BRANZ unveils world-class fire facility

New laboratory will become a leading research facility in fire compliance testing – with the aim of improving building performance and potentially enabling faster approval and product launches 

BRANZ has unveiled its new fire testing laboratory at its Porirua site, officially opened on 17 June by Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. The facility positions New Zealand at the forefront of fire safety science, offering capabilities previously unavailable in Australasia. 

Spanning more than 2,300m² with a 22.5m-high roof – taller than five double-decker buses – the new lab can test buildings up to three-storeys high and simulate full-scale fire scenarios in even taller buildings.  

It features a 10MW calorimeter and open-burn hood – co-developed with TEG Projects – for measuring heat release, smoke, and gas emissions; cube and pilot furnaces; a dedicated façade test rig; and a movable extraction hood with a wet-scrubber system that filters smoke into clean steam.  

The facility also includes climate-controlled testing spaces and private bays to protect manufacturer IP, supporting competitive product development. 

Small scale testing is already under way, with full operation expected by the end of 2025. Test data will feed into the Government’s current review of Building Code fire safety clauses. 

An investment in public safety 

Construction of the lab was funded with NZ$40 million from the Building Research Levy. BRANZ Board chair Nigel Smith called it “a significant investment in public safety, research excellence and sector capability”.  

“The fire lab will help protect people and buildings across the motu (nation), while providing local manufacturers and innovators with access to international standard testing right here in Aotearoa New Zealand,” said Smith. 

BRANZ CEO Claire Falck added: “We are focused on the areas that matter most – resilient and quality buildings, that are sustainable and affordable for New Zealanders. The fire lab enables us to deliver new science and insights to help prevent fire tragedies, support innovation, and provide the confidence that buildings will perform when faced with a fire emergency. 

“As the way we build changes, we need to further our understanding of risk. This lab means we can ask better questions, test new solutions, and work in partnership with industry to lift performance.” 

The time is right 

Several tragedies in recent years have sharpened the focus on fire risks. In May 2023, the Loafers Lodge fire in Newtown, Wellington killed five people, injured 20 and destroyed a 92-bed hostel.  

In Christchurch, the Port Hills have seen two major wildfire events. In 2017, fires burned through 1,660ha, destroyed nine homes, and killed helicopter pilot Steve Askin; in 2024, fire again swept across 650ha near Worsleys Road, destroyed one home, and forced widespread evacuations. According to publicly released figures, combined suppression costs across the two Port Hills events exceeded NZ$10million.  

As the industry adopts mass timber, modular systems and lighter-weight claddings – combined with an increasingly warmer, drier climate – risks around fire spread and ignition are quickly evolving.  

BRANZ’s new fire facility allows real-world testing under full-scale conditions, giving builders, regulators and designers data they can trust.