Frequently Asked Questions
What do fire safety engineers do?
Demonstrate compliance with performance requirements of the BCA.
They do not design sprinkler systems.
I already have a certifier on board, why do I need a BCA consultant?
Apart from the restrictions on accredited certifiers in providing design advice (Act §66, Reg §17), certifiers represent the interests of the community. A BCA consultant represents your interests to the consent authority and the certifier. Furthermore, a BCA consultant helps identify and resolve issues earlier (when it generally easier and cheaper to do so), and avoid resubmission.
I am aiming for a 5 star GreenStar project, so I will comply with BCA Section J.
Although GreenStar and BCA Section J have similar goals, compliance with one does not demonstrate compliance with the other. GreenStar's scope is much broader than that of BCA Section J, while Section J includes some details that may not be captured by GreenStar. Your building must comply with BCA Section J regardless of whether or not you also achieve a GreenStar rating.