Returning to Melbourne this year, the Fire Australia Conference & Tradeshow 2019 offers a new, interactive program running across three days at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 14-16 May 2019.
It’s the largest event dedicated to the fire protection industry in the Southern Hemisphere, and boasts a fantastic conference line-up of expert speakers from Australia and around the world. Keynote speakers include Gary Strong of Practice Standards & Technical Guidance (UK), Sean DeCrane of Underwriters Laboratories (US) and Lorraine Carli of the National Fire Protection Association (US).
Through keynote presentations, workshops and panel sessions, Fire Australia 2019 will focus on providing content for the entire industry. The program will explore the fallout from combustible cladding, Grenfell and Neo200, the new introduction of residential sprinklers in NCC 2019, building compliance, a series of interactive technical sessions, and much more.
The Fire Australia 2019 conference will also include, for the first time, four off-site visits. These visits offer delegates exclusive access to class-leading fire protection installations and testing facilities around Melbourne. Tickets for off-site visits are strictly limited, so conference delegates need to book early.
The Fire Australia 2019 tradeshow will feature more than 60 exhibitors, and provide attendees the opportunity to explore the latest fire protection technologies and innovations. In another first for this year, the tradeshow floor will feature a schedule of live demonstrations from exhibitors at a dedicated stage, giving attendees the chance to see the latest products and solutions in action.
There will also be a free dedicated program for specific segments of the industry, including technicians and end users, consisting of a range of short presentations, demonstrations and panel discussions.
Fire Australia 2019 will also hold the Fiona Wood Foundation Charity Dinner in the evening of day two. This annual event raises money for FPA Australia’s Official Charity Partner the Fiona Wood Foundation, an independent not-for-profit organisation which exists to reduce the devastation caused by the physical, psychological and social impacts of burn injury. Fire Australia delegates donated $25,500 to the Foundation at the 2018 Charity Dinner.
Keynote speaker: Gary Strong
Practice Standards & Technical Guidance (UK)
Gary has practised as a surveyor, building engineer, expert witness and arbitrator for 38 years. Has spent most of his career investigating fires and rebuilding post-fire, incorporating latest best practice. At a keynote presentation at Fire Australia 2019, Gary will look at how Grenfell has put fire safety back on the global agenda, and take part in a panel discussion on how relevant fire safety is in driving and addressing built environmental trends.
Keynote speaker: Sean DeCrane
Underwriters Laboratories (US)
Sean is deeply involved with fire research in the US at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He served more than 25 years with the Cleveland Division of Fire, retiring as a Battalion Chief. At Fire Australia 2019, Sean will present new science on modern fire characteristics, and UL changes to smoke alarms. He will also take part in a panel discussion on what innovative solutions does fire protection industry needs to develop to keep pace with modern fire safety risks.
Keynote speaker: Lorraine Carli
National Fire Protection Association (US)
NFPA’s Lorraine Carli is the president of the US-based Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, which provides advocacy and education for residential sprinklers in the United States. As Australia’s own Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition gets underway in the wake of NCC 2019’s new residential sprinkler requirements, Lorraine will provide a keynote presentation sharing the US experience in community education around home sprinklers, and what Australia can learn to help kickstart this major improvement in fire safety outcomes.
Offsite visit: Warringtonfire Melbourne test laboratory
Fire Australia 2019 conference delegates will be able to visit Warringtonfire’s world-class Melbourne test laboratory in Dandenong. The visit will include a live burn to demonstrate full-scale façade testing under Australian Standard AS 5113, as well as a presentation and tour around the facility.
Offsite visit: MCEC fire protection systems
Delegates are able to book for an exclusive tour of the state-of-the-art fire protection systems at the new Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion, where Fire Australia 2019 is being held.
Offsite visit: Crown Melbourne fire protection systems
An exclusive visit to Crown Melbourne’s fire protection systems, which protect the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River in Southbank.
Offsite visit: CSIRO test facility
Delegates are able to book for a tour of CSIRO’s Fire System Laboratory in Clayton, which offers comprehensive, full-scale fire testing services to the industry.
For more information, go to www.fireaustralia.com.au
