Case Study
Fire Protection in Existing and Adapted Buildings
BSE delivers fire protection engineering services across a wide range of sectors, including commercial, retail, hospitality, and refurbishment projects. A significant proportion of this work involves existing and adapted buildings, where fire safety compliance must be achieved within established structures, operational constraints, and live environments.
In these settings, effective fire protection outcomes rely on early identification of risk, a clear understanding of regulatory requirements, and the development of practical solutions that support both life safety and continued use. The following examples illustrate how BSE applies this approach across different building types and operating contexts.
Five Guys Penrith
Five Guys is an international fast casual hospitality brand known for its tightly controlled kitchen layouts and highly standardised production model, operating thousands of restaurants globally. In September 2021, the brand opened its first Australian location in Penrith, adapting an existing building on Mulgoa Road to suit its operational model.
As an established international operation, Five Guys’ design standards had been developed primarily around United States regulatory requirements. Early investigations by BSE identified non‑compliant fire services within the existing building, presenting a compliance and life‑safety risk for the new tenancy. A key challenge was adapting the international design model to meet the requirements of the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards, while preserving the operational efficiency and layout fundamental to the Five Guys brand.
BSE reviewed the existing fire services and developed an alternative fire protection solution that addressed the identified deficiencies while remaining compatible with the constraints of the existing building and the production and service model. The approach achieved regulatory compliance without the need for extensive base‑building modifications, supporting the successful opening and ongoing operation of the restaurant.
Image courtesy of Five Guys.
Suttons Homebush
Suttons is a long‑established automotive dealership group with a strong presence across New South Wales. Its Homebush site, originally constructed in the mid‑twentieth century, underwent a major refurbishment to enable continued operation as a modern automotive sales, servicing, and parts facility.
During refurbishment works, BSE was engaged to review fire protection provisions within the existing building. Investigations identified fire services coverage deficiencies within the mezzanine area, a common issue in adapted buildings where original fire protection systems may not align with contemporary compliance expectations.
BSE developed and implemented a code‑compliant fire protection strategy that resolved the identified coverage deficiencies and ensured the mezzanine area achieved compliance with applicable requirements, supporting the safe operation of the dealership following completion of the refurbishment.
Fire Protection Capability
Together, these projects demonstrate BSE’s approach to delivering fire protection solutions in existing and adapted buildings. By identifying compliance risks early and developing coordinated, buildable responses, BSE supports clients in achieving safe, compliant outcomes while maintaining functionality, operational continuity, and commercial objectives.
