Spotlight on prevention, compliance and infrastructure as engineering sector strengthens AFAC19

Leading Australian and international representatives from the engineering, infrastructure and construction industries will gather in Melbourne in August, as AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ is held alongside the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) National Conference. 

This year’s IFE Conference will explore building, facilities and engineering issues including disaster prevention and resilience, early warning and response processes. 

The event will also tackle the big issues affecting the industry head-on covering governance, compliance and enforcement issues in the construction and engineering sector. Construction codes and standards as they pertain to real events will be discussed, such as an in-depth examination of the use of building cladding in the wake of the London Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. 

More than 120 speakers in six immersive streams will delve deep into the changing landscape of fire safety, emergency services and research across the wider AFAC19 program and share with attendees how to prepare for the future, based on lessons learned from the past.   

AFAC19 and IFE keynote speaker Bronwyn Weir, Lawyer and legal advisor to the Victorian Cladding Taskforce commented on the impact the London Grenfell Tower fire has had on the Australian building sector regulation and best practice. 

“The circumstances surrounding the Lacrosse Fire in Melbourne and the tragic Grenfell Tower fire prompted an assessment of building regulations across Australia which included consideration of the role that fire authorities play in the building design and approvals process.” 

“We recommended that, consistent with the International Fire Engineering Guidelines, the early engagement of fire authorities in the design process with regards to fire safety matters be required. Quality fire safety engineering is vital to building safety and to prevent such events happening in Australia,” said Weir. 

To cover the big issue and topics, AFAC19 and IFE will bring leading international and national keynote speakers to the conference, including: 

• Rt Hon. Sally Capp, Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne
  Future Melbourne: Growing Our City Safely 

• Marianne Foley, Arup Fellow, Arup
  22 years of performance-based fire engineering: Where did it get us? 

• Neil Savery, Chief Executive,Australian Building Codes Board
  National Construction Codes – Future Directions

• Dr Angus Law, Lecturer, The University of Edinburgh
  Field of application: Test results in Fire Engineering

This year’s AFAC19 conference theme A shift to the new norm: riding the wave of change, embraces the evolution, diversity and inclusion of all industries working together to form a robust emergency management sector, and the communities it represents.

AFAC19 powered by INTERSHUTZ is co-produced by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), Deutsche Messe and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 27-30 August 2019. Institution of Fire Engineers National Conference and the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference will be held alongside AFAC19.

Further information is available at www.afacconference.com.au