government consultation committees. During this time, I also represented AFAC on PPE-focused Standards Australia committees and, following the departure of Richard Donarski from AFAC, I was appointed as the (seconded) AFAC Manager Standards.Idistinctly remember the 2003 Canberra bushfires; this was a turning point for me, and I decided to take a different direction with my career. After

You’ve been instrumental in many improvements to the industry. In your view, what are some of the key challenges it will need to overcome?

Russell Shephard hosts AFAC Collaboration Groups covering a range of topics, including PPE, fleet, and strategic procurement.

For a long time, it has been the norm for many firefighters and emergency service personnel to take the PPE home. Often this would involve cleaning the protective clothing in home washing machines, perhaps with general household clothing and as a result, creating opportunities for cross-contamination.Thiswillnotbeacceptable under

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September 2008 saw me resign from the ACT ESA and taking up the ongoing position as the AFAC Manager Standards, working remotely from Canberra. Since this time, I have continued to enhance my knowledge and share my experience with others and help to create a collaborative framework within AFAC, one that I hope would and will continue to assist all AFAC Member Agencies in areas such as standards, PPE, fleet and procurement.

The next Director of Standards and Strategic Procurement will hopefully continue to encourage and foster

The role that was initially established as AFAC Manager Standards had a focus more about standards representation and firefighting, and not all-encompassing emergency services as it is today. With the support of AFAC, in particular former CEOs Naomi Brown and Stuart Ellis, and with assistance from Arthur Tindall (former Director, Operational Infrastructure & Logistics, South Australian Country Fire Service) we have been able to broaden the

This has included formation of the AFAC Standards Representatives Network, PPE Technical Group and Fleet Technical Group, with ongoing oversight and support from the CPBSG. These AFAC committees are a key to the past and future successes of the AFAC collaboration model and will continue to deliver and share information, create opportunities and deliver standardised equipment across our industry. It will also ensure that the model established for AFAC’s involvement in the development and revision of Australian and international standards, puts the collective view of our Members forward on every occasion.

support, I established the Collaborative Purchasing Initiative (2008) to facilitate a new approach to procurement among AFAC Member Agencies that reduced the duplication of research, development and testing by AFAC Member Agencies in the technical services area through targeted Technical Committees.

the requirements of the new standard and, while Australia is not obliged to comply with the standard, it will become best practice and agencies will be encouraged to work towards compliance in some form.

assisting with the establishment of the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) Procurement and Fleet division, I was successful in transitioning out of the fire service and into the ACT ESA, while still maintaining my seconded role at AFAC.

AFAC Q&A

Withscope.that

relationships with our AFAC Members and the wider fire and emergency service industry.

To answer this question, I will focus on one issue—one that is very current and, in my opinion, will be one of the most challenging issues that many agencies willWithface.the development of the International Standard 23616 Cleaning, inspection and repair of firefighters’ personal protective equipment (PPE) over the last four years, we have broadly and consistently consulted and collaborated through the AFAC PPE Technical Group and Standards Australia SF-049 (Firefighters PPE) Committee in relation to the proposed standard at its various stages.

The challenge for agencies will be to look at how they can improve the systems they have in place for the cleaning and maintenance of PPE and in doing so, continue to improve the health and safety of firefighters and emergency service personnel.

It has always been my intention to see out my International Organization for Standardization and Standards Australia appointments, which remain in place until the terms end in 2024. Hopefully I will be able to transition to retirement over this time and continue to represent our industry working on standards until then.

I plan on taking some time out to visit some of the wonderful caravan parks up and down the east coast. I enjoy kayaking, so that will be one of the things I will look forward to dedicating more time to. I also look forward to doing some small woodworking projects at home and, of course, spending more time with the family. My family is spread out across WA, NSW, the ACT and South Korea. COVID has very much limited access to them over the last couple of years, so I look forward to the opportunity to see them all.

AFACPHOTOS:

You leave a tremendous legacy of achievement and have improved the lives of so many, with firefighter safety at the fore. All of us wish you, your wife Josie and your family the very best for the future, and a happy and healthy retirement. Any retirement plans (once broader COVID-19 restrictions lift) that you’d like to share?

How do you see your role benefiting AFAC, and indeed the industry, in the past and the future?

BARRY LEE OAM

The MS Scandinavian Star was a 12,500-tonne vehicle and passenger ferry that caught fire on a voyage between Norway and Denmark on the early morning of 7 April 1990. It was a disaster that tragically claimed 159 lives, 136 of them Norwegian.

The MS Scandinavian Star was built in 1971 to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1960 requirements, using Method 1 fire protection—meaning it was not fitted with either automatic fire detection or automatic sprinkler protection. The ship was originally named the MS Massalia, and its name changed several times under different owners. In 1990, it was converted from a casino ship into a passenger ferry and put into service on the busy route between Oslo, Norway and Frederikshavn, Denmark.

According to engineering company Lloyd’s Register:

PHOTO: TERJE FREDH – CC BY-SA 4.0

PHOTO: TV2

The ship was finally taken under tow to the town of Lysekil in Sweden, where the fire brigade finally extinguished all fire at 4.00 pm on 8 April. Post-fire investigations found that the vessel was not ready to sail with passengers when it was brought into service. They recommended all ships in passenger traffic in Scandinavian ports should be fitted with automatic sprinkler systems and smoke detectors in corridors, companionways, saloons and cabins, and be connected to indicators on the bridge. Perhaps most importantly, they urged that such passenger vessels be manned with crews that have attended courses in safety procedures offered by the maritime administrations.

[F]ire remains one of the great hazards for seagoing personnel. Thankfully, the risks have diminished as implementation of new legislation has taken effect, but fire still claims about 30% of casualties at sea.

testing. The burning laminates produced toxic hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide gases. The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that the crew was new and had never practised a fire drill. Further, numerous Portuguese crew members did not speak or understand Norwegian, Danish or English.

At 9.15 pm on 6 April 1990, the ship departed from one of Oslo’s ferry terminals with 395 passengers and 97 crew aboard, headed into the inner waters of the Oslofjord, and began the

[From] December through March, 2019, according to the Wall Street Journal, at least one big ship fire occurred around the world, including a March 10 blaze off the coast of France that sent a vessel to the bottom of the ocean—a container ship loaded with more than 2,000 cars from luxury automakers like Audi and Porsche. In February, a large fire occurred on a cargo ship docked for construction in Oregon, Ohio, in the Port of Toledo. It took firefighters over 30 hours to control the blaze, which was worsened by the burning of rubber materials on board.

THE MS STAR DISASTER—1990

The National Fire Protection Association Journal (USA), dated October 2019, noted:

46 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

PHOTO: TERJE FREDH, SJÖHISTORISKA MUSEET

1 2 3 1. The MS StarScandinavian on fire. 2. The MS StarScandinavian 3.smoking.stillTheMS StarScandinavian after the fire.

Many passengers remained asleep in their cabins, and others were enjoying the ship’s entertainment on the upper decks. Most were unaware of what was unfolding. When they realised something was very wrong, some managed to escape the fire while others took to life rafts and were rescued by ships responding to the captain’s mayday calls. Unfortunately, others still remained in their cabins, where they succumbed to smoke inhalation.Although the ship’s bulkheads were steel structures with asbestos wallboards, a resin laminate was used as a decorative cover and proved extremely flammable in subsequent

13-hour trip to Frederikshavn on the northern tip of Denmark. Just under five hours into the journey, fire was detected in a lower deck corridor. It quickly took hold, spread to other decks and was followed by five further outbreaks. Arson was clearly involved. It has been suggested that several crew members were responsible.

TAC/18/19 Passive fire protection

STANDARDS

TAC/3/7 Portable and mobile equipment

FP-020 Construction in bushfire-prone areas

FP-022 Fire protection of mobile and transportable equipment

The report commissioned by the Office of the NSW Building Commissioner was submitted to NSW cabinet with nine recommendations, six of which align with FPA Australia’s key strategic statements.

TAC/11/22 Special hazards fire protection systems

LEIGH GESTHUIZEN

Resolution of the public comment on AS 5062 continues.

IB-18 Using polyurethane foams was published on 12 November 2021.

Resolution of the public comment on the AS 1670.6 revision and AS 3786 revision (an adoption, with modification, of ISO 12239) continues. AS 1670.1: 2018 amendment 1: 2021 is available for download.

The IB on evacuation exercises during a pandemic has been sent to the publisher for finalisation.

FP-002 Fire detection and alarm systems

An update of the IB on evacuation diagrams is nearing completion, along with a new document on the requirement to have emergency plans.

TAC/20 Bushfire safety

FP-018 Fire safety

Progress continues on the revision of AS 2118.6.

TAC/17 Emergency planning

National Manager, Advocacy, FPA Australia

The TAC seeks to progress the draft ‘Good Practice Guide’ on speaker layout. The IB on building occupant warning systems is also almost ready for final editing. A previous draft document on detection in carparks is under review.

Progress continues on the new handbook for ‘Maintenance of construction in bushfire-prone areas’ (SA HB 208).

FP-004 Automatic fire sprinkler installations

at TAC/11/22 given AS 5062 is near completion and a lull in the policy space regarding firefighting foam. Firefighting foams are expected to be a hot topic in 2022 with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority beginning a review of its requirements, the implementation of the Commonwealth's Industrial Chemicals Environmental Standard Register and an expected new firefighting foam proposal at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). As previously noted, the NSW EPA has published further guidance information on how to prepare for and comply with their requirements on PFAS firefighting foams. This is available on their website.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released the updated mandatory standard for portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers. There is a 12-month transition period during which people can meet either the current or updated mandatory standard. The mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the voluntary Australian New Zealand standard AS/NZS 1841.12007 Portable fire extinguishers. There has been much progress in this space with documents on extinguisher agent replacement and foam extinguisher marking in advanced development, as well as issue registers being created for a potential revision of AS/NZS 1841 and AS/NZS 1850.

TAC/4/8/9 Fire sprinkler and hydrant systems, tanks and fixed fire pumps

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

TAC/2 Fire detection and alarm systems

The next TAC meetings were held remotely in March 2022.

TAC/1 reconfirmed its work program for 2022. Work continues on reviewing comments for the draft project proposal for the revision of AS 1851-2012 as well as other projects to update or develop new technical documents. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA) sent out an email on Wednesday 10 November 2021 advising they have published further guidance information on how to prepare for and comply with their requirements for PFAS firefighting foams.

Work also continues in earnest on the issue register that is to form the basis of a potential project proposal to revise AS 3745 as well as other technical documents that may also support this.

Work continues on another possible document on unfilled frames in fire doorsets. Discussion on training and other documents continues, as does contribution to the work of FP-018.

An update and discussion on AS 54142012 Bushfire water spray systems was given at the meeting. Work continues on a behavioural personal assessment device practice note on conducting bushfire attack level assessments using method 1 of AS 3959-2018.

Progress continues on the revisions of AS 1530.1 (Combustibility test) and AS 1530.4 (Fire-resistance tests).

There have been minimal developments

UPDATE

TECHNICAL COMMITTEESADVISORYUPDATE

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TAC/1 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment

The TAC revisited previous work on pumpset checklists. The document will be made available to industry for free. There was much discussion on the requirements of different Australian Standards including AS 2118.1 (Concealed spaces, incidental storage, and protection of high voltage areas), AS 2118.6 (Water supply calculation) and AS 2304 (Break tanks, test drain sizes).

The bushfires of 2019–20 caused significant damage and burned for weeks. In this edition, former FPA Australia President Bill Lea— an active volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service—shares some of the scenes from the Black Summer fires. 1. Fire came over the top of us when we were defending properties in Mangrove Mountain. 2. Gospers mountain. 3. NSW South coast where the fire crossed the Princess Highway. 4. Back burn to protect wineries.

Or pose some fire-based trivia (be sure to give a hint), A photo of your paintings, or some crocheted sprinkler pumps, A gallery of badges, or a history of sumps.

members

Remember: no submissions means an empty page, or worse— Our editors may take control and post some dodgy verse!

The point is that your contributions are up to just you, We edit all the rest of this—won’t tell you what to do. But we’re all keen to see your best and put it on the page— Yes, even if your topic is ‘the beauty of the gauge’. We’ve got the space, and it is so much easier if we Provide it to you folk to fill (it’s much less work for me!).

This is our readers’ corner, where our readers take control We’ll moderate but won’t obstruct—that is our stated goal. We want to give our audience the chance to have a go, To tell a tale, post a shot, to share a thought or two. You may have something personal that you wish to relate, Recount some facts about events that happened on this date, To write the eds a letter (if it’s praise, we’re bound to print!),

Gospers Mountain fire 2019

LEAWILLIAMPHOTO: LEAWILLIAMPHOTO:LEAWILLIAMPHOTO:LEAWILLIAMPHOTO:

Submissions can be sent to magazine@fpaa.com.au.

So please submit your photos, stories, feedback, anecdotes, Your book reviews, your retrospectives, maybe some (clean) jokes.

48 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022 READERS’ CORNER

Readers’ corner is a new section of Fire Australia that allows of our audience to share with the broader readership.

Find out more at www.afacconference.com.au.

To find out more, or to reserve your ticket, visit www.fireaustralia.com.au.

FPA AUSTRALIA EVENTS

For a full list of upcoming events, visit www.fpaa.com.au/events.aspx.

Fire practitioners are busy people who cannot always make time to attend a live event. For this reason, FPA Australia has made its recorded webinars available through a new online portal, FPA+. This user-friendly website allows members and non-members alike to purchase our content and catch up on any events they have missed, earning continuing professional development points in the process. Free FPA Australia webinars can also be accessed through the portal, providing access to popular topic areas such as the requirements of the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme. It is a great way to access technical content in your own time and at your own leisure, without having to interrupt your workday.

To see our recorded webinars, visit www.fpaaplus.com.au.

FIRE AUSTRALIA 2022

Returning to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Fire Australia 2022 is the largest fire protection conference and tradeshow in the Southern Hemisphere. From 3 to 5 May 2022, around 2,000 people will descend upon the MCEC to hear from inspiring people and to see the latest innovations and solutions. Speakers will cover a range of topics, from the future of the industry to courts and liability, to codes and regulations, to bushfire design, to sustainability. With several technical sessions on the program as well, there is bound to be something that appeals to anybody interested in fire protection.

More information can be found at www.memorial.afac.com.au.

AFAC22 powered by INTERSCHUTZ exhibition returns to Adelaide from 23 to 26 August 2022, with access to over 100 conference presenters. Delegates will hear from international and local thought leaders across our multi-streamed AFAC conference, featuring the Institution of Fire Engineers Australia National Conference and the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference. AFAC22 features the industry’s most impressive range of exhibitors covering all facets of emergency management equipment, technology and services.

AFAC22 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

49ISSUE TWO 2022 FIRE AUSTRALIA

AFAC will hold a memorial service on Friday 6 May 2022 at the National Emergency Services Memorial in Canberra to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who have died in the line of duty. It is a free event, and the service is open to AFAC Members and the general public. Those unable to attend the event can livestream the ceremony online.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE

FPA+

CALENDAR

FPA Australia runs a variety of technical events catering to the fire protection industry. Topics cover the breadth of the sector—wet systems, dry systems, passive fire, mechanical fire protection, special hazards, bushfire, and emergency planning—and provide useful opportunities for practitioners to pick up continuing professional development points. Presented by leading experts, our seminars and technical webinars provide all the information you need about relevant fire safety topics. Recent events have covered baseline data, insurance, defects and bushfire design, and we’ve got further seminars on mechanical smoke control, detection systems and sprinklers in the pipeline.

50 FIRE AUSTRALIA ISSUE TWO 2022

SAM QUIGLEY

Simon Heemstra has been appointed Director National Projects and Innovation at AFAC. He brings his experience as manager of the Bureau of Meteorology’s Hazard Preparedness and Response—National section, along with more than 16 years of experience across many areas of the NSW Rural Fire Service, including Community Planning, Community Hazards Management and Natural Environment Services.

EDITORSJOINT PAUL WATERHOUSE (FPA AUSTRALIA) Tel +61 3 8892 paul.waterhouse@fpaa.com.au3133 ALANA BEITZ (AFAC) Tel +61 3 9418 alana.beitz@afac.com.au5233 FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA (FPA AUSTRALIA) ABN 30 005 366 576 PO Box 1049 Box Hill VIC 3128 TelAustralia+613 8892 3133 Fax +61 3 8892 www.fpaa.com.aumagazine@fpaa.com.au3132 AFAC ABN 52 060 049 327 Level 1, 340 Albert Street East Melbourne VIC 3002 TelAustralia+613 9419 2388 Fax +61 3 9419 www.afac.com.auafac@afac.com.au2389 PRODUCTION AND DESIGN: CORETEXT Tel +61 3 9670 www.coretext.com.au1168 TO SUBMIT A CONTRIBUTION OR TO ADVERTISE IN FIRE AUSTRALIA, PLEASE CONTACT: PAUL WATERHOUSE FPA AUSTRALIA TEL +61 3 8892 3133 magazine@fpaa.com.au

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

SIMON HEEMSTRA

he will step down as CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia once its initial establishment phase has been completed. He has made a significant contribution to the sector as Research Director of the Bushfire CRC and CEO of the later Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.

Sam Quigley has taken the position of Deputy Chief Fire Officer/Director, Forest and Fire Operations for Gippsland with the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. He moves to the position after 12 years with the South Australian Country Fire Service, including a recent secondment to AFAC.

Be part of Australasia’s largest fire industryprotectionevent 3 – 5 May 2022 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 3 Days of leading content on fire safety! 80+ Exhibitors 2000+ Attendees For more information visit fireaustralia.com.au Key Industry Experts Learn about new trends, products and services. Technical Tracks Attend our technical CPD seminars and stimulate your professional development. Tradeshow Hall Connect with our 80+ local and Tradeshowinternationalexhibitors.

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