Firewize

12/01/2026

Visiting Firewize customers in regional today.

Passing through bushfire-affected areas is a powerful and sobering experience.

At Firewize, our daily mission is protecting people and buildings from the inside.

We manage the detectors, sprinklers, and hydrants that keep occupants safe.

But seeing active fires across the landscape puts the importance of vigilance into sharp focus.

is a shared responsibility, and it starts with staying informed.

If you are in or traveling through affected areas, please prioritize your safety.

Monitor emergency broadcasts on your local ABC Radio station.

Follow official advice and check for real-time updates on the VicEmergency website or app.

https://emergency.vic.gov.au

Our thoughts are with the families, business owners, and first responders facing these conditions.

Please stay alert and stay safe.

23/11/2025

🎄Decking the halls? Read this before you hang that tinsel!🎄

We all love a bit of Christmas cheer. The history of our decorations is actually fascinating—did you know tinsel was originally hammered from real silver back in 1600s Germany? It was designed to reflect the flickering of real candles! 🕯️✨

Thankfully, today’s decorations are safer (and cheaper), but there is one modern mistake that can ruin your holiday in seconds.

🏢 Living in an Apartment or Working in an Office? If you see a fire sprinkler head, it might look like the perfect spot to hang a bauble or drape some lights. Please don't.

Here is why that tiny glass bulb is a "do not touch" zone:

🚫 1. The Flood Risk (Instant Regret) Sprinkler heads are incredibly sensitive. If you accidentally fracture that little glass bulb while hanging a star, you won’t get a trickle of water—you’ll get high-pressure sludge. We’re talking thousands of dollars in damage to carpets, electronics, and presents, plus an automatic visit from the Fire Brigade! 🚒💦

🚫 2. The "Silent" Danger (Thermal Delay) This is the scary one. Sprinklers work by heat, not smoke. If you wrap tinsel around a sprinkler, it acts like a blanket (insulator). In a real fire, the heat can't reach the bulb fast enough to trigger the system. Worse still, decorations can physically block the water spray from reaching the fire. 🔥

The Golden Rules for a Safe Christmas:
✅ Do not hang anything from sprinkler pipes or heads.
✅ Do not tape decorations to the ceiling cover plates.
✅ Check your tree height—make sure the top of the tree isn't blocking a sprinkler!

Let’s keep the traditions rich and the buildings safe. Ensure the only thing glowing this season are the lights on the tree! 🌟

23/10/2025

There's a fantastic synergy in seeing the CEO of FPA Australia, John Collie, bravely supporting the world-renowned Fiona Wood Foundation.

While John's professional life is dedicated to helping prevent fires as the CEO of Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia), he's now taking the "Central Park Plunge" to support the recovery from burn injuries.

Fiona Wood Foundation is a leader in global burn research, translating findings directly into clinical care to help patients heal physically and mentally. This year's funds will establish a comprehensive data platform, a crucial step in advancing burn treatment for future generations.

I've just contributed my support, and I strongly encourage my network, especially those in the fire protection, building, and safety industries, to join in. This is a perfect example of our sector supporting the entire circle of care.

Let's get behind John as he takes this brave leap for a world-class cause!

Donate Here: https://fiona-wood-foundation.grassrootz.com/central-park-plunge-2025-fiona-wood-foundation/john-collie?tab=donations

05/05/2025

Apprentice safety and supervision is very important for our team Firewize, If your not across it, Energy Safe Victoria have published new supervision requirements to keep apprentice electricians safe at work. Learn more here:
👉🏼 https://bit.ly/4jHx4tm

30/04/2025

🔥 Own or manage a building with a Honeywell BC-200 fire panel? Read this.

The BC-200 has just been declared obsolete by Honeywell. That means no more guaranteed parts, software updates, or service support.

💥 If your panel fails, it could mean risks to fire safety, downtime, lost compliance, or worse.

At Firewize, we're already helping building managers across Victoria upgrade to smarter, more reliable systems—with fewer nuisance alarms and better support.

✅ Don’t wait for a failure to act. Click below to read the full article and get expert help now:

👉 https://firewize.com.au/news/bc-200-honeywell-fire-alarm-control-panel-obsolete

In September 2023, Honeywell Fire & Security (Pacific) announced the the BC-200 fire alarm control panel had been discontinued, providing an upgrade path for a replacement SMX+ Intelligent Addressable Fire Alarm Control System. According to the ActiveFire listing (afp-2964) the BC-200 was first list...

30/04/2025

🌱 Important Update for NSW Fire Safety Businesses

The NSW Government has passed the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act 2025—and it affects everyone who supplies fire safety products, including extinguishers, alarms, and suppression systems.

It doesn’t matter if the product is new or old—if you're supplying it in NSW, this Act applies.

🛠️ New rules cover: ✔️ Product stewardship schemes
✔️ Annual reporting and compliance plans
✔️ Financial responsibilities
✔️ Sustainability and circular economy requirements

📖 Learn what it means for your business and how to stay compliant:
👉

The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act 2025 (NSW) imposes new environmental obligations on all products supplied in NSW, including fire protection equipment. Brand owners must implement stewardship plans, report annually, and support circular economy principles. Fire industry professionals must ad...

08/04/2025

Good time to remind people about checking and testing your home smoke alarm. https://firewize.com.au/blog/check-test-your-smoke-alarms

26/03/2025

Before writing this article, I knew little about "pink" fire-resisting, self-expanding polyurethane foam—but what I’ve since learned is crucial. These foams are only suitable for very specific applications, as defined in their product data sheets. Claims like "up to 3 hours fire resistance" often refer to ideal, tested scenarios—not real-world installations. Unfortunately, clear, validated application guidance is hard to find, which can lead to misuse. If you're relying on fire-rated foam, make sure it’s the right product for the job—and backed by solid evidence. What are your thoughts?

Pink foam," commonly referred to as fire-resistant, self-expanding polyurethane foam, is designed to enhance fire protection in building applications. This type of foam is typically pink to signify its fire-resistant properties, aiding in easy identification during construction and inspections.

24/01/2025

🚨 The have deferred the adoption of Australian Standard via the publication of a Fact Sheet on Jan 19, 2025. Check out our response to the Fact Sheet and more information regarding by the going forward.

The Building Commission, New South Wales issued a Fact Sheet on Jan 19, 2025 clarifying amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Amendment Regulation 2025. The Fact Sheet covered three primary amendments; (1) Deferal of mandatory compliance....

23/12/2024

Expecting a quiet day today, and instead, we fielded multiple calls from food truck operators for advice about the best fire extinguisher for events in Victoria. So, in the end, we wrote this article.

This article guides event organisers, exhibitors, and food vendors, including caterers, relocatable kitchens and food trucks (mobile catering vehicles), on the selection, installation, and use of portable fire extinguishers at events in Victoria. It offers practical advice for indoor and outdoor str...

07/11/2024

Ever wondered about the correct size of for a diesel fire pump? We often see the incorrect type (standby batteries) used for engine start applications. This "rule of thumb table" is the distillation of hours and hours of meticulous research. Read more on the Firewize website. https://firewize.com.au/faq/fire-pump-battery-replacement Slight update to the table!

03/09/2024

I had a long conversation with (David) yesterday about the maintenance of the smoke alarms within each sole-occupancy-unit ( )in his Class 2 apartment building. David advised me that his Owners Corporation Manager (OCM) had asked him to provide a Annual Essential Safety Measures Report ( ) for the smoke alarm in his SOU. Clearly the OCM did not understand the requirements for an AESMR and the specific exclusion of within the SOU for a apartment building. To bridge the gap, I wrote this long article to help step Owners Corporation Managers understand the legislation and their obligations.

Part 15 of an Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) covers Class 1b, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building; and Class 4 part of a building; and a place of public entertainment. The AESMR is for the does not apply to a smoke alarm installed in a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 1b or 2 building or a...