Fire Australia Conference Program
Submissions close Friday 27 November 2026
FPA Australia and its members are bringing the industry together to develop a conference program that educates, shares technical knowledge, showcases innovation and connects professionals across the fire protection and fire safety sector.
We are seeking presentations that reflect the real challenges facing our industry today and the opportunities ahead. From proven system performance and emerging technologies to new fire risks, compliance and workforce capability, we want to hear from the people doing the work, solving the problems and advancing industry practice.
Our conference program is built around four streams, each addressing a fundamental question for the industry. Open a stream to see its priority topics.
Design, systems and performance – does it work?
How do we ensure fire safety systems perform as intended – not just on paper, but throughout the life of a building?
We invite submissions exploring the design, installation, integration, commissioning, maintenance and demonstrated performance of fire safety systems.
PRIORITY TOPICS INCLUDE
● When Systems Collide – Getting Fire Protection Interfaces Right
Fire matrices, cause-and-effect logic, integrated systems testing, and coordination between fire protection, HVAC, lifts, security and building management systems.
● Commissioning That Actually Proves Performance
Effective commissioning, integrated testing, performance verification, baseline data, documentation and handover.
● Passive Fire – Designed In or Fixed Later?
Firestopping, penetrations, fire doors, compartmentation, installation quality and evidence of suitability.
● Designed, Installed, Maintained – Who Protects the Design Intent?
Design intent versus installed outcomes, constructability, alterations and maintaining performance throughout the building lifecycle.
Technology, innovation and digital fire safety – how can we do it better?
Technology is changing how fire protection is designed, delivered, monitored, maintained and demonstrated. How can the industry turn these developments into practical improvements in safety, efficiency and performance?
We invite submissions that demonstrate where innovation is delivering value – and where further evidence, safeguards or industry guidance are needed.
PRIORITY TOPICS INCLUDE
● The Digital Fire Safety Record
Digital logbooks, electronic service records, BIM, asset information and creating a reliable, accessible source of fire safety information throughout a building’s lifecycle.
● Fire Protection 2035 – What Changes Next?
The future of fire protection engineering and technical work, robotics, drones, automated inspection, digital twins and next-generation fire safety.
● AI in Fire Protection – Show Us What Actually Works
Real-world applications of artificial intelligence for designers, technicians and fire safety professionals, including its benefits, limitations and reliability.
● Continuous Compliance – Moving Beyond the Annual Inspection
Remote monitoring, automated reporting, condition-based maintenance and new approaches to demonstrating ongoing compliance.
● Next-Generation Detection
Intelligent and multi-sensor detection, video and thermal technologies, aspirating detection, remote sensing and emerging applications.
Emerging risks and special hazards – what’s changing?
New technologies, energy systems, construction methods and building uses are creating fire risks that challenge established approaches. The industry needs practical evidence, informed debate and solutions that keep pace with change.
We invite submissions examining emerging hazards, lessons from testing and incidents, evolving regulatory requirements, and effective approaches to protecting people, property and critical infrastructure.
PRIORITY TOPICS INCLUDE
● Lithium-Ion Fire Safety – What Have We Learned and What Are We Still Getting Wrong?
Thermal runaway, detection and suppression strategies, emergency intervention, research findings and separating evidence from misinformation.
● Data Centres – The New Critical Fire Risk
Fire protection for hyperscale and high-density data centres, batteries and UPS systems, detection, suppression and business continuity.
● BESS in Australia – Are Regulation, Standards and Fire Protection Keeping Up?
Australian regulatory requirements and gaps, large-scale battery energy storage systems, emergency response, fire testing and lessons from international experience.
● When the Standard Doesn’t Have the Answer
Evidence of suitability, innovative products and technologies, design where Australian Standards do not provide a direct solution, and managing risk when innovation moves faster than regulation.
● The Future of Special-Hazard Suppression
Fluorine-free firefighting foams and PFAS transition, water mist, gaseous suppression and selecting appropriate technologies for emerging hazards.
● Buildings Are Changing – Are Our Fire Strategies Keeping Pace?
Mass timber, combustible construction, modular and prefabricated buildings, automated warehouses and high-storage environments.
Compliance, competency and industry – can we deliver it properly?
Effective fire safety depends on more than systems and technology. It requires competent people, clear accountability, consistent interpretation, appropriate regulation and an industry equipped to deliver quality outcomes.
We invite submissions that address the practical challenges of compliance, professional capability, responsibility and building a stronger fire protection sector.
PRIORITY TOPICS INCLUDE
● When Should an Existing Building Be Upgraded?
Maintenance versus alteration and upgrade, legacy systems, changes of use, existing-building compliance and applying contemporary expectations to existing buildings.
● The Regulator’s Table – What Industry Keeps Getting Wrong
Common compliance failures, regulator and fire service expectations, and improving communication between practitioners and authorities.
● Competent Person – What Does Competence Actually Look Like?
Demonstrating capability, qualifications versus experience, specialist competencies and practical frameworks for assessing competence.
● Who Is Responsible? Accountability Across the Fire Protection Lifecycle
Responsibilities of designers, installers, commissioners, maintainers, building owners and facility managers, including certification, sign-off and professional liability.
We encourage submissions from across the fire protection industry, including designers, engineers, installers, commissioners, maintainers, manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, regulators, fire services, building owners, facility managers and other industry professionals.
We are particularly interested in presentations that:
✓Share practical experience, technical knowledge and lessons learned.
✓Present research, testing, evidence or measurable performance outcomes.
✓Examine real-world challenges, failures and successful solutions.
✓Offer useful insights that delegates can apply in their own work.
✓Challenge existing practices constructively and encourage industry discussion.
✓Explore innovation with a clear focus on safety, reliability and practical application.
We invite you to submit a proposal aligned with one of the four conference streams. You do not need to use one of the suggested titles exactly – we welcome original ideas that address the themes and challenges outlined above.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE
Contact Julia Barraclough, National Events Manager Julia.Barraclough@fpaa.com.au
Fire Australia looks forward to hearing from the people whose knowledge, experience and ideas will help shape the future of fire safety.
