The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is expanding its operations to Australia and New Zealand.
Coventry-based ASFP have signed an agreement to set up branches in Australia and New Zealand.
The new branches will follow the operational model of the ASFP in Great Britain and Ireland.
Expansion
These will be managed by Paul Ryan, who was the Director of Ryanfire Products and Vice President of the Fire Protection Association New Zealand.
Mr Ryan said: “Having spent most of my career in the passive fire protection profession in Britain, the Middle East and finally New Zealand, I know how important passive fire protection is to the overall design and construction application.
“If it’s not designed right, it won’t be procured and installed correctly. It has taken a lot of commitment, time and effort to reach this agreement, with a few wobbly moments along the way, but we all wanted the right thing to happen in the right way for the greater good.
“It’s going to be exciting times evolving the ASFP in new markets, but I know I have the full backing and support from the team in Britain. This is a great moment for passive fire in New Zealand and Australia, with design, construction, and occupant safety the ultimate winners.”
Monumental Moment
The setting up of the branches will also improve the complex area of the design and construction chain for all wider stakeholders, from principal designers and contractors to engineers, products, testing and certification, installation and post occupation trades and service providers of remedial and retrospective work, and finally those signing off completed buildings and works.
In addition to the technical elements, the new branches will offer comprehensive training courses, both online and later face-to-face.
Mike Ward, Managing Director of the ASFP, said: “This is a monumental moment for the global passive fire protection community.
“Many designers, engineers, principal contractors, testing and certification members, and product manufacturers operate outside of Britain and Ireland.”
Passive Fire Community
“By creating a global passive fire community, it supports those members as well as new members who may use those products and services, or have their own.
“It closes the circle of the relationship and creates continuity in the language of best practice. We hope to set up additional ASFP branches in other parts of the world, and we truly believe this is just the start.
“Beyond this, we are looking at how ASFP can engage and collaborate with our passive fire peers around the world. We may have different standards and code, but best practice is a universal language.”
