Certifire Australia

Certifire Australia is an independent certification scheme which verifies products and
contractors that install passive fire protection products. The certification criterion
includes quality assurance and training through the process of product manufacture,
installation, maintenance and correct specification.

Passive fire protection systems play a crucial role in achieving acceptable levels of
life safety and property protection in modern buildings, by limiting the spread of fire
and smoke and maintaining the stability of a structure. The effectiveness of passive
fire protection systems is dependent upon many factors which include the correct
specification and selection of systems, the quality and consistency of manufactured
components or systems and correct installation of systems.

Certifire Australia’s was established when the (then) Commonwealth Government
owned Scientific Services Laboratory (SSL) set up a certification and listing scheme
for active fire protection equipment in 1988. Soon after establishing this scheme SSL
came under pressure by many in the building industry to develop a similar scheme
for passive fire protection systems. Major Commonwealth organisations such as the
Commonwealth Fire Board, Telecom Australia (later to become Telstra) and
Department of Defence saw problems in the passive industry that could be solved by
an independent certification scheme. SSL set about finding an industry partner that
that was recognised as expert in passive fire protection not involved in product
research and development (and hence had no conflict of interest in certification) and
was export oriented, with established international links. SSL selected Warrington
Fire Research (Aust) which is part of the large, similarly named UK laboratory group.
The Certifire Scheme continues to evolve with on-going input from all sectors of the
building and construction industry ensuring its relevance, technical integrity and cost
effectiveness to the Australian passive fire protection industry.

The General Manager of the Australian Institute of Building (AIB), Mr Troy Williams,
has been appointed to the Certifire Advisory Panel (CAP), the policy and strategy
board within Certifire Australia. The broadly based CAP is constituted with a balanced number of representatives from the construction industry and government stakeholders. Its role is to ensure the Certifire scheme is responsive to the needs of building professionals.

For further information visit www.certifire.com.au

	The Australian Institute of Building Incorporated by Royal Charter
	Mail: E-mail:	GPO Box 1467,  Canberra,  ACT,  2601 ausbuild@aib.org.au