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Fire safety engineering and fire services engineering are not the same discipline. This note explains the difference between these two roles, detailing the differences in expected scope of works, where they may be required during a project’s life cycle, and the value they can bring to the design development process.
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Two disciplines, one simple rule of thumb
The following note explains in detail the responsibilities of a fire safety engineer and a fire services engineer. To assist, there is a simple rule of thumb when thinking about the two disciplines:
- A fire safety engineer is responsible for the building’s overall fire safety design.
- A fire services engineer is responsible for technical elements specified in the fire safety design.
Fire safety engineers and fire services engineers
Fire safety engineers and fire services engineers have similar titles, and these titles are not consistently used across Australia or internationally (see Title terminology). It is therefore understandable that they often get confused. Some consultants undertake both fire safety engineering and fire services engineering services simultaneously. However, the two roles are notably different.
The simplest way to distinguish between the two disciplines is to use the following principle for any project:
- A fire safety engineer helps the team to make high-level strategic decisions about fire safety design.
- A fire services engineer helps the team to make detailed decisions about implementing fire safety design.
In general, a fire safety engineer will make the overarching decisions on fire safety design to determine what systems may be installed within a building. Fire safety engineers are responsible for developing a holistic fire safety strategy for a building and communicating this to the team. They consider all aspects of a fire safety strategy such as smoke control, fire detection and alarm, emergency lighting and exit signs, and more. There is a sub-specialty of fire safety engineering known as structural fire engineering. In this case, the fire safety engineer (structural) considers and analyses the effects of fire on the building’s structure (whether concrete, steel, timber or hybrid).
For all the above services (smoke control, detection, lighting, signage, etc), it is the role of the fire services engineer to provide the detailed design (and sometimes install) the respective system/s which meets the requirements stipulated by the fire safety engineer, and any applicable industry codes and standards. It is the fire safety engineer’s role to verify that all these different subsystems will work in symphony to achieve the overarching goal of providing primarily life safety to building occupants in the event of a fire, and secondly, property protection.
Example
The fire safety engineer proposes that the building under consideration should be provided with a sprinkler system. The fire services engineer is then responsible for determining the exact location of the sprinkler heads, sizing the pipes, whether there needs to be a pump, and so on.
In this case, the fire safety engineer provides high-level design as part of the building’s overall fire safety strategy. The fire services engineer then provides detailed design (such as the sprinkler drawings and specifications).
Note that the detailed designs for services and systems noted above may be prepared by engineers that do not refer to themselves as a fire services engineer. For example, the detailed design for smoke control measures is typically prepared by a mechanical engineer. However, under the literal definition, they are acting as a fire services engineer. Equally, when an electrical engineer prepares the emergency lighting and exit signage plan, they are acting as a fire services engineer. Refer Table 1 below for examples.
Table 1. Examples of the roles (and position titles) for scenarios often considered in a new building.
Building design consideration |
Fire safety engineer’s input |
Fire services engineer’s input |
|
Fire compartmentation and building construction |
Determines the building’s compartmentation strategy and which elements need to be fire rated. Determines if any fire rated doors must be provided with hold open devices. |
Limited input required, except a dry-fire services engineer may need to develop designs for fire doors that are required to be provided with magnetic hold open devices. |
|
Sprinklers |
Determines which areas of the building (if any) will require sprinklers. |
A wet-fire services engineer will prepare a detailed design that shows the locations (and specifications) of all sprinklers and associated equipment. Determines the size and location of pumps and pipes. |
|
Fire detection and occupant warning |
Determines which areas of the building (if any) will need smoke detectors, thermal detectors, and/or occupant warning speakers. |
A dry-fire services engineer will prepare a detailed design that shows the locations (and specifications) of all the fire detectors, occupant warning speakers and the fire indication and control panel. |
|
Smoke hazard management |
Determines which areas of the building (if any) will require smoke exhaust or smoke heat vents. Advises on the minimum required smoke exhaust rates. Advises on the minimum free area of any smoke and heat vents. Advises on the preferred location and size of makeup air provisions. |
A mechanical engineer (acting as a fire services engineer) will prepare detailed designs to show the locations (and specifications) of all smoke exhaust fans, dampers and control equipment. |
|
Emergency egress lighting and wayfinding |
Verifies and communicates the locations of ‘exits’. Determines which areas of the building (if any) will require emergency lighting. |
An electrical engineer (acting as a fire services engineer) will prepare detailed designs to show the locations (and specifications) of the emergency lighting and exit signs. |
|
Initial fire attack provisions |
Determines which areas of the building (if any) will require initial fire attack provisions. |
A fire services engineer will select and advise locations for portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets as required for the building. A wet-fire services engineer will prepare a detailed design that shows the locations (and specifications) of the fire hose reels. |
|
Fire brigade intervention provisions |
Determines which areas of the building (if any) will require fire hydrant coverage. |
A wet-fire services engineer will prepare a detailed design that shows the locations (and specifications) of the fire hydrants and associated equipment. Determines the size and location of pumps and pipes. |
|
Lifts and vertical transport |
Limited input except to determine special provisions required to enable lifts to be used by the fire brigade or, in special cases, evacuation. |
A lift engineer will provide designs that satisfy the requirements for fire brigade use, or in special cases, evacuation. |
This table is a simplification of how a real project works. There may be instances where the fire services engineer suggests to the fire safety engineer that, for example, sprinklers be omitted from server rooms to achieve a business continuance objective. So, the two disciplines will work collaboratively to achieve the best-for-project solution.
Fire services engineer vs fire services contractor
It is worth noting that the term ‘engineer’ is not protected in Australia, as it is in many other countries. While any person in Australia can call themselves an engineer, most in the industry work on the basis that only qualified engineers use the title. It is important to be aware of this as you may hear some industry workers refer to themselves as ‘fire services contractors’ instead of ‘fire services engineers’. In this context a contractor typically refers to a person or team that is installing or implementing a design, but not taking responsibility for the design itself.
- A fire services engineer prepares the design.
- A fire services contractor installs/implements/commissions the design.
In many instances a single firm will have both engineers and contactors employed, so they are effectively one and the same from your perspective as an architect. However, the lines between these roles are blurred with Design and Construct (D&C) contracts where there is a different design engineer and installing contractor specified. For simplicity in these cases, treat both as the same.
Where does the level of competence lie?
Fire safety engineers and fire services engineers will often speak in shorthand and use acronyms. They will refer to certain Australian Standards that govern detailed design of fire safety systems, with each understanding what implementing that sort of design involves. However, when it comes to the details of a specific fire safety standard, a trusted fire services engineer will generally know more than a fire safety engineer.
It is helpful to think of a fire safety engineer as a ‘Jack/Jill of all (fire safety) trades’. They know a good amount about most things fire safety. A fire safety engineer can give critical guidance from an overarching perspective. However, they are unlikely to know the details about a specific fire safety system.
It is also worth noting that fire safety engineers are somewhat removed from knowing exactly how much fire safety systems cost. A fire safety engineer should know a ballpark figure to be able to factor in costs when making high level decisions. However, if you require a more accurate cost estimate of fire safety systems for project budget purposes, the fire services engineer is more appropriate to ask.
Title terminology
There is often confusion when talking about fire safety engineers and fire services engineers. The simplest way to navigate the varying titles is to ask people on your project team what they think their role is.
An ‘Also Known As (AKA)’ ready reference
A fire safety engineer is AKA |
A fire services engineer is AKA |
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About the author
Mathew Freeman, MFireSafetyEng, BEMech (Hons), NER, CPEng, Victorian Branch Manager and Technical Director, Holmes Fire, kindly prepared the content of this note.
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