Petrel case study on L’Oréal’s Auckland dangerous goods store
Auckland’s new L’Oréal distribution centre includes a Dangerous Goods Store designed for a Zone 2 hazardous environment and completed in November 2025.
Petrel has published a case study outlining the lighting solution delivered for the facility through Electrical Consulting Services working with Techlight.
The project team included developer James Kirkpatrick Group and architect Gravitas Consulting.
Waide Commercial Construction served as the builder and Electrical Consulting Services acted as electrical and lighting consultant.
Electrical Consulting Services selected Petrel to provide the hazardous-area lighting for the Zone 2 environment.
Zone 2 lighting and emergency provision
The Dangerous Goods Store is classified as Zone 2, defined as an environment where explosive gas atmospheres are not expected during normal operation and, if present, exist only for a short period.
A total of 73 Petrel ALED4/G/Z2/156E luminaires were installed as high-bay fittings to illuminate aisles and open warehouse areas.
These luminaires are designed for hazardous locations and provide ingress protection and compliance for Zone 2 applications.
Emergency lighting within the facility includes 12 Petrel 9LED5700/EM units installed across aisles and open areas.
Stuart Head, Technical and Certification Manager at Petrel, said: “Lighting is central to Green Star performance, influencing energy use, operational carbon and overall environmental quality.
“By combining high-performance LEDs with precise optical control, the L’Oréal Dangerous Goods Store achieves lower emissions, reduced energy demand and safer working conditions.
“Petrel is proud to have supported the delivery of this award-winning outcome.”
Green Star rating and project collaboration
The distribution centre has achieved New Zealand’s first 6-Star Green Star Design Certified rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council.
The rating recognises the facility’s sustainable design approach across the wider project.
The lighting design formed part of the overall facility specification, with coordination between the project team and delivery partners during development.
Pierre Abrahamse, National Sales Manager at Techlight, said: “The L’Oréal Dangerous Goods Store project sets a new benchmark, demonstrating how specialist lighting capability can drive both operational excellence and environmental leadership.
“Credit goes to the team at Petrel for their skill, commitment and genuine passion for the sector.”
The Auckland facility brings together hazardous-area lighting and energy-focused building design within the same distribution centre.
Andrew Cowan, Senior Engineer at Jensen Hughes, explains what Qmax means in the context of BS EN 12845
In fire protection engineering, automatic sprinkler systems are fundamental to safeguarding both life and property. Their effectiveness stems from their ability to detect and control fires rapidly, containing fire growth until emergency responders arrive. To achieve this, two design factors are essential: water density and duration of discharge.
Water density is the volume of water applied to a given area, usually measured in millimetres per minute (mm/min) or litres per minute per square metre (l/min/m²) in the UK. It ensures sufficient water reaches the fire to absorb the heat, cool burning materials and prevent spread. If the density is too low, the water may evaporate before suppressing the fire, reducing the system’s effectiveness.
Equally important is the discharge duration – the length of time the system must maintain adequate flow. This ensures the fire remains under control until it is fully extinguished, either by the fire service or in a controlled burn-out. Insufficient duration risks re-ignition or uncontrolled spread after initial suppression.
Both density and duration are set out in BS EN 12845, the European standard for the design, installation and maintenance of fixed sprinkler systems. Within its hydraulic design requirements, one concept stands out: Qmax, the maximum water flow rate a system must deliver under the most favourable hydraulic conditions. Understanding Qmax is key to sizing an adequate stored water volume.
Methods of hydraulic calculation
To ensure reliable sprinkler performance, designers must conduct hydraulic calculations to confirm that the pipe network can deliver adequate flow and pressure to operating sprinklers. Under BS EN 12845, two calculation methods are permitted:
Pre-calculated Method: This method is a solution where the pipework diameters are sized as per tables within BS EN 12845 up until a defined point on the sprinkler array. This is known as a design point. The pipe diameters from the design point back to the Installation Control Valve (ICV) are calculated to ensure the total pressure loss does not exceed 0.5 bar, except where static pressure, between the height of the highest sprinkler on the system and the design point in question can be accounted for. The pressure and flow requirements to be provided to the ICV are prescribed in the standard for the specific risk.
Full Hydraulic Calculation Method: This method is required for high-hazard systems but also used where customised pipe sizing or water supplies are needed. The full calculation method requires designers to evaluate two operating scenarios:
Most hydraulically unfavourable area: Usually farthest from the water supply, where maintaining pressure and flow is most difficult.
Most hydraulically favourable area: Typically closest to the supply, where conditions are least demanding.
Factors considered
To establish pressure and flow requirements, the calculation must consider:
Pipe lengths/types and diameters
Elevation differences between sprinklers and the pump or tank
Friction losses in pipes, fittings and valves
Hazard classification density requirements
Application area
Minimum sprinkler operating pressure
Assumed Maximum Area of Operation (AMAO)
A critical element of hydraulic design is determining the Assumed Maximum Area of Operation (AMAO), which specifies the maximum number of sprinklers likely to operate during a fire. This value depends on the hazard classification and whether the system is wet or dry.
For instance, an Ordinary Hazard Group 3 wet system requires an operating area of 216 m², while the same occupancy with a dry valve necessitates a larger AMAO of 270 m². Designers should consult BS EN 12845 to confirm the correct AMAO for each scenario.
By defining the AMAO, designers ensure the system can handle the worst-case conditions for the specified hazard class. This area is used to model realistic fire scenarios and to correctly size pumps, pipework and water storage.
Tailored design based on actual fire compartment areas
Every fire protection project is unique and should be assessed according to its specific risk profile. While the AMAO provides a standard design reference, actual fire compartment sizes can be used if they are smaller and meet the required fire resistance for the hazard class.
This approach allows for a customised design, optimising sprinkler water demand, pump requirements and tank capacity. By basing calculations on the actual protected area rather than a generic maximum, designers can improve system efficiency without compromising compliance, provided the correct compartment fire resistance is maintained.
Fire pump curve and system demand
After identifying the most favourable and unfavourable demand points, the designer selects an appropriate fire pump that can satisfy both scenarios. This selection process involves analysing the pump curve, which graphically represents the relationship between pressure and flow for a specific pump.
An example of the pump curve and system demand points is illustrated below
The graph illustrates four key lines.
Black Line – 1: The system demand is derived from the pressure-flow relationship of the most favourable area of operation. It is drawn using a hydraulic quadratic formula. This equation helps draw a curve that simulates how the system responds when only the closest sprinklers operate. Since these require less pressure to achieve the required flow, this becomes a conservative estimate for maximum system capacity.
Orange Line – 2: The true pump performance curve. This line shows how the pump’s pressure output decreases as flow increases. Under BS EN 12845, the pump must provide at least 0.5 bar more pressure than what is needed at the most unfavourable point to accommodate design changes during installation.
Green Line – 3: This represents the pump curve plus static pressure. The static pressure comes from the height of water in the storage tank, which contributes additional force through gravity. It essentially reflects the total available pressure at the pump outlet, combining pump energy and gravitational pressure.
Blue Line – 4: This is the Qmax line.
Qmax
Once the system demand curve (Black Line – 1) intersects with the pump plus static pressure curve (Green Line – 3), the intersection point projects vertically to the x-axis. This vertical projection is known as Qmax – the maximum theoretical flow the system could deliver under the most favourable conditions.
In practical terms, Qmax represents the maximum flow demand the fire protection system must be able to supply. It reflects the worst-case scenario of flow in a sprinkler activation and forms the basis for water storage sizing.
Sizing the sprinkler tank
After Qmax is determined, the next step is to size the water storage tank. The volume of water required depends on both Qmax and the required duration of sprinkler operation, which again depends on the hazard class.
The designer would then coordinate with a sprinkler tank manufacturer to select a tank with an effective capacity that meets or exceeds this volume.
Conclusion
Understanding and calculating Qmax is a critical step in the hydraulic design of sprinkler systems governed by codes like BS EN 12845. By accurately determining Qmax, designers ensure that the system is capable of meeting the most demanding suppression scenarios.
Whether you’re a fire protection engineer, designer or building services consultant, understanding the principles behind Qmax gives you an understanding of how a sprinkler tank is sized.
At Jensen Hughes, our fire protection engineers apply these principles to various projects, supporting compliant and efficient sprinkler system designs tailored to each facility’s specific risk profile and operational requirements
Ballyclare Xenon kit rollout across North West fire services
Firefighters across the North West of England and Northern Ireland will be issued Xenon technical rescue kit supplied by Ballyclare under a joint procurement contract.
The company announced that fire and rescue services from Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland worked together on the initiative.
The collaboration represents more than 5,800 firefighters.
The specialist kit is intended for non-structural incidents such as road traffic collisions, medical emergencies and natural disasters.
Certification standards and tender specifications
The Xenon technical rescue jacket and trousers are certified to BS EN 16689 for protective clothing used in technical rescue.
The garments also meet EN ISO 15384 for wildland firefighter clothing and EN ISO 20471 for high-visibility clothing.
The ensemble uses fabrics designed to be lightweight and breathable.
The material is inherently flame retardant and resistant to repeated washing.
It also provides waterproof protection against blood pathogens, chemicals and particulates.
This version of the Xenon kit was adapted to meet the tender requirements, including the use of a bright yellow outer fabric to increase visibility during road traffic incidents.
Procurement process and supplier selection
Ballyclare was selected as the preferred supplier following a tender process that included practical user trials last year.
Fire and rescue services in the region are already familiar with the Xenon range through existing use of Xenon structural kit and a previous version of the Xenon technical rescue jacket.
Philip Tasker, Global Sales Lead for Fire and Security at Ballyclare, said: “Increasingly, fire and rescue services across the UK and Europe are investing in dedicated technical rescue kit which better suits the everyday incidents they face and prolongs the life of their structural gear.
“It’s great to see our innovative Xenon technical rescue design being put to good use by fire and rescue services across the North West and Northern Ireland.
“We’re pleased to be able to support these crews with the protection they need to carry out their operations safely.”
The contract covers the supply of technical rescue PPE to the participating services across the region.
More than a dozen bills were highlighted in Sacramento as part of the 2026 “Joint Megafire Prevention Package”, focused on reducing destructive megafires in California.
Megafire Actionhighlighted the package alongside FireWERX, the California Fire Safe Council and the Karuk Tribe, with the respective bill authors
The release described the package as covering home hardening, resilience loan financing, expansion of existing fire mitigation programmes, and measures intended to support beneficial fire.
It said the work is a priority for fire mitigation advocates following the 2025 megafires in Los Angeles.
Eric Horne, California Director of Megafire Action, said: “We honor the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires not only by helping communities rebuild, but by making government work better before disaster strikes.
“We honor the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires not only by helping communities rebuild, but by making government work better before disaster strikes,” Horne said.
Bills target home hardening, county capacity and technology adoption
Senator Ben Allen described SB 894 as using financing, planning and technology to reduce fire risk, and linked the bill to insurance availability and premium pressures.
Senator Josh Becker said SB 973 would direct CAL FIRE to develop guidance and recommended standards for local entities assessing wildfire risk and prioritising wildfire mitigation activities.
Becker said SB 973 would also expand the Wildfire County Coordinator Program.
Jacy Hyde, PhD, Executive Director of the California Fire Safe Council, said: “By strengthening county capacity, SB 973 ensures California’s wildfire investments deliver real risk reduction where it matters most—on the ground, in high-risk communities.”
Senator Henry Stern said California should reduce risk through a more efficient, innovative, community scaled approach.
Chris Anthony, Founder and CEO of FireWERX, said Stern’s Fire Innovation Unit Act would create a pathway to identify operational needs, co-develop solutions with firefighters, evaluate them and move tools from pilots to statewide deployment.
The release said SB 1079 would create a Fire Innovation Unit within CAL FIRE to identify firefighter needs, source technologies, prototype solutions and scale successful technologies across three programmes.
Assemblymember Steve Bennett said his six bills aim to reduce risk in the built environment by aligning certification, incentives, insurance transparency, tax policy and community-level preparedness.
Measures include beneficial fire capacity and liability changes
Assemblymember Damon Connolly said AB 1891 would dedicate grant funding to beneficial fire practitioners and was introduced with the Karuk Tribe and the Watershed Research and Training Center.
Connolly said beneficial fire projects help ecosystems foster biodiversity, reduce wildfire risk and preserve natural habitats and forests.
The release said AB 1891 and AB 1699 are intended to expand the pace and scale of beneficial fire in California by investing in local and tribal capacity while removing liability and permitting barriers that have slowed prescribed and cultural burns.
It said both measures recognise the role of California Tribes in fire-adapted areas and are intended to support tribal authority and resourcing.
Assemblymember Chris Rogers said: “Planning for wildfires isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
Kenneth Brink, Karuk Tribe Vice Chairman, said: “Indigenous people have been burning since Time Immemorial to manage our homelands.
“Fire promotes the cultural and ecological resources we need to thrive, and it protects our communities and landscapes from catastrophic wildfire.
“We appreciate that California legislators are looking at wildfire mitigation in a comprehensive way, recognizing that both landscape resilience and the built environment are critical to address, and humans have a central role in stewarding all of it, with beneficial fire as one of our most essential tools.
“We are excited to sponsor Assemblymember Connolly’s AB 1891 and support Assemblymember Roger’s AB 1699 which both support increasing the pace and scale of beneficial fire in California”
The package listed bills including SB 894, SB 973, SB 911, SB 1079 and SB 1404, plus Assembly measures AB 1699, AB 1891, AB 1934, AB 1960, AB 1964, AB 1971, AB 1986 and AB 2013.
The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) has released the detailed program schedule.
The schedule includes keynote and panel sessions from Tuesday to Thursday, alongside topic streams, exhibitors and an opening and poster reception on Tuesday.
The programme also lists oral presentations, lightning talks and more than 100 poster presentations.
IAWF said: “We are pleased to release the detailed program schedule.
“In addition to the dymamic keynote presentations and panels, we will offer oral presentations, lightning talks and over 100 poster presentations.”
Registration, workshops and field trips
The conference is fully in-person with no virtual presentations, with access to program sessions included for full registrations or for the nominated day of attendance for one-day registrations.
Registration also includes refreshments during morning and afternoon breaks, a social reception on Tuesday evening, a dinner or gathering on Wednesday evening, and lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
IAWF Member and Student rates are available.
Workshops are scheduled for Friday 1 May from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with a cost of $50 per workshop and morning tea included.
The workshop titles listed are Big Weather Data for Fire Management, Igniting research – Fire Behaviour and Fuels research translation workshop, Measuring fire management effectiveness using performance indicators, and Navigating the Social Dimensions of Cascading and Compounding Disasters.
Field trips are also scheduled for Friday 1 May and run at the same time as the workshops.
The field trips listed are Applied pyrogeography: from field to laboratory and kunyani/Mt Wellington Bushfire Risk Management.
IAWF describes the conference as a forum to document past fire management experience, showcase current work, and share emerging research, innovation and techniques on fire management.
Applications have opened for the 2026 Anheuser-Busch Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters Program, which will distribute 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to eligible volunteer fire departments in the United States.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) announced that Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners are delivering the programme in partnership with the NVFC.
Departments are encouraged to apply if they are more than 50% volunteer.
Applicants must serve a population of 25,000 or less.
Applicants must respond to wildfires, including uncontrolled fires in forests, prairies, grasslands, brushlands or lands sown to crops.
Selected departments will receive one pallet of emergency drinking water totalling 2,352 cans.
The application period closes at noon Eastern Time on March 6, 2026.
Departments will be notified of selection by the end of May.
Eligibility and programme scale
Hydration is described as essential to firefighter health, safety and performance during long incidents in extreme conditions.
Since the partnership between Anheuser-Busch and the NVFC began in 2019, nearly 12 million cans of emergency drinking water have been distributed to volunteer fire departments across the United States.
Steve Hirsch, NVFC Chair, said: “These water donations help keep volunteer firefighters safe and healthy during active incidents while reducing the financial strain on departments with limited resources,
“We’re grateful to Anheuser-Busch for its continued commitment to providing first responders with the essential resources needed to protect their communities.”
Colleen Lucas, Vice President of Community Impact at Anheuser-Busch, said: “Showing up for our communities is who we are at Anheuser-Busch, and our partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council reflects our deep gratitude for the first responders who work every day to keep them safe,
“Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand how something as simple as a can of water can make all the difference and we’re proud to use our manufacturing expertise to do our part in supporting these local heroes.”
Anheuser-Busch traces its disaster relief support back to 1906.
Each year the company periodically pauses beer production to produce emergency drinking water for communities impacted by or preparing for disaster.
Since the launch of its Emergency Drinking Water initiative in 1988, more than 100 million cans of drinking water have been donated for communities in need.
Groupe ADP has ordered a fourth Oshkosh Striker Volterra 6×6 Electric Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle for Paris Le Bourget Airport.
Oshkosh Airport Products announced the order, which follows a public procurement procedure that led to the initial purchase of three Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles announced in 2024.
The latest purchase represents the airport’s first repeat Striker order.
The first three vehicles were delivered in early December 2025.
Vehicle configuration and operating profile
Oshkosh Airport Products described Paris Le Bourget Airport as Europe’s largest executive and business aviation airport, located immediately north of Paris.
The airport’s operating environment requires ARFF vehicles capable of responding across a dense urban setting and supporting a range of operational scenarios.
The Striker Volterra fleet uses an Oshkosh electric powertrain paired with an electro mechanical infinitely variable transmission.
This configuration enables zero emissions operation during station entry, standby periods and low speed movement.
Marcus Laan, Manager of Business Development, Oshkosh Airport Products, said: “These vehicles support operational needs across the airfield while aligning with modern sustainability goals.
“We look forward to continuing this collaboration as the airport strengthens its emergency response resources.”
Equipment and performance features
Oshkosh Airport Products stated that all four vehicles were configured to match one another in order to simplify operator training and support long term fleet management.
The vehicles include bus style stack doors for compartment access, a camera based mirror system designed to improve visibility and an extensive lighting package for scene illumination.
Three vehicles are equipped with a roof turret.
The fourth vehicle includes a Snozzle High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET).
Performance specifications include a low attack bumper turret and roof turret with flow rates up to 79 litres per second.
The vehicles also include TAK 4 Independent Suspension, a 10,500 litre water tank and an 800 litre foam tank.
Each unit is fitted with a 7,570 litres per minute water pump and the Oshkosh Eco EFP Foam System.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has recorded an estimated £84 million cost from sickness absence linked to mental health since 2021.
The London Assembly Fire Committee said in a letter published on 4 March that stress, anxiety and depression among LFB staff are now the leading cause of long-term sickness absence.
The Committee said firefighters routinely face traumatic incidents while carrying out their duties across the capital.
It said the growing mental health toll is affecting the wellbeing of those working within the brigade and contributing to rising absence costs.
What the Fire Committee asked the London Fire Commissioner to change
The letter called on the London Fire Commissioner to strengthen early intervention and improve how support is directed towards those most at risk.
The Committee said LFB has expanded its wellbeing support and taken steps to address stigma around seeking help.
It added that existing support remains largely generalised, despite clear differences in how mental health issues affect different roles within the brigade.
The Committee recommended greater use of internal mental health data so support can be targeted towards higher-risk roles.
It also called for adoption of the IGLOO framework, described as Individual, Group, Leader, Organisation, Outside.
The Committee said peer-to-peer support should also play a larger role in helping staff manage the impact of traumatic incidents.
Zack Polanski AM said: “Firefighters protect London every day.
“It is only right, they feel equally protected when it comes to their own wellbeing.
“While the LFB has made important progress in tackling stigma and expanding support, there is more that can be done to tailor provision, strengthen peer networks and ensure help reaches those who need it most.
“Targeted, preventative support will be critical to building a resilient Fire Brigade fit for the future.
“A mentally healthy Brigade is fundamental to serving London effectively.”
The Committee’s letter sets out its recommendations for how LFB should strengthen early support and use available data to guide future provision.
Executive summary: Wellbeing of London’s firefighters letter
The London Assembly Fire Committee has written to the London Fire Commissioner raising concerns about the growing impact of mental health issues on staff within the London Fire Brigade (LFB), and recommending changes to how support is delivered.
The Committee states that stress, anxiety and depression among firefighters have risen to the point where they are now the most common reason for staff being absent from work for more than two weeks.
While acknowledging that mental health provision has improved across fire services in recent decades and that LFB now has a comprehensive wellbeing strategy and mental health policy, the Committee says further improvements are possible, particularly in how support is targeted and structured.
The letter also links wellbeing directly to operational capability and organisational cost. Since 2021, sickness absence across LFB has been estimated to cost around £84 million.
The Committee therefore sets out two main recommendations: using data more actively to tailor mental health support to higher-risk roles, and strengthening peer-to-peer support within the brigade.
Key quotes
Zack Polanski AM, Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, wrote that the increase in mental health absence warranted closer examination: “These are concerning figures which the London Assembly Fire Committee felt warranted investigation.”
Deputy Commissioner Spencer Sutcliff highlighted the economic case for preventative mental health support: “Every pound spent on prevention for mental health [issues] will give you a £4 return.”
Evidence presented to the Committee also pointed to demand for more training among firefighters. Dr Carolina Campodonico, who is leading research commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union, told the Committee: “More than three-quarters of firefighters said that they would be interested in more mental health training.”
The Committee’s letter requests a formal response from the London Fire Commissioner by 15 April 2026.
External envelope work begins with TG14 first meeting
The first meeting of TG14 – ‘Passive Fire Protection and the External Envelope’ brought together specialists from multiple disciplines, according to a blog post by Paul McSoley shared by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).
Participants included designers and engineers, facade experts, penetration seals, cavity barrier and fixing specialists, plus testing, certification and installation representatives.
The day opened with a call from Mike Ward, who said the next logical step towards industry-wide competence in passive fire protection sits within the void between the faced and the building structure.
Discussion centred on definitions, typologies and testing interfaces
Following work on the ASFP Green Book – fire doors and the ASFP Clear Book – fire resistant glazing, Hannah Mansell told the group that facades are a natural area to simplify and that a similar approach should be applied to external systems as the Design Guide for internal passive fire protection nears completion.
The discussion was framed around how a facade should be defined and what passive fire protection means in that context.
Mansell said: “While I recognise I am not a facade expert, part of my objective for the first session was to break down facades into typologies.
“For example, is the facade external to the building structure, or is it recessed within it?
“If so, what are the next natural steps in identifying the principles of each one?
“To go even further, how many common approaches of facade are there in each location, and how do we determine the approaches for how passive fire protection is applied from a cavity barrier, a door, a window or even a flue discharge?
“What about the wall junctions from the internal compartments that separate room space, and what type of building safety risks could they contain?”
McSoley wrote that the ASFP Purple Book – fire-resisting partitions approach to internal substrates may provide comparators for the work on external substrates.
He wrote that passive fire protection systems are either applied as a weight to the wall substrate or supported from the slab, with installation usually specific to partition-type systems or rigid structures.
He added that the difference with external walls is that they become a non-standard supporting construction, and that testing and determining interfaces will be a key part of TG14’s work.
Next meeting to compile feedback and map facade types
McSoley wrote that the group’s next steps will involve breaking system types down and applying the colour book approach to external substrates.
He added that the next meeting should be better placed to compile feedback from the day and identify facade types and common interface principles that form a whole system.
