Table of Contents
- Quick Comparison: Best Fire Safety Consultants for Apartment Developments
- FyreWise: Performance-Based Fire Engineering for Complex Apartment Projects
- Stantec Fire Safety Engineering: Design-Led Fire Safety Input
- EBS Consultants Fire Safety: Audits, Orders and Certification Support
- Holmes: Engineering Collaboration with Design Teams and Approvals
- How to Choose a Fire Engineering Consultant for Your Apartment Development
- Fire Engineering Consultant Qualifications: What to Verify
- What a Fire Safety Engineering Report Should Cover
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: 21 October 2026
Quick Comparison: Best Fire Safety Consultants for Apartment Developments
Choosing the best fire safety consultants for apartment developments in Australia is the difference between a smooth approval and a redesign that blows the budget. At FyreWise, we work alongside developers and architects who need performance-based solutions rather than prescriptive box-ticking.
| Consultant | Best For | Strength | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| FyreWise | Complex, performance-based apartment projects | Chartered and RPEQ engineers, concept-to-occupancy support | No published pricing; quote required |
| Stantec Fire Safety Engineering | Design-stage engineering input | Established fire safety engineering team | Limited apartment-specific detail in public material |
| EBS Consultants Fire Safety | Audits, orders and certification | In-house certifiers, council negotiation | Less focus on new-build fire engineering design |
| Holmes | Design team and approvals collaboration | Works directly with approval authorities | No listed fire engineering service detail |
FyreWise: Performance-Based Fire Engineering for Complex Apartment Projects
FyreWise is a fire engineering consultancy built around performance-based design for complex buildings. Our chartered and RPEQ-accredited engineers work from concept design through to final occupancy, which matters when a project’s atrium, basement or egress strategy doesn’t fit the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the National Construction Code.
We treat the fire engineering report as a design tool, not an end-of-project formality. Engage us early and we can flag compliance risks before they become expensive changes.
Pros:
- Chartered and RPEQ accredited engineers
- Tailored performance-based design and risk assessments
- Support from concept design to occupancy
Cons:
- Pricing is project-based, so you’ll need a quote
Developers and architects with non-standard designs, large multi-residential projects, or buildings where prescriptive compliance is impractical or costly.
Stantec Fire Safety Engineering: Design-Led Fire Safety Input
Pros:
- Explicit fire safety engineering focus
- Remit covers both prevention and limiting fire effects
Cons:
- Public material doesn’t detail apartment-specific case studies
- Pricing not shown
EBS Consultants Fire Safety: Audits, Orders and Certification Support
Pros:
- Covers audits, orders and certification
- In-house certifiers and council negotiation
Cons:
- Less detail on new-build fire engineering design
- Pricing not shown
Holmes: Engineering Collaboration with Design Teams and Approvals
Pros:
- Explicit collaboration with design teams
- Works with approval authorities
Cons:
- No listed service specifics or apartment examples
- Pricing not shown
How to Choose a Fire Engineering Consultant for Your Apartment Development
Start with scope, not price. A consultant who only produces a report at the end of design will cost you more in redesign than one engaged early. Ask three questions before signing: can you model evacuation for this building, will you liaise with the certifier, and what happens if the report comes back not for construction?
Engaging a fire engineer after design is locked in is the most common cause of budget blowouts. Late-stage code redesign is far costlier than early input.
A practical shortlist test: request a sample report and check whether it addresses evacuation modelling and BCA compliance explicitly.
Fire Engineering Consultant Qualifications: What to Verify
Verify accreditation first. Look for Chartered status and RPEQ registration, then confirm the engineer has delivered projects of similar scale and complexity. Ask for examples with comparable scope, not generic credentials.
- Chartered engineer status confirmed
- RPEQ registration verified
- Comparable apartment project examples provided
- Evacuation modelling capability confirmed
- Certifier liaison included in scope
What a Fire Safety Engineering Report Should Cover
A fire safety engineering report should state the performance solution, the assumptions behind it, and how it satisfies the BCA. It should include evacuation modelling where relevant, detail any alternative solutions, and give the certifier enough to assess compliance without back-and-forth.
Check that the report names the building, the fire safety strategy, and the conditions of approval. An incomplete report is the fastest route to a delay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a fire safety consultant do for an apartment development?
A fire safety consultant assesses how a proposed apartment building will perform in a fire and develops a strategy to protect residents and satisfy the Building Code of Australia. Work typically includes performance-based fire engineering design, evacuation modelling, fire safety engineering reports for the certifier, and advice on passive and active systems. Some consultants also handle fire and life safety audits, fire safety orders and certification support. Engaging them early in design gives the project team more options and reduces the risk of late changes.
How do I choose a fire engineering consultant for a residential project?
Start by checking accreditation: look for Chartered status and RPEQ registration, plus experience on apartment projects of similar height and complexity. Ask for examples of reports accepted by certifiers without a ‘not for construction’ outcome, and confirm they can handle computational evacuation modelling if your building needs it. Clarify the fee structure and deliverables upfront. A consultant who engages early and works collaboratively with your architect and certifier will usually save more than their fee in avoided redesign.
What qualifications should a fire safety consultant have?
Look for Chartered Professional Engineer status and RPEQ registration, which demonstrate assessed competence and accountability. Relevant tertiary qualifications in fire safety engineering, plus membership of a recognised engineering body, are strong signals. Experience matters as much as letters after a name: ask how many apartment developments of comparable scale the consultant has delivered, and whether they have worked with your certifier or approval authority before. Verify claims directly rather than relying on marketing material.
How much does a fire safety consultant cost for an apartment development?
Fire safety consultant fees vary with the building’s height, complexity, the number of performance solutions required, and whether computational evacuation modelling is needed. Most consultants quote per project rather than publishing rates, so request a written proposal that itemises scope and deliverables. Be wary of quotes that seem low but exclude report revisions or certifier responses. Ask what happens if the certifier requests changes, and confirm whether those responses are included or billed separately.
Apartment developments rarely fit a prescriptive mould, and the wrong consultant turns a compliance step into a redesign. FyreWise provides chartered and RPEQ-accredited engineers, tailored performance-based design, and support from concept to occupancy. Get started with FyreWise and keep your project compliant and on budget.