Seismic Bracing and Fire Protection. Why Secondary Systems Matter

Seismic protection is often discussed in terms of building structure.
What is discussed far less is how fire protection systems perform after seismic movement.

In New Zealand, that distinction matters.

Fire protection systems are relied on most after a seismic event. If they are damaged, disabled, or unable to operate, the risk to people, property, and emergency response increases significantly.

Fire protection is more than pipework

When seismic considerations are addressed, attention is often placed on visible elements such as sprinkler pipework, alarm cabling, and hydrants.

Those components are important. They are not the whole system.

Fire protection systems rely on critical secondary equipment to function. Fire pumps, alarm panels, control valves, tanks, and battery backups are just as essential as the pipework they support.

If these elements are not appropriately restrained and rated, the system may appear intact while being operationally compromised.

Where failure actually occurs

In post-event assessments, it is common to find that secondary components have shifted, fractured, or lost power.

Typical issues include:

• Fire pumps displaced or misaligned

• Suction and discharge connections damaged

• Alarm panels or control equipment dislodged

• Battery backups rendered inoperable

• Tanks and supports affected by movement

When these components fail, the entire fire protection system can be rendered ineffective, even if the primary distribution network remains in place.

Compliance versus performance

Meeting seismic requirements on paper does not always translate to real-world performance.

Seismic protection must be considered as a complete system. That includes understanding load paths, interaction between services, and how equipment behaves under movement, not just how it is detailed on drawings.

A system that technically complies but cannot operate after an event does not meet its intended purpose.

The right question to ask during construction

A simple question can reveal a lot.

Are the secondary components supporting the fire protection system seismically braced, rated, and coordinated to the same level as the primary system?

If the answer is unclear, risk remains.

Fire protection design should address this early, during coordination and detailing, not after installation.

Designing for post-event functionality

Fire protection systems are expected to operate when conditions are worst, not when everything goes to plan.

That expectation places responsibility on designers to consider how systems behave during and after seismic movement. It also requires coordination with structural, mechanical, and electrical disciplines to ensure critical equipment remains functional.

This is where experience and judgement matter.

Keeping systems operational when it counts

Seismic protection is not just about meeting regulatory thresholds.

It is about ensuring that fire protection systems remain operational when people and first responders rely on them most.

Designing for that outcome requires looking beyond individual components and treating fire protection as a complete, interconnected system.

That approach protects lives, property, and response capability when it matters.

Fortis Fire provides specialist fire protection design with a focus on real-world performance and resilience.
Talk to us about designing systems that remain operational after seismic events.