Designers, project managers, installers and building consent officials exercising duty of care responsibilities would positively contribute to raising the bar on all passive fire protection installations in NZ.

In discussions with designers on interior fit-outs recently, it became apparent that there was a requirement for a fire stopping solution that was temporary in nature.

The homeowner pays the upfront cost of a hypo-reactive building, or the ongoing costs of a hyper-reactive building.

To understand insulation and its thermal resistance values, you need to know about thermal conductivity, thermal resistance and thermal transmittance.

The hydrosafe value quantifies the level of protection for your construction against increased indoor humidity levels during the construction phase (building moisture).

It is very important that all aspects of the window are taken into consideration; frame system, double glazing, window size and the connections between the window and the wall.

Engaging a passive fire specialist can help determine if the proposed installation method of fire stopping will comply with relevant fire test results or if an alternative solution is possible.

How to ensure standard thermally-broken windows are positioned to succeed.

By making provisions for passive fire penetrations in pre-cast concrete slabs, you can save on costly concrete drilling and reworks; economies of scale make it a 'no-brainer'. 

The timing of passive fire protection installation is critical, and when overlooked or left to the 11th hour, it can cause delays and have a knock-on effect on other trades.