There are some common misconceptions about the use of fire sprinklers and how effective they are at mitigating fire risk in residential buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand.
With few restrictions in the Building Code limiting the use of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage systems or charging electric vehicles, the question is are they safe? BRANZ looked at incidents reported over 10 years to find out.
BRANZ, sponsored by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), recently researched the toxic smoke inhalation hazards of building contents in building fires – a primary cause of death and injury.
There are many benefits from a focus on quality in construction. At the practical level, there are fewer call-backs and more satisfied clients. Beyond that, higher-quality buildings deliver healthier environments for living and working. At the top level, they can be inspirational.
Cavity barriers are not well understood and have been causing some controversy. Here, we clear up some of the confusion around these building elements and their role in fire spread.