Fire prevention

Any work carried out on University property may affect the University fire plan in some way. This work must be managed with your University liaison.

Impacts on the fire plan may include fire exits and fire egress routes. If work compromises a fire exit or fire egress route, consultation well in advance will be required.

If work might potentially impact the supply of water to fire systems, please coordinate with your University liaison and Facilities Management (FM) before the work starts.

Fire systems—detection, suppression, alarms, and curtains

The University has fire safety systems that should be considered before starting work. If work might compromise one of the following systems, please discuss immediately with your University liaison.

Fire suppression systems

Fire suppression systems in use at the University are:

sprinkler systems including road hydrants—in many University buildings
gas suppression systems—for IT systems
powder suppression systems—for chemicals in some laboratory fume cupboards
fire detection and alarm systems
thermal detectors
traditional smoke detectors
laser smoke detectors—in the Hub
Direct Brigade Alarm (DBA)—pressure detection alarm on sprinkler pipes, a drop in pressure will trigger a fire alarm
manual call points—manual fire alarm triggers.

Fire or smoke curtains

Fire or smoke curtains are designed to help prevent the spread of fire, and to redirect egress. They are located in multiple buildings:

Laby
Alan MacDiarmid
Te Toki a Rata
Maclaurin
Easterfield.

Fire system isolations

You must consider a fire system isolation if your work could trigger or negatively affect a fire detection, alarm or suppression system, or smoke or fire curtain.

Isolations can be arranged through the Property Services Helpdesk or through your University liaison. They must be carried out by a University inducted fire technician and approved in writing by the Senior Advisor Health and Safety (Asset and Infrastructure).

If approved, Health and Safety will notify all affected PCBUs. Work may then proceed.

Do not under any circumstances manually isolate a fire detection or sprinkler system unless specifically engaged to do so by the University.

Hot works

Any work creating sparks, a flame or sufficient heat to create a fire requires a 'Permit to work'.

Access for fire engines and emergency vehicles

Any work, which may prevent access by FENZ (Fire and Emergency New Zealand) vehicles, will require:

a risk assessment
a traffic management plan
the authority of your University liaison.

Coordination meetings with Campus Security, Facilities Management, and Health and Safety may be required.

Fire cells

Fire cells are fire-rated parts of a building as per a fire engineers’ specifications (that is, the cell may have a 60 minute rating—which is how long it will take to burn through). They are designed to slow the fire’s ability to spread, allowing building occupants to evacuate safely.

Fire cells are a critical part of the University fire plan. Any work likely to compromise a fire cell will require approval from Facilities Management.

If you are not sure whether your work will affect a fire cell, or do not know what a fire cell is, check with your University liaison before beginning any work that requires any demolition or penetrations of walls, ceilings, floors or doors.

Fire floor and building wardens

Every occupied building has building and floor wardens who will be wearing labelled vests during an emergency evacuation.

After evacuating to the nearest assembly point, advise the building wardens:

that you have evacuated safely
if there is anyone else still in the building, such as workers refusing to evacuate, injured or disabled workers requiring rescue, or trapped workers.
of any of work that may impact emergency response, such as scaffolding or equipment in stairwell, a construction site, hazardous substances.
any other relevant information, such as any fire exits that might be blocked, or any services that might be making the situation worse.