CJK Fire & Safety Pty Ltd

CJK Fire & Safety Pty Ltd We are experienced Fire Safety Engineers providing consulting services and Expert Witness work.

Happy International Women in Engineering Day!
23/06/2026

Happy International Women in Engineering Day!

23/06/2026

On 23 June 2000, in the rural Queensland town of Childers, a fire was deliberately lit at the Palace Backpackers Hostel. The fire spread rapidly through the old timber building, resulting in the deaths of 15 young backpackers.

Investigations identified multiple fire safety deficiencies, including a disabled fire alarm system, non-functioning exit lighting, barred windows, overcrowding, and no evacuation plan.

The Government response was immediate. A statewide fire safety audit of budget accommodation was ordered, and a State Government Taskforce was established. Its findings led to significant legislative reform, including the introduction of minimum fire safety standards for budget accommodation buildings, regardless of their age.

More than two decades later, the Childers fire remains an important reminder that fire safety outcomes are shaped not only by how buildings are built, but also by how they are maintained, managed, and occupied.

Fire safety and fire protection are two essential disciplines that work together but play very different roles.Fire prot...
18/06/2026

Fire safety and fire protection are two essential disciplines that work together but play very different roles.

Fire protection engineers focus on the technical design and specification of fire protection systems. They determine how active and passive fire protection systems should be designed and ensure compliance with applicable Australian Standards and NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) provisions.

Fire safety engineers take a holistic view of building fire safety. They develop fire engineered Performance Solutions based on building design, human behaviour and risk assessment — particularly where a building does not comply with all NCC DTS provisions. They don’t design the systems.

For example, a fire safety engineer may determine that extended travel distances can be achieved through a Performance Solution by demonstrating acceptable evacuation outcomes using smoke modelling and occupant movement analysis. The fire protection engineer would then design the fire detection, occupant warning, and smoke hazard management systems required to support that solution.

Need a fire safety engineer? Talk to Christina and the team at CJK Fire & Safety today. https://cjkfireandsafety.com.au/

The apartment fire that occurred in Valencia on 22 February 2024 has become one of the most significant high-rise reside...
17/06/2026

The apartment fire that occurred in Valencia on 22 February 2024 has become one of the most significant high-rise residential fire events in recent years.

Initial reports indicated that the fire originated on a balcony before rapidly spreading vertically and horizontally across the external façade, ultimately resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.

Although the building was reportedly provided with fire safety systems and evacuation routes, many occupants later stated that they did not hear a building-wide fire alarm – this is generally to be expected where a building operates under a stay-put strategy.
It has been nine years since the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which also operated under a stay-put approach before conditions changed rapidly and evacuation advice evolved.

We have spoken long and often about combustible cladding on high-rise façades — but in this article, we turn our attention to the stay-put strategy.

📔 https://cjkfireandsafety.com.au/when-stay-put-strategies-fail/

The 10th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference was held in Canary Wharf, London, on 20–21 May 2026.Russ Tim...
10/06/2026

The 10th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference was held in Canary Wharf, London, on 20–21 May 2026.

Russ Timpson, founder and organiser of the Tall Building Fire Safety Network, invited Christina Knorr to present at this prestigious international event.

Christina's presentation explored recurring themes identified across construction disputes and fire safety investigations, including fragmented responsibility, incomplete documentation, and undocumented changes during design and construction. Fire safety is a shared responsibility involving many stakeholders. When any link in that chain of responsibility fails, the consequences can be severe, not only for building occupants but for every professional involved.

The conference brought together delegates from more than 20 countries to discuss some of the most pressing challenges facing the tall building sector.

Among the presenters was fellow Australian Dr Jonathon Barnett, who spoke on holistic design approaches for arson resilience. Professor Ed Galea from the University of Greenwich presented research into predicting toxic species generation resulting from external cladding fires. Other topics included fire engineering and AI, façade fire testing, evacuation modelling and high-rise firefighting.
CJK Fire & Safety is proud to contribute to these important international discussions through our fire safety engineering, expert witness, and education services.

To learn more, visit: cjkfireandsafety.com.au

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In modern construction, we’ve made buildings lighter, more energy efficient, and more visually striking than ever before...
09/06/2026

In modern construction, we’ve made buildings lighter, more energy efficient, and more visually striking than ever before using exterior cladding or façade systems.

These systems include combustible materials like aluminium composite panels, foam insulation, timber, and decorative laminates. While these materials offer benefits such as improved thermal performance and design flexibility, they can also introduce serious risks as they can significantly influence how a fire behaves.

In this article, we look into why and how external wall systems can be dangerous and what can be done to improve safety.

📖 https://cjkfireandsafety.com.au/when-buildings-burn-from-the-outside/

To learn more, enrol in the Combustible Cladding – Engineering & Expert Witness online course 🎓️ https://cjkfireandsafety.com.au/courses/combustible-cladding/)

As of May 2026, the Australian Government has announced that all mandatory Australian Standards referenced in legislatio...
04/06/2026

As of May 2026, the Australian Government has announced that all mandatory Australian Standards referenced in legislation for construction, occupational health & safety, and product safety will be made freely accessible.

This is a significant and long overdue step forward for industry.

For years, businesses, contractors and consultants have been legally required to comply with Standards that often came at substantial cost simply to access.

Greater access to Standards helps:
✔️ improve safety outcomes
✔️ support small businesses and contractors
✔️ reduce compliance barriers
✔️ ensure industry participants can readily access the requirements they are expected to meet

At CJK Fire & Safety, we welcome initiatives that support practical compliance, informed decision-making and improved safety outcomes across the built environment.

Read more here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/budget-boost-productivity-and-cut-regulatory-costs-10

On 14 May 2026, the Victorian Supreme Court published a new Practice Note, SC Gen 25, regarding the use of Artificial In...
02/06/2026

On 14 May 2026, the Victorian Supreme Court published a new Practice Note, SC Gen 25, regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in Court proceedings.

Similar to the NSW Supreme Court Practice Note SC Gen 23, the Victorian note provides guidance for Court users, including expert witnesses, on the use of AI.

The note defines three types of AI:
• Generative AI (GenAI): Software systems that generate content as text, images, music, audio and videos, based on a user’s prompts.
• Public AI: AI tools that are openly accessible to the public and are trained on broad, often public datasets, most commonly for general purpose use.
• Closed AI: Closed AI tools are generally not openly accessible to the public and information used in closed AI tools remain within a controlled environment.

Unlike the NSW Practice Note, which focuses primarily on GenAI and places restrictions on certain uses, the Victorian approach emphasises responsible use, meaningful human oversight and verification of all AI-generated content.

Experienced expert witnesses understand the importance of complying with the applicable Code of Conduct in every jurisdiction. Christina Knorr provides knowledgeable and independent expert reports and services aligned with professional standards and practical expertise.

Fire compartmentation is a passive fire protection strategy that involves dividing a building into smaller protected com...
27/05/2026

Fire compartmentation is a passive fire protection strategy that involves dividing a building into smaller protected compartments.

A fire compartment is separated from the remainder of the building using fire-resisting construction including fire walls, fire-resisting floors, firestopping and cavity barriers. The aim is to limit fire size and spread but it is only effective if its integrity is maintained throughout the building's life.

The National Construction Code dictates the size of a fire compartment based on the building classification and type of construction. For example, a fire compartment in a Class 5 building of Type A construction cannot have a floor area larger than 8,000 m2. Note there are concessions - Contact CJK for fire engineering advice.

👩‍🎓 To learn more about Fire Resistance enrol in easy online course today. (Save 50% in May) https://cjkfireandsafety.com.au/courses/fire-resistance-fire-hazard-properties/

27/05/2026

The next Notable Australian Fire in our series was another incident in Sydney’s Kings Cross, at the Down Under Hostel in 1989.

September 17th, 1989, six tourists died in the Down Under Hostel at Kings Cross, when a fire was deliberately lit in the foyer sofa. The fire had blocked the stairs and main exit. 50 people were rescued or escaped by jumping from windows.

This event triggered legislative action - the Local Government (Backpackers Hostels) Amendment Bill 1990.

View the series here: https://www.youtube.com//playlists
Don't forget to subscribe!

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