Fire Engineering

Martin started work in structural engineering in 1983 and has been applying performance-based fire engineering in professional practice since 1994. He was one of the pioneers of the fire engineering profession in New Zealand and a founding member of Holmes Fire. Martin is a highly experienced and talented engineer who specialises in fire engineering design and the performance and response of structures during fire. He is a passionate advocate for performance-based fire engineering design.

Martin has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Auckland) and a master’s degree in fire engineering from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), an International Professional Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers New Zealand (ENZ) and a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE).

Since graduating with a master’s in fire engineering (2006), Paul worked as a research associate with the University of Ulster on a program to develop innovative techniques and technology to minimise the influence of concrete spalling under fire conditions to existing tunnel structures. This included the implementation of large scale fire tests for experimental data analysis, networking and working closely with industrial partners in executing data and participating in major research funding programs within Europe.

Paul has also previously worked as a lead fire design and forensic consultant in Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada. His role involved building fire design services in relation to the applicable building code and fire code based on legal prerequisites. Providing forensic engineering services for building owners, tenants, lawyers and insurers to determine the probable fire origin, and likely causation and fire spread mechanisms. Responsibilities of fire investigation included the examination and documentation of fire scenes, coordinating with testing laboratories, liaison with relevant authorities (private and public) and the preparation of reports that may be used in civil or criminal litigation.

Paul is the Wellington Branch Manager, however also has a role as a Project Director with over 11 years of experience in the NZ industry. His experience has involved local and national based projects, working in all sectors, serving building facilities, property portfolios and industrial installations. Paul’s key projects range from commercial refurbishments to healthcare, shopping complexes, industrial and high rise residential developments; applying either Building Code Technical Guidance (C/AS1-7), Verification Method designs (C/VM2) or Specific Fire Engineering Design based upon sound fire engineering principles/computational analysis and international best practice.

Starting with a clean piece of paper for each design, Paul’s approach is to ultimately meet both the clients and architects needs and expectations in key operational performance, whilst still meeting statutory compliance requirements. Having experience in the New Zealand, Australasian, North American, UK and Irish fire safety design markets, he is able to bring International best practice to the all projects that he is involved with.

Paul is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and a Member of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (CMEngNZ), and a Member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE).

Darin has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Fire Engineering from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Darin has more than 20 years of experience in the fire engineering industry working in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and Spain. Darin has been involved in wide ranging projects that have included small commercial refurbishments to large industrial and retail developments applying both the Acceptable Solutions, Verification Method C/VM2 and Alternative Fire Engineering.

Darin is an active leader in developing the profession as a whole in his capacity as Chair of the Fire Advisory Panel for University of Canterbury,an independent advisor to BRANZ Project advisory group, and his contributions to the SFPE Construction Monitoring Practice Note working group.

Darin is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), an International Professional Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ).