QFRS and UQ partnership to improve fire safety

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) and University of Queensland (UQ) have joined forces to improve fire safety engineering through learning, research and technology.

Police and Community Safety Minister Jack Dempsey said the parties today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will provide wide ranging benefits not only for the QFRS and UQ, but for all Queenslanders.

“QFRS and UQ are committed to improving fire safety in the community and have high levels of knowledge and experience doing so,” Mr Dempsey said.

“This partnership will allow UQ students and researchers to undertake internships and specific fire safety research with QFRS.

“It will also give researchers access to the resources they need to undertake larger scale fire research testing at the School of Fire and Rescue Training’s Live Fire Campus.

“QFRS will benefit too, with the partnership giving Building Approval Officers access to UQ tertiary level fire engineering courses right here in Queensland.”

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Member for Indooroopilly, Scott Emerson, attended today’s MoU singing.

“UQ has recently constructed a $140 million Advanced Engineering Building and will deliver a dedicated fire and research laboratory early next year,” Mr Emerson said.

“The University’s resources, combined with the QFRS fire testing and research infrastructure at the Queensland Combined Emergency Service Academy, will provide a world class learning, testing and research venture.”

Head of UQ’s School of Civil Engineering, Professor José L. Torero said the partnership will support the QFRS’ capabilities and UQ teaching and learning activities.

“Infrastructure is becoming more complex, and we need to keep safety issues behind building design at the forefront of our minds,” Professor Torero said.

“If a building is put forward for approval, the final word is always with the fire department and it is also the fire service who will respond in the event of a fire. 

"So as firefighters, engineering and building designers, it is absolutely essential that we jointly engage in the process of creating successful and safe designs.

“When designing buildings, students need to be aware of the safety issues behind it all, meanwhile when dealing with engineering issues, the fire department must be aware of the design processes behind buildings – so this partnership is both essential and mutually beneficial.”

[ENDS] 30 August 2013

Media Contact: Alexandra Foley 0418 256 910 or Danny Donald 0439 719 116