A fire engineering brief (FEB) process helps to ensure fire safety designs that do not follow an acceptable solution will sufficiently demonstrate compliance with the building code.

Compliance with building code fire safety clauses

The New Zealand Building Code is performance-based. It states how a building must perform in its intended use rather than describing how the building must be designed and constructed.  Compliance with an acceptable solution or verification method is one way for establishing compliance with the building code but it is not the only means.

If your fire safety design does not use an acceptable solution as a means of compliance, then specific fire engineering analysis is required to establish compliance with the building code using a verification method or an alternative solution.

A fire engineering brief (FEB) process is an internationally recognised fire engineering practice for defining the scope of work and design basis for the fire engineering analysis. This process involves an early discussion between key stakeholders on the project scope, analysis methodologies, design acceptance criteria and any potential regulatory constraints.

Deciding when to engage in a FEB process

You are required to use a FEB process when:

  • Fire designs establishing compliance using C/VM2, except where C/VM2 is used solely for establishing compliance for external fire spread.

You are also strongly recommended to follow the FEB process when:

  • Fire designs establishing compliance using alternative solutions, except when a departure from an acceptable solution is considered minor.

Submitting your request for a FEB process

Complete the online request for service (Building)(external link) application.

  • Include your fire engineering brief (FEB) documentation.
  • Evidence of the competency of the designer and the peer reviewer.

We'll review your application and provide comments within approximately 20 working days.

Approval of the fire engineering brief

To minimise delays in processing the building consent application, ensure that all key stakeholders have reached an agreement.

It is expected that any significant concerns raised by the BCA (Council), the peer reviewer and the FENZ (Fire and Emergency NZ) fire engineer are resolved before compiling the fully developed design.

The BCA approval of the FEB will be provided after any significant concerns raised by key stakeholders are resolved.

As part of the BCA approval, expectations are set regarding the information that should be included in the building consent application.

The fire designers are also expected to carry out a design coordination review based on Engineering NZ Practice Note 22. The coordination review is to ensure that the intent of the fire design has been correctly transferred into the consent documentation from other design disciplines.

The documents submitted with the building consent application shall be the same versions referenced in the design coordination review statement.

More information on fire engineering briefs is available on request.