Buildings are designed for Fire Safety to the New Zealand building code:

  • The code is performance-based and states how a building must perform in its intended use rather than describing how the building must be designed and constructed.
  • Following an acceptable solution is the least complex pathway to achieving compliance with the performance criteria, but it is not the only means.

If your fire safety design does not use an acceptable solution as a means of compliance, then specific fire engineering analysis is required to establish compliance with the building code using a verification method or an alternative solution.

A fire engineering brief (FEB) process is an internationally recognised fire engineering practice for defining the scope of work and design basis for the fire engineering analysis.

The FEB serves as a collaborative platform where all stakeholders— owner, designers, consultants, regulators, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand—can:

  • work together to align on fire safety objectives,
  • document shared decisions and responsibilities,
  • seek expert input from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and
  • determine the need for specialist peer review based on the project’s complexity.

By establishing a clear and coordinated approach from the outset, the FEB helps ensure that fire safety is integrated effectively and transparently throughout the design process.

When you should use the FEB process?

We strongly recommend using the FEB process when

  • fire designs establish compliance using C/VM2, except where C/VM2 is used solely for establishing compliance for external fire spread, or
  • fire designs establish compliance using alternative solutions, except when
    • a departure from an acceptable solution is considered minor by the building consent authority (BCA), or
    • where a design guide issued by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) under section 175 of the Building Act 2004 is followed in full.

Fire engineering brief principles

Fire engineering brief (FEB) is referenced in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) guidance Commentary for Verification Method C/VM2.

Detailed guidance can be found in the Fire Engineering Brief (FEB) Content Guidelines available on the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) website.

Following the FEB process the fire designer will carry out and document their design:

What to do if using the FEB process

If it is determined that the FEB process is to be used please forward the FEB documents to feb@selwyn.govt.nz. Our team will review the documents and contact you to discuss further.

Note: Additional to a FEB process you may need to contact our building team to arrange a pre-application meeting.