Locals say out of the ground the steam rises as though the city was ready read full article to erupt! A striking image, but the subterranean geothermal energy that churns beneath your feet bears absolutely no relationship to the reason behind your office, flat, or restaurant igniting. A dodgy wiring job, an over-excited fuse box or that forgotten stovetop – almost anything can spark a fire, just like elsewhere in the country 
A regional fire protection specialist's first job is knowing the buildings the team is responsible for. That timber lodge by the lake is completely unlike a crowded backpacker complex brimming with transient lodgers completely unaware of egress protocols. The city's popular thermal spas for which this city is famous, with moisture-heavy air that would degrade a high quality fire alarm within just a few months - each of these require tailored fire safety plans. Fire extinguishers are typically the first thing people think of; but they are not a "catch-all" solution. Your hot water cylinder or a data storage area genuinely requires such an enormous and costly unit built to handle liquid or oil fires only, when in fact a dry chemical extinguisher would work better in that case. It's worth noting it's important to remember that a busy hostel kitchen now appears high on the list of dangers, and must feature a wet chemical model suitable for any liquid cooking oils should one break out (Class F)? The humble sprinkler system is never recognized until it's the thing that stops catastrophe. Rotorua's mineral-rich water result in calcification in the sprinkler system's pipes, which means that annual flow test is non-negotiable, not optional - it's your best defence against major losses. Fire alarm systems frequently get neglected with tests rarely conducted - money was spent, then attention moved elsewhere. Not knowing might mean the battery that was fitted all those years ago during New Zealand's 'bronze age of mobile technology' has now given up. Regular annual maintenance will detect it all - before it escalates into anything that becomes headline news. There's also that dreaded annual occurrence that comes with the ownership of any building - your Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF). Scrambling as you seek the inspector at the eleventh hour won't just cost you time and stress, it will almost certainly result in the building being unable to pass. A reliable contractor, however, can anticipate all due dates, and carry out all the necessary paperwork before the renewal date is upon you while your landlord watches closely. Do not forget what's often the biggest gap, however - your people. Your staff, for instance, with distances that grow from close to far from possible fire hazards, may rarely if ever touch the fire extinguisher, or indeed, manage to use the wall-mounted fire blanket. A brief ten-minute briefing on containing a deep-fat fryer fire does more than all the nicely designed posters.