This article is the first in a series that will explore how a systems thinking approach can help us understand the root causes of non-compliance, the legal and ethical responsibilities at stake, and what must be done to create a safer built environment for all New Zealanders.

With at least five fatalities, the fire at Loafers Lodge puts the spotlight on the insufficient fire safety systems in our existing building stock. The unfortunate event has resurfaced a systemic problem: Insufficient passive fire protection in older, high occupancy buildings. In this article we want to discuss how a liquid passive fire system, that offers an immediate solution for upgrading buildings can also feed into a long-term solution, adding to resolve the underlying systemic issue.

Offering insight into Brock Common’s passive fire strategy, we discuss how the passive fire safety approach should not be considered industry best practice, and how fire testing would have supported the project’s overall goal of being a unique research and learning opportunity related to innovative construction with engineered wood products.

We finish our three part series by showcasing how encapsulating mass timber elements with an intumescent protective coating provides a passive fire solution that is holistic and truly compliant.

In this article we explore the complexities of passive fire safety in hybrid mass timber buildings and how a focus on encapsulating a combustible substrate early on in the build process is crucial to the overall safety.