Fire Engineering for Commercial Buildings

The Design Fire is a Specialist fire engineering consultancy based in Auckland. We produce fire reports, passive fire documentation, and consent submissions for commercial projects — warehouses, retail fitouts, office alterations, mixed-use developments, and more. 

We work with building owners, developers, and design professionals — whether you need a standalone fire report for an existing project team, or need us to take the fire engineering through to construction-ready detail. We fit in alongside your existing consultants.

Discuss your project with us — we’ll help you work out what’s required and what it will cost.

We also offer specialist services in Passive Fire Design and Emergency Lighting Design.

 

A Chartered Fire Engineer With Council Experience

Most fire engineers prepare documentation and hope it meets council requirements. Our principal engineer spent several years on the other side of the consent desk — working as a compliance building officer, assessing fire engineering applications, identifying what was missing, and deciding what got approved. Now a Chartered Fire Engineer (CPEng), he brings that same rigour to every project we take on. Our fire reports are written in the code language council expects, structured to address the criteria they assess against, and formatted to reduce the chance of an RFI or resubmission. When your application lands on a council officer’s desk, it’s already in the format they want to see.

 

Fire Engineering Services That Go Beyond the Report

We work across the full range of commercial fire engineering requirements:

  • Fire reports for building consent — the compliance document council requires.
  • Passive fire design and detailing — construction-ready drawings and specifications that translate fire report requirements into documentation that works on site. We work alongside your existing design professionals. Many fire engineers don’t offer this level of detail
  • Fire compliance resolution — Notice to Fix from council or an issue flagged during a BWOF audit? We assess the problem, produce the remediation documentation, and manage it through to council sign-off
  • Building consent for fire compliance works — Consent documentation structured by a team that includes a former council building officer.
  • Emergency lighting design — Fire-related emergency and egress lighting handled in-house, no separate electrical consultant needed
  • Exemption applications —  where a full building consent isn’t warranted for minor fire compliance works, we prepare and lodge the exemption

For projects where we handle the fire report, passive fire detailing, and consent documentation together, the total cost is typically lower than engaging separate specialists for each piece. We price our work to be competitive for the commercial projects that make up the bulk of Auckland’s fire engineering demand.

our clients

“There are 81 units being developed on the site; the majority of the units are terraced houses. We are proud of the scale of the project and the opportunity it brings for new home buyers to get onto the property market. We needed a fire report for our development Building Consent application. The site was pretty tight with lots quite near to each other; THE DESIGNFIRE was quick to respond to our enquiry and forthcome with a strategy to get the documentation together in line with our Building Consent lodgement target dates. They listened to our needs and were finding ways to make the process efficient. THE DESIGNFIRE was very responsive and willing to assist in clarifying matters with the structural engineer and architect to deliver their outputs. We are very happy with the result.” —Mante Masela, Kingston Property
“My name is Farzbod Taefi. I am the director of Skills Update Training Institute. About five years ago, in conjunction with NMIT, we purchased a site on 42 Upper Queen Street. This building needed a lot of renovation and make-over. We found them very flexible and receptive to our comments and ideas. I think it was the winning card for us as the client. Getting the permits through the council is not an easy task. They had good contacts in the council, they were well known to the council, and that really speeded up the process. I think if we’ve chosen another group, this project may have taken twice as long. We have recommended THE DESIGNFIRE to many people and referred them to Louie. You know the sample of his work is here, and people can see what they can get.” —Farzbod Taefi, Skills Update Training Institute
“THE DESIGNFIRE and their team of various expertise helped us to complete our Complex commercial building, involving multi-tenancy occupancy. THE DESIGNFIRE team came up with a resolution which was cost-effective and workable. Without THE DESIGNFIRE, we would have a difficult time completing it.” —Paul Singh, Director, APL Windows
“With a long relationship with THE DESIGNFIRE, they have a strong background on fire engineering as well as precise design and consultation. Happy working with them and willing to do other projects together again.” —Jae Hyun
“Louie has been a precious asset in developing fire engineering for our second dwelling project. His price was very reasonable, his communication prompt and helpful. I would recommend him and use his services again.” —Dave