Client: Health NZ (formerly Auckland DHB)
Project: Mason Clinic
Location: Point Chevalier, Auckland
Value: Approx. $3M
Duration: 14 months
Case Study
Mason Clinic fire evacuation matrix.
Mason Clinic.
Where Safety Means Something Different.
Mason Clinic is unlike any facility AquaFire has worked on before. A 52-bed, high-security forensic psychiatric facility in Point Chevalier, Auckland, it forms part of a major Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora redevelopment and is among the country’s most specialised healthcare environments.
In a secure forensic mental health facility where emergency response arrangements differ from those used in standard healthcare settings, Mason Clinic required fire protection systems that support the staged and controlled movement of patients. AquaFire was engaged to deliver the complete active fire protection and detection package, including the sprinkler, fire alarm, hydrant and aspirating smoke detection systems.
Key Systems Installed
Fire Alarm & Aspirating Smoke Detection System
AquaFire supplied, installed, programmed and commissioned a sophisticated Siemens fire alarm and detection system, integrating fire detection with security, mechanical & access-control systems across the facility.
The system uses addressable aspirating smoke detection, enabling activations to be pinpointed to individual rooms or suites. In the anti-ligature cells, detection heads connect via capillary tubes to concealed ceiling pipework, providing effective detection without exposed equipment.
AquaFire also developed the system’s intricate cause-and-effect programming from the project specifications and fire reports, coordinating a staged evacuation system across 31 evacuation zones. Remote displays at staff bases identify the location of an activation, allowing staff to investigate before an alarm escalates.
Sprinkler System
Tailored solutions for non-invasive installation methods to preserve character details
AquaFire delivered the complete automatic sprinkler installation for the 52-bed facility, providing comprehensive fire suppression throughout the building. The system was designed and installed as part of an integrated fire protection solution, requiring close coordination with the building’s specialist services and operational requirements.
From procurement and installation through to testing and commissioning, AquaFire managed the sprinkler system alongside the facility’s fire alarm, hydrant and aspirating detection systems, ensuring all elements worked together as a complete, compliant fire protection package.
Challenges We Faced
In most buildings, a fire alarm triggers a predictable response. At Mason Clinic, it couldn’t.
The facility required a highly sophisticated fire system capable of supporting a carefully managed emergency response in a secure clinical environment. Fire detection, access control, mechanical services and life-safety systems needed to work together seamlessly, responding differently depending on the location and nature of an event.
The result was widely regarded as one of the most technically intricate fire evacuation matrices in New Zealand.
”Aquafire bring ‘can do’ to a project. Their Mason Clinic team turned up every day with a solutions-based mindset, even when the challenges were hard and the pressure high. It was a pleasure to work with a team that owned their work, kept up good levels of production and, despite the hard work, always had a smile on their face.
Martin EdwardsSenior Services Manager, Southbase
The Solution
Over 14 months, AquaFire deployed a team of up to 15 specialists to procure, install, programme, test, and commission the entire system.
A significant component of the project involved configuring an advanced cause-and-effect matrix to coordinate multiple building systems, ensuring that every response occurred exactly as intended.
The project also required AquaFire to develop expertise in a highly specialised Siemens fire-alarm platform, a rare specification in the New Zealand market. The team mastered the technology, delivering a fully integrated solution that met the project’s exacting requirements.
The Outcome
The completed system achieved a 100 percent first-time commissioning pass rate, an exceptional result that the commissioning agents said they had never encountered on a project of this scale and complexity.
Delivered to specification and without compliance issues, Mason Clinic has become a benchmark for complex fire-system integration in New Zealand.
For AquaFire, it demonstrates more than technical capability. It reflects the planning, precision and commitment required to deliver certainty in environments where there is no room for compromise.
”The Aquafire team brought a strong technical capability, attention to detail and collaborative approach to the successful completion of the complex Mason Clinic Project. Their ability to think outside the box and deliver a 100% first time commissioning pass rate made the commissioning process seamless and the ideal partner onsite.
Dave McPhersonBuilding Services Manager, Southbase
