I’m a licensed electrician, licensed sprinkler fitter, completed a locksmith apprenticeship, completed a Graduate Certificate in Performance-Based Fire Engineering, nearly finished a Building Surveying degree, became a registered draftsperson for fire safety systems, and I own a fire maintenance company.
I’ve installed fire hydrant systems, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, signed plumbing and electrical certificates, dealt with building permits, building orders, compliance issues, and God knows what else.
So if anybody can give this advice, it’s probably me:
For the love of God, do not rely on a fire maintenance company for building construction advice or fire safety regulatory advice.
Let’s be very clear.
A company that checks your extinguishers, replaces hose reels, services sprinklers, or tests alarms is not automatically qualified to provide professional engineering advice or building surveying advice.
Those are two completely different professions.
The First Pathway — Building Surveyors
A registered Building Surveyor in Australia provides regulatory advice under the relevant legislation, building regulations, and the National Construction Code.
They are the people responsible for issuing building permits and determining whether building work can legally proceed.
They assess matters like:
- Compliance with the NCC
- Building regulations
- Occupancy requirements
- Essential safety measures
- Accessibility
- Fire separation
- Permits and approvals
- Change of use
- Enforcement and building orders
When there’s a legal or regulatory issue with a building, this is the profession you should be speaking to.
Not your fire extinguisher company.
The Second Pathway — Professional Engineers
The second pathway is the professional engineer.
In Victoria and many other parts of Australia, this means a properly registered engineer operating within their area of competency.
These are the people who design systems, certify designs, and provide technical advice for proposed works.
That may include:
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Hydrant systems
- Fire alarm systems
- Smoke control systems
- Electrical systems
- Hydraulic systems
- Mechanical systems
- Performance solutions
If somebody is redesigning fire systems, changing building performance, modifying exits, changing occupancy conditions, or proposing alternative solutions, you need an engineer and usually a building surveyor.
Not a maintenance contractor.
“Expert Advice”
One of the things that drives me insane is seeing maintenance company websites claiming they provide “expert fire safety advice.”
Let’s define that properly.
A maintenance contractor may be an expert in:
- Replacing a leaking sprinkler head
- Servicing extinguishers
- Selecting compatible replacement parts
- Installing pipework
- Maintaining existing systems
- Practical field issues
That does not make them a regulatory authority.
That does not make them a building surveyor.
That does not make them a professional engineer.
And it certainly does not mean they should be advising owners on compliance pathways, building approvals, performance solutions, or construction law.
The Reality
In Victoria, if significant fire safety work is being undertaken, there is usually:
- A design
- A permit
- A registered practitioner
- Documentation
- Regulatory oversight
That process exists for a reason.
If you need real advice, speak to:
- A registered Building Surveyor
- A registered engineer
- Your local council
- The fire brigade
- The relevant regulatory authority
Don’t start with your local fire maintenance contractor.
And to be perfectly honest, don’t ring MELFIRE looking for engineering or building surveying advice either.
That’s not our lane.
Tread your own path.
Drew
Not a professional engineer or surveyor …..