OUR DESIGN APPROACH
FIRE ENGINEERING AS A DESIGN DISCIPLINE
At Fire HQ we firmly believe that fire engineering is a design discipline and provides the most value early when the design is more flexible. It is our role to align ourselves with the unique Client and project needs and support the development of a scheme to enhance the project’s aspirations.
Fire engineering is a design process, not a report.
RESPONSIVE TO CHANGE
In today’s constantly changing legislative landscape we are at the forefront of adjustments to codes, interpretations, and policies. We can give the right advice to reduce risk in the approval process in the early stages and realise the opportunities that quality fire engineering can provide.
We can advise on the opportunities and risks of different design or compliance routes to assist the client in making well-informed decisions.
FOCUSED ON COMMUNICATION
The key differentiator of Fire HQ is our ability to really listen and communicate proactively with our clients. We speak your language and communicate throughout the design process, rather than restricting ourselves to the minimum deliverables or meetings.
RISK AND DRIVER AWARE
We are committed to spending time and using our experience to understand what the client and design team are trying to create, and what their decision-making drivers are. We proactively manage design and approval risk and use our tools to realise the architectural vision and meet project goals.
PEOPLE
Marcus Le Quesne
Director | Principle Fire Engineer
CPEng, CMEngNZ, MEFE, BSc(Hons)
Marcus is an accomplished fire engineer and the founder of Fire HQ in Wellington; he boasts a 20 year career marked by extensive local and international experience.
Marcus’ experience includes working within both multi-disciplinary and specialist fire engineering businesses, which has allowed him to develop a breadth of engineering consulting, project management and communication skills, alongside technical capability. He is dedicated to presenting fire engineering as a design discipline and working within the greater design team to deliver effectively for the Client.
Central to Marcus’s ethos is client satisfaction, where he excels in understanding and fulfilling unique client requirements. Leveraging his deep expertise in fire engineering, Marcus tailors strategies to align seamlessly with project goals and constraints. His wealth of experience enables him to add significant value to projects through specific fire engineering design and innovative applications of prescriptive codes.
Rocky O'Keeffe
Senior Fire Engineer
CPEng, CMEngNZ
Rocky is a Senior Fire Engineer boasting more than 16 years of experience in the fire industry. Rocky has extensive expertise in active fire protection systems and fire engineering throughout the United Kingdom and New Zealand. He has developed his capability as a Fire Engineer in New Zealand, delivering complex projects in the residential, care and hospital sectors in particular. Notably, Rocky has been involved in large-scale projects where he successfully managed teams and project interfaces, showcasing his remarkable leadership abilities. Rocky is a Chartered Engineer in both Fire Protection and Fire Engineering practice fields.
As a valued member of the Fire HQ team, Rocky brings a depth of knowledge and experience in Fire Protection. His wealth of experience greatly contributes to the company’s collective understanding, fostering an environment of continuous learning and growth.
Rocky’s particular strength is in project delivery and management, proactively liaising between members of the Client and design team to understand the Brief and coordinate the fire engineering design into a complete delivery package. Rocky adeptly manages the entire fire engineering design and consenting process to ensure seamless execution and successful completion of projects under his purview.
Amun Balram
Senior Fire Engineer
MEngSt (Fire), GCSc, BBSc
Amun is an accomplished Fire Engineer with a rich background spanning over 20 years in the building industry. Amun’s project experience encompasses a wide range of notable developments, including large malls, healthcare facilities, commercial developments, and apartment complexes. These diverse projects have provided him with invaluable insights into design risks, enabling him to offer innovative solutions when faced with challenges arising from existing constraints or intricate architectural features.
Amun excels in managing projects that involve complex fire modelling, leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver innovative and efficient solutions to ensure the best outcome for the project. His background as a Building Scientist has equipped him with a deep understanding of Building Services and Architectural requirements, enabling him to approach challenges with both technical expertise and a forward-thinking mindset.
This combination of skills ensures that he not only meets but often exceeds the demands of intricate fire modelling projects, driving progress and enhancing fire safety through advanced methodologies.
Jimmy Chakson
Fire Engineer
MEngSt(Fire), BE(Hons)
Jimmy is a talented individual with a strong educational background and a passion for engineering. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a Master of Engineering Studies in fire engineering.
Throughout his career, Jimmy has been involved in a diverse range of projects, including residential apartments, commercial new builds and fitouts, school development projects and care/detention occupancies. This extensive project experience has provided him with a valuable foundation in design skills in both C/AS2 and C/VM2 methodologies. Jimmy’s meticulous approach to Fire Engineering design sets him apart, as he demonstrates a thoroughness and attention to detail that ensures optimal outcomes.
Jimmy is a talented and precocious fire engineer, who has become a reliable and highly valued member of the Fire HQ team. He particularly enjoys collaborating with design teams, leveraging his expertise to contribute effectively to the overall project success.
Sanjay Shanthosh
Passive Fire Engineer
Sanjay’s background is in civil engineering with over 5 years of experience, he specializes in structural and non-structural design, baseplate design, waterproofing and building estimation. He has also worked providing market and technical support at a firestopping system manufacturer for their product range.
At Fire HQ Sanjay works as a dedicated Passive Fire Engineer, responsible for selecting Firestopping solutions, preparing specifications, and advising clients and contractors. Sanjay is also responsible with undertaking Construction Monitoring of Passive Fire installations, ensuring build quality and liaising resolution of items raised during construction with the Contractor team.
Sanjay is a dedicated member of the team, supporting the Fire HQ fire engineers internally and being responsible for the ongoing development of our capability in the passive and construction monitoring space. Externally he is responsible for the growing a rapidly changing environment of Passive Fire, ensuring the technical accuracy of system application alongside the human considerations of fast paced construction delivery.
CONTACT US
Level 5, 94 Dixon Street, Wellington 6011
P.O. Box 33240, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045