Means of Escape to a Final Exit and Smoke Control for Compliance SS13.1, SS13.2 and SS13.3

Means of Escape to a Final Exit

The Means of Escape to a Final Exit workshop will include all aspects of means of escape from a building including open paths, safe paths, exitways and final exits. The workshop is designed to be both theoretical and interactive. It includes a technical presentation, a building case study, product examples, a technical quiz challenge and an assessment.

• Focus on inspection, maintenance and reporting including the certification and issue of a Form 12A.
• Cover an overview of the legal requirements of the New Zealand Building Act and Building Code right through to the relevant performance standards.
• Certification and ongoing compliance of the specified system SS15/2 Final Exits.
• The purpose and requirements of these systems, how to approach the process of inspections.
• A practical look at common defects, reporting and what and when to certify.

Smoke Control for Compliance SS13.1, SS13.2 and SS13.3

Discussion points for the day - What is smoke control? Are these systems critical for building evacuation safety? How do they integrate with other life-safety systems? This course answers all those questions—and more.

This workshop will focus on: 

• Stair Pressurization – How it maintains safe escape routes during fire emergencies
• Mechanical Smoke Extraction – Efficient smoke removal from enclosed spaces
• Natural Smoke Extraction – Using natural ventilation for smoke control
• Smoke Curtains – Compartmentalizing and preventing smoke spread

Why Attend?

• Understand system design and operation
• Learn integration with fire alarms, sprinklers, and HVAC
• Gain practical knowledge for compliance and safety

This workshop is designed for both IQP’s and Building Compliance Officials. Whether you are new or experienced in the industry this is a good course designed to upskill or refresh your skills.

• The course includes a post course assessment. On completion of the assessment, you will be awarded a Certificate of completion and 3.5 hours of CPD.

Costs for both workshops:

$688.50+GST ABC members for both courses (incudes a 15% for signing up for both)

$888.25+GST non-members for both courses (incudes a 15% for signing up for both)

PRESENTER - Trent Fearnley

Trent Fearnley has over 26 years of experience in the fire industry and the education industry, from firefighting to fire investigator to fire risk management and fire engineering.

Trent brings his vast experience and capabilities from his previous roles as National Advisor Fire Risk Management in Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), Developer and Subject Matter Expert for the NZ Diploma in Fire Engineering at the Open Polytechnic of NZ to the role of Technical Director to support and grow the skills of our Association.

Trent’s current roles as Director of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and Board Member of Vocational Engineering Education NZ also provide key relationships and knowledge of the education sector to the role. The landscape of Safety Critical Work is changing and we want to prepare our members for any changes that may happen. Trent has been involved in the changes introduced by the Reform of Vocational Education and we wish to utilise his knowledge to benefit our members.

PRESENTER – Steve Bailey

Steve has been in New Zealand since 1998 working in the fire alarm and building compliance field as a senior IQP and Council liaison as of March 2026 Steve has made the move over to teaching and is now a lecturer for Future Skills passing on his knowledge on Building Compliance starting with a level 4 NZQA course.

Steve also has his IQP registration in the South Island in SS1,2,3/2, 3/3, 4, 13/2, 13/3, 14/1, 14/2, 15/1, 15/2, 15/3, 15/4 and 15/5.

Prior to living in New Zealand Steve lived in the UK and has an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering and followed this with 13 years in the lift industry where he worked overseas and trained staff from all around the world.

Steve has a passion for teaching others and takes great pleasure in seeing those that he mentors evolving and moving into successful careers.

Steve believes that building compliance is a field worth entering as it provides the opportunity to shape the buildings of the future and to make them safe for all who use them. I have been known to use the phrase that Luck is not a specified system and now is the time to reduce the use of this specified system and make our buildings and our families safe.

ABCTech training workshops offered by the Association of Building Compliance (ABC) are intended for introductory or refresher CPD only. While these workshops provide valuable educational support and technical information, they are not designed to replace formal qualifications or certifications however they are designed to complement them. Completion of our training does not grant certification as an Independently Qualified Person (IQP) or other professional designations but can be used in evidence to support an application.