For more than 17 years, the team at Firestop Centre has worked closely with specifiers and installers in the New Zealand passive fire protection market.
Greg Hand, director of Firestop Centre, says his secret to success in this life-saving business involves a unique “three-point perspective” as the backbone to the role that Firestop Centre plays within industry.
“As part of our role we are constantly searching for and introducing high-quality passive firebrands to the New Zealand market,” says Hand, offering a wide variety of fire-rated products and systems.
He says it’s then about creating value while supporting the New Zealand market.
“We simplify the specification process and provide clear installation instructions for all fire-rated systems in the Firestop Centre System Selector while also building a portfolio of locally designed and tested fire-rated solutions under the Firestop brand.”
As a distributor, Hand has researched existing brands worldwide. “We have a rigorous selection process, mostly focusing on products’ fire performance and systems compliance. If both are satisfactory, we proceed with the distribution agreement. Our technical expert often insists on local fire resistance verification testing to ensure our systems perform well in locally built walls, floors, and ceilings.”
Hand says he is proud of the Firestop Centre System Selector, an online database that organises all fire-rated systems. “Currently, we have over 500-plus fully compliant fire-rated systems that can be specified and installed in construction projects across New Zealand.
“For instance, if an installer needs a passive fire solution for a 65mm PVC-U pipe penetrating a one-hour fire-rated wall, they can use our system selector to find the necessary information. Each system page includes all compliance evidence and detailed installation instructions, saving time and money. Hundreds of specifiers and installers use our systems daily, making their work easier.”
Recently, Firestop Centre decided to go beyond distribution by launching its own brand, Firestop. “We’ve learned a lot over the years and have seen the industry’s needs and the challenges installers face on-site. So, we thought, if not now, then when? We invested much time and money to research, design, and test Firestop fire-rated systems. It was fun and now we can see the results.
“Did you know that before Firestop duct wrap 38, the New Zealand construction industry lacked a tested duct wrap solution for circular duct protection? Now it has one.
“Before the Firestop Centre, there wasn’t a single supplier of passive fire protection that tested ducts for internal fire on a large-size specimen in a full-scale furnace. We did, and we can confidently say that test results from a smaller duct cannot be extrapolated to a larger size for an internal fire scenario.”
With traditional “Kiwi business values” at heart, Hand and his partners have built the business to support the industry, not just to make profit.
“Our objectives and business approach have made Firestop Centre the go-to company, and this is our secret to passive fire success.”