Ben Hume

They say that if you ask three fire engineers the solution to a problem, you will get five different answers. This is often a point that clients and design teams find frustrating. The skill in fire engineering is first being able to develop creative ideas, but then often more importantly being able to work through these to reach the best solution taking into account a magnitude of factors. The final aspect is communicating the solution effectively, the benefits of which are often overlooked. It’s these skills that drew me into fire engineering, and why I still love the field. Over my career I have been lucky enough to work with an amazing selection of skilled individuals and been involved in a wide range of fire engineering projects. Some of the more interesting have involved developing fire safety solutions for super high-rise buildings such as the City of Capitals, Heron Tower or Signature Tower. Fire safety in buildings of this magnitude pose a range of issue including that in some cases they can take over 4 hours to evacuate using typical approaches. This is where creativity in design comes in. However some of the most fulfilling projects I have had the pleasure of working on have been Hospitals throughout New Zealand (and internationally) such as Tauranga, Whakatane, Rotorua, Hamilton and the new Burwood Hospital in Christchurch. Being able to assist healthcare facility’s that support the public, offers a rewarding outcome in a very challenging environment. On these type of projects, communication becomes key. As a leader I believe in creating connections and empathy within a team to build strong bonds, a creative space and an enjoyable environment.