Fire research testing

Centre for Environmental Safety and Risk Engineering (CESARE) undertakes research primarily in the area of fire safety and risk engineering. Our research and development activities are undertaken for a variety of industrial and government organisations.

We consult for a range of customers including:

• OneSteel
• BlueScope Steel
• Australian Buildings Codes Board
• Fire Code Reform Centre
• Singapore Civil Defence

The centre also works in a peer review capacity for major building projects such as:

• Federation Square
• Southern Cross Railway Station
• the Brisbane Cricket Ground

Our academic and research staff have research and practical experience in areas of structural behaviour and design, heat transfer, mechanical systems, human behaviour in fire, risk assessment and management, and detection systems.

Our staff are also experienced in other aspects of safety including working at heights.

Courses and programs

We offer the following postgraduate courses:

• Graduate Certificate in Performance-Based Building and Fire Codes
• Graduate Diploma in Building Fire Safety and Risk Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Building Fire Safety and Risk Engineering (Coursework)
• Master of Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy

Research

Our research covers almost all areas of fire safety engineering which includes:

• Fire development in enclosures
• Effectiveness of stair pressurisation
• Fires in trains
• Large displacement behaviour of steel floors in fire
• Effectiveness of sprinklers in high-rise office buildings
• Design of steel and composite floors for fire resistance
• Penetration of steel members through plasterboard construction
• Analysis of fire statistics