Over the last 16 years, JGA have advised on a number of prestigious and high profile projects around the world, including major projects in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Russia. We have a highly experienced team of specialist fire engineers, with international expertise of many building types. Our current or recent major international projects include the headquarters buildings for the Central Bank of Kuwait, Qatar Petroleum and Gazprom, as well as Gorkogo Park in Kiev.
International building design poses many different technical challenges to a design team. The approvals processes varies significantly from country to country, with each often having a different approach to deviations from standard code guidance through waivers or relaxations.
In many countries, the building code guidance is not well suited to dealing with large, complex, mixed use projects. This is particularly the case with fire codes, which may not allow the design choices given by a performance based approach. Strict compliance with these prescriptive codes can often result in design constraints which add cost and compromise the design when a more sophisticated fire engineering analysis could support a more efficient and safer building design. However, although design regulations may vary from country to country, fire does not.
Over recent years there is a trend to move away from prescriptive codes, and design using international best practice and performance based fire engineering solutions. This approach is increasingly adopted world wide for major projects.
An independent fire strategy review and audit report may also be needed to satisfy the developer, funder, investor or future purchaser that the building design achieves an acceptable standard of fire safety.
Our approach to international work combines knowledge of local codes, as well as leading edge expertise in international design standards. Our aim is to always provide the most robust and flexible approach to fire safety while minimising unnecessary costs and constraints on designers.
