Bridging Practice and Engineering
Key Takeaways from the 9th Tall Building Fire Safety Conference
By Christina Knorr, Fire Safety Expert and Expert Witness
I had the privilege of participating in the 9th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference-held for the first time in Australia at the Sydney Masonic Centre on 29-30 July 2025. Bringing together engineers, operational firefighters, regulators, researchers, inventors, and international experts, the event was more than just a series of presentations. It was a powerful reminder of how critical it is to bridge operational knowledge with design intent when safeguarding our built environment.
Over two full days, the program delivered insights into real-world incidents, emerging technologies, international case studies, and the persistent challenge of combustible cladding. We heard from respected leaders like Russ Timpson, Jonathan Barnett, and Marianne Foley, as well as operational firefighters such as Luke Spargo, Justin Francis, and Oscar Kwan-each bringing honest and practical insights that can’t be gathered from design codes alone.
One standout aspect of this conference was the structure itself: engineers sat shoulder-to-shoulder with firefighters. Discussions were shared, challenged, and developed in real time. In particular, the Cladding Fire Safety Workshop, where I was honoured to contribute as a panellist, highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration. With regulators from NSW and Victoria at the table, we tackled real concerns about risk tolerability, remediation, and the practical limits of fire brigade intervention.
My key takeaways:
Cross-disciplinary engagement is no longer optional. It is essential. The complexity of tall buildings demands a cohesive understanding of operational limitations and design flexibility.
Evacuation strategies, BESS, and cladding rectification aren’t just technical problems, they are also communication problems. This conference gave voice to those who carry out evacuations and fight fires. It reminded us to actively integrate their knowledge into design and policy frameworks.
Innovation like the Fire Spyder™ and modern hose packs reminded us that progress doesn’t stop at approval, but continues on throughout the life of the building.
The level of acceptable risk is contextual. Presenters shared international benchmarks and emphasised the need to consider occupant vulnerability, fire brigade capability, and long-term sustainability. It is agreed that it is more than just compliance.
From a jurisdictional perspective, it was evident that New South Wales and Victoria have made significant advances in combustible cladding assessment, particularly with the adoption of structured risk assessment pathways. There is room for improvement and the execution is not always ideal. However, there is development. Unfortunately, Queensland remains behind. There is currently no legislative mechanism that supports risk assessments for combustible cladding. The only available pathway is through Performance Solutions which, in my experience ,are usually not supported by the Queensland Fire Department.
I believe this is a critical gap. Performance Solutions are compliance-driven tools. They often do not differentiate between cladding types, nor do they carry the rigour, transparency, or accountability of a properly conducted risk assessment. This creates a disconnect between engineering intent, operational acceptance, and long-term safety outcomes.
Conferences like this are invaluable for exposing these inconsistencies across jurisdictions and providing a platform for learning from one another. It’s only through such open, interdisciplinary dialogue that we can begin to unify our understanding of fire risk and close the policy and practice gaps that still exist.
A sincere thank you to Russ Timpson from the Tall Building Fire Safety Network, the Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia) and the organising team for bringing this global conversation to Australian shores. Let’s continue to elevate the standard of fire safety together, because as I say, you don’t know how much you don’t know!
