Professional Profile

Christine Po is a building compliance professional specialising in passive fire systems, compliance assessment, technical reporting and technical investigations. Her work focuses on assessing existing buildings and construction projects against legislative, technical and performance requirements, identifying compliance risks and documenting practical pathways to compliant outcomes.

Since entering the passive fire industry in 2019, Christine has worked across government, healthcare, defence, commercial, hospitality, industrial and residential sectors. Her experience spans inspection, defect identification, rectification verification, technical reporting, asset documentation, installation and rectification works across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Christine combines field-based passive fire experience with a Bachelor of Information Technology, bringing a structured approach to evidence collection, documentation and information management. This background supports her work in compliance assessment, reporting and the design of digital compliance systems.

Following several years of industry experience, Christine established F&M Fire as a sole trader in 2021, providing passive fire consultancy, inspections and compliance services. As demand grew, the business evolved beyond consultancy to include technical support for passive fire rectification and installation works.

In 2023, operations transitioned to ACL Fire, supporting a broader business model that combined consultancy with plans to establish a regional distribution and technical support centre for passive fire products throughout the Illawarra. The objective was to bridge the gap between manufacturers and contractors by providing both product supply and practical technical guidance to improve installation quality and compliance outcomes.

As construction activity declined and broader market conditions changed, business operations were intentionally scaled back. During this period, Christine began refining a longer-term vision for improving passive fire compliance through better information management and digital systems.

Following a strategic restart in 2025, Christine re-established her consultancy under her own professional name while continuing development of a digital compliance platform focused on passive fire inspections, evidence management and lifecycle asset records.

Christine provides independent building compliance consulting across four principal areas of practice.

Passive Fire Compliance

Independent inspections, compliance assessments, defect identification and technical advice relating to passive fire systems.

Technical Investigations

Evidence gathering, root-cause analysis, technical reporting and compliance assessment for existing buildings and construction projects.

Expert Technical Review

Independent review of compliance reports, rectification proposals, inspection findings and technical documentation.

Compliance Information Management

Development of asset registers, compliance datasets and digital workflows supporting lifecycle building information.

More than six years’ experience in passive fire compliance, including inspection, defect identification, rectification verification, reporting, asset documentation, passive fire rectification and installation works.Founder of Firecode Systems, a digital compliance platform for passive fire asset management and lifecycle documentation.Recurring passive fire inspection and reporting across approximately 870 Homes NSW residential properties.Compliance registers and technical documentation averaging 2,500 individual asset records per building.Project experience across government, defence, healthcare, commercial, hospitality, industrial, education, retail and residential environments.Representative projects include Homes NSW, NSW Police Force Headquarters, Art Gallery of NSW Storage Facility, Royal North Shore Hospital, HMAS Albatross, Barangaroo Commercial Towers, 1 Bligh Street, Darling Square and Novotel Canley Vale.Technical focus includes passive fire compliance inspections, fire compartmentation, fire stopping systems, fire dampers, fire doors, defect investigation, reporting and practical compliance pathways.Information technology background supporting compliance documentation, evidence management, database design and development of digital inspection and compliance systems.

Building compliance should be assessed through evidence, applicable requirements and clear reasoning rather than assumption or preference.

Christine’s approach is to establish the relevant legislative and technical requirements, review the available records and site evidence, then document conclusions that can be understood and tested by others. This keeps the focus on accurate findings, practical rectification and decisions that support safer buildings.

Passive fire systems cannot be assessed in isolation. Effective compliance assessment requires consideration of the interaction between fire-rated construction, building services and the work of multiple building disciplines.

Christine's career in passive fire compliance began in 2019, supporting the delivery of compliance reporting, desktop assessments and technical documentation before progressing to independent field inspections and technical consultancy.

Over time, her responsibilities expanded beyond inspection work to encompass the operational, technical and administrative functions of a specialist passive fire contractor. In addition to conducting compliance inspections, preparing technical reports and developing asset registers, she coordinated with building managers, certifiers, engineers, contractors and project teams to support rectification works and compliance outcomes.

Her experience also includes estimating, procurement, project coordination, compliance documentation, certification preparation and business operations. This broad exposure provided a comprehensive understanding of passive fire systems from assessment and technical reporting through to installation support, rectification and project delivery.

Today, Christine combines practical field experience with operational knowledge, enabling her to assess not only whether passive fire systems comply with legislative and technical requirements, but also how compliance is achieved, documented and maintained throughout the life of a building.

Building Compliance Consultant & Founder

Christine Po (Consultancy) Trading through ACL International Pty Ltd 2025 – Present

Following a strategic relaunch of her consultancy, Christine now operates under her own professional name, providing specialist building compliance services focused on passive fire systems, technical investigations and compliance reporting.

Her work includes passive fire compliance inspections, fire compartmentation assessments, fire damper and fire door inspections, defect investigations, rectification verification, technical reporting and asset register development across government, healthcare, defence, commercial, industrial and residential sectors.

Alongside her consultancy, Christine leads the ongoing development of Firecode Systems, a technology platform designed to improve passive fire inspections, evidence management, compliance documentation and lifecycle asset records.

Founder & Director

F&M Fire / ACL Fire Trading through ACL International Pty Ltd 2021 – 2025

Established an independent passive fire consultancy in 2021, initially operating as F&M Fire before transitioning to ACL Fire as part of a broader business strategy.

The business provided passive fire consultancy, compliance inspections, technical reporting and asset documentation, while expanding into passive fire rectification and installation services in response to client demand.

Developed a business model intended to establish a regional passive fire distribution and technical support centre for the Illawarra, providing contractors with access to compliant passive fire products together with practical technical guidance on product selection, installation and compliance requirements.

As market conditions changed, business operations were intentionally scaled back while the long-term direction of the business evolved toward digital compliance systems and information management, ultimately informing the development of the Firecode Systems platform.

Passive Fire Compliance Coordinator

Pasiv Fire February 2019 – January 2021

Christine commenced with Pasiv Fire providing administrative support, desktop compliance assessments and technical documentation for the Director before progressing to independent field inspections and compliance reporting.

Her role expanded to include passive fire inspections, asset regist er development, technical reporting, defect identification, compliance assessments and liaison with building managers, engineers, certifiers and project stakeholders.

Beyond technical assessment work, Christine supported the operational management of the business through estimating, procurement, project coordination, logistics, compliance documentation, preparation of Certificates of Compliance and coordination of installation activities.

This combination of technical, operational and administrative responsibilities provided a comprehensive understanding of passive fire compliance from assessment and reporting through to installation support, project delivery and regulatory documentation.

Across her career, Christine has been responsible for assessing passive fire systems, identifying defects, documenting findings and supporting practical rectification across existing buildings, refurbishment works and construction projects.

assessing installed work against the National Construction Code, Australian Standards, tested systems, engineering documentation and manufacturer requirementsinspecting passive fire systems, fire compartmentation, fire dampers and fire doorsidentifying defects, non-compliant installations, damaged systems, missing systems and unapproved variationscollecting site evidence, including photographs, measurements, product details and installation recordspreparing compliance reports, defect schedules, asset registers, photographic records and technical correspondencereviewing rectification works to confirm whether identified issues have been addressedcommunicating findings to builders, engineers, certifiers, facilities managers, government representatives and building ownersworking with project teams to identify technically appropriate and practical compliance pathways where standard methods are unsuitable

Christine has delivered passive fire compliance inspections, technical investigations, quality assurance and compliance reporting across occupied buildings, operational facilities, construction projects and government assets throughout New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Government

Homes NSW — Recurring Government Housing Portfolio

Conducted recurring passive fire compliance inspections across approximately 870 occupied residential properties each year over a multi-year engagement. The program involved large-scale defect identification, compliance reporting, asset documentation, repeat inspection cycles and passive fire rectification works, requiring consistent technical assessment across one of New South Wales' largest residential property portfolios.

NSW Police Force Headquarters

Completed compliance inspections within a secure government facility requiring adherence to site procedures and professional conduct in an operational environment.

Art Gallery of NSW Storage Facility

Conducted passive fire assessments within a specialised government asset containing high-value collections and unique operational requirements.

Healthcare

Representative healthcare projects include Royal North Shore Hospital, Wollongong Private Hospital and Shoalhaven Hospital. Work involved passive fire compliance assessments in occupied healthcare environments where fire compartmentation and operational continuity were significant considerations.

Defence

HMAS Albatross

Undertook compliance work within a Defence environment requiring adherence to operational procedures, security requirements and professional standards.

Commercial Office Buildings

Completed passive fire compliance work across commercial office buildings in Sydney and Canberra, including:

Barangaroo Commercial Towers1 Bligh Street74 Castlereagh Street68 Pitt Street231 Elizabeth Street19 O'Connell Street10 & 12 Shelley Street5 Constitution Avenue, CanberraDarling SquareUniversity of Wollongong Innovation Campus

Project responsibilities varied across the portfolio and included passive fire compliance inspections, fire compartmentation assessments, fire damper inspections, fire door testing, defect investigations, technical reporting, rectification verification and passive fire rectification works where engaged.

Major Construction Projects

Worked with builders and project teams on major construction projects across New South Wales, including projects associated with Lendlease, Richard Crookes Constructions and CPB Contractors.

Representative projects include:

WestConnex (documentation)Novotel Canley Vale

The work included passive fire installation, quality assurance, compliance inspections, construction support and technical documentation.

Hospitality

Representative hospitality projects include Pullman Hotels, Novotel Hotels and Mantra Hotels. Work involved occupied accommodation environments, refurbishment works and new construction requiring coordination with project teams and building operators.

Retail and Commercial Property

Representative retail and commercial property projects include Harvey Norman, Aldi Stores, Bunnings and Warrawong Plaza. Work involved rectification and installation works, existing building assessments, fire compartmentation review and fire stopping inspections.

Education

University of Wollongong Innovation Campus

Undertook passive fire compliance inspections during construction, including fire stopping inspections, fire door testing, quality assurance and compliance verification.

Residential

Residential experience includes Homes NSW, apartment developments, multi-residential buildings, social housing and occupied existing buildings. Work involved fire compartmentation, penetration systems, defect investigations, rectification verification and compliance reporting.

Christine’s most significant contributions relate to large-scale inspection programs, complex technical problem solving, high-volume documentation and the development of Firecode Systems.

Government asset inspection programs

Delivered recurring passive fire inspection and reporting across approximately 870 Homes NSW residential properties over multiple years. This work developed a detailed understanding of recurring defects and documentation requirements across large occupied residential portfolios.

Large-scale compliance documentation

Produced compliance documentation and technical registers containing more than 3,000 individual asset records, requiring consistent asset identification, evidence management and quality control across high-volume reporting outputs.

Complex technical problem solving

At Novotel Canley Vale, Christine worked with engineers on a fire compartmentation issue where conventional construction methods would have required significant demolition. After reviewing project constraints and available tested systems, she identified an alternative methodology that supported the required fire separation without reconstructing the existing room.

Independent technical review

Identified inconsistencies between manufacturer documentation and tested system requirements during technical review. The issue was documented and raised with the manufacturer through formal correspondence, demonstrating careful review of technical material rather than reliance on published information alone.

Work in operational and regulated environments

Delivered compliance inspections across hospitals, defence facilities, police facilities, government buildings and premium commercial towers. This experience required technical accuracy, professional conduct and awareness of operational constraints.

Background

Firecode Systems was conceived following repeated exposure to fragmented compliance records, inconsistent asset information, duplicated reporting processes and the absence of a reliable method for maintaining the long-term history of passive fire assets.

Across government, commercial and residential projects, the same systemic issues were observed repeatedly:

incomplete asset records inconsistent inspection methodologies loss of historical evidence poor traceability of rectification works reliance on static reports that quickly became outdated

These recurring issues demonstrated that many compliance challenges were not technical failures alone, but information management failures.

Purpose

Firecode Systems is being developed as a digital compliance platform designed specifically for passive fire systems.

Its objective is to improve the way passive fire assets are identified, inspected, documented and managed throughout the life of a building.

The platform combines structured inspections, evidence management and lifecycle documentation to create a continuous compliance record rather than isolated inspection reports.

Design Philosophy

The platform has been designed around several core principles:

evidence before opinion one asset, one history structured information rather than narrative reports traceable compliance decisions long-term lifecycle documentation practical usability for field personnel interoperability with existing compliance workflows

Professional Relevance

The design and development of Firecode Systems reflects Christine's combined background in passive fire compliance and information technology.

Rather than viewing compliance as a series of disconnected inspections, Firecode approaches compliance as a managed information system in which evidence, asset history and regulatory requirements remain connected throughout the lifecycle of the building.

The platform continues to evolve alongside Christine's consulting work, ensuring that software design remains informed by practical field experience and contemporary compliance requirements.

Christine applies a structured assessment method developed through field-based passive fire work across occupied buildings, operational facilities, government assets and construction projects.

Her methodology produces findings that are clear, technically defensible and useful to the people responsible for rectification, verification and asset management.

1. Establish the applicable requirements

Each assessment begins by identifying the relevant benchmark. This may include the National Construction Code, Australian Standards, fire engineering reports, performance solutions, tested systems, manufacturer documentation, architectural drawings, project specifications and building-specific design intent.

2. Understand the building context

Compliance is assessed in the context of the building, not in isolation. Relevant considerations include building classification, fire compartments, system interfaces, existing modifications, operational constraints, heritage considerations and any performance-based design requirements.

3. Collect and organise evidence

Site evidence is recorded before conclusions are formed. This may include photographs, measurements, product identification, installation details, construction conditions, existing documentation, engineering information and available historical records.

4. Analyse findings against requirements

Observed conditions are assessed against the applicable requirements and available technical information. Where uncertainty exists, additional information is sought before conclusions are documented.

5. Communicate findings and pathways

Reports and technical correspondence explain what was observed, why it matters, which requirements apply and what action is required. The aim is to give stakeholders information that supports informed decisions and appropriate rectification.

Investigation principles

Christine’s investigations are guided by the following principles:

findings should follow evidence, not assumptionrequirements should be interpreted before opinions are formedstakeholders should be able to understand the basis for each findingrecommended pathways should be technically appropriate and practically achievableprofessional judgement should remain independent of commercial pressure

Systems and documentation focus

Repeated exposure to fragmented compliance records, inconsistent asset information and poor evidence retention has shaped Christine’s focus on better asset documentation and lifecycle compliance records. This experience continues to inform the development of digital compliance systems focused on evidence management and lifecycle documentation.

Christine’s technical competency is concentrated in passive fire systems, building compliance assessment, technical documentation and information management. Detailed competencies include:

Building compliance and passive fire systems

passive fire compliance inspectionsfire compartmentation and fire separation assessmentfire-rated walls, floors, ceilings and smoke barriersfire stopping systems, service penetrations, construction joints and linear gap sealsfire dampers, fire and smoke dampers, access requirements and installation verificationfire door assemblies, hardware, clearances, signage, certification and maintenance requirementsexisting building investigations and new construction inspectionsdefect identification, condition assessment and rectification verificationtechnical due diligence and asset lifecycle inspections

Technical assessment and review

National Construction Code and Australian Standards interpretationfire engineering report and performance solution reviewtested system and manufacturer documentation reviewarchitectural drawing, specification and services interface reviewassessment of non-standard site conditions and project constraintsidentification of information gaps, inconsistencies and compliance risks

Investigation, reporting and documentation

technical investigations and defect analysisevidence collection, photographic records and measurement recordsinspection reports, defect schedules and rectification recommendationscompliance registers, asset registers and evidence recordsverification reports and technical correspondencedocumentation structures for long-term asset management and lifecycle compliance

Construction and operational environments

commercial construction and refurbishment worksgovernment, defence and healthcare facilitiescommercial office buildings, hospitality, retail and industrial sitesmulti-residential, social housing and occupied existing buildingsconstruction sequencing, service coordination, building services interfaces and site constraintsworking within live, operational and access-controlled environments

Stakeholder engagement

communication with building owners, builders, project managers, site supervisors, engineers, certifiers, architects, facilities managers, maintenance contractors, government representatives, property managers and strata managersclear explanation of technical findings, defects, requirements and rectification pathwayscoordination with project teams where existing conditions or performance-based requirements affect compliance pathways

Interdisciplinary Building Systems Knowledge

Effective passive fire assessment requires an understanding of how multiple building disciplines interact to maintain the integrity of fire-rated construction and compartmentation.

Through field-based assessment, technical reporting and compliance investigations, Christine has developed practical working knowledge of construction methodologies and the interfaces between passive fire systems and other building services, including:

Wall, floor and ceiling construction systems Electrical services and cable penetrations Electrical segregation requirements where they affect fire-rated construction Plumbing and hydraulic services Mechanical services, including HVAC systems and fire dampers Building services coordination Service penetrations and construction sequencing Construction detailing and installation methodology

This interdisciplinary knowledge supports the assessment of passive fire systems within the broader context of building performance, enabling potential compliance issues to be identified not only within passive fire installations but also where work undertaken by other disciplines may affect fire compartmentation, life safety or regulatory compliance.

Where significant compliance issues outside the immediate passive fire scope are observed, Christine documents and reports those matters to the relevant stakeholders as part of her professional duty of care.

Software, Digital & Information Management

Productivity & Technical Documentation

Microsoft Office Suite Microsoft Excel Adobe Acrobat Pro Technical documentation Digital evidence management

Information Systems & Data

Database design Information systems analysis Business process mapping Relational database concepts PostgreSQL Data modelling Compliance information architecture

Software Development

Visual Studio Code React TypeScript Next.js Supabase SQL GitHub AI-assisted software development

Product Development

Founder and product architect of Firecode Systems, leading the design and development of a software platform focused on passive fire asset management, compliance documentation, digital evidence capture, inspection workflows and lifecycle traceability.

Responsibilities include:

Product strategy Requirements analysis UX and workflow design Data modelling System architecture Feature specification AI workflow design Compliance information management

Education

Bachelor of Information Technology

University of Wollongong

Christine’s information technology background supports the design of digital compliance systems, evidence management and information architecture.

Relevant study areas include information systems, database design, systems analysis, business process modelling, software development and project management.

Professional development

Christine maintains professional learning through ongoing review of:

National Construction Code updatesAustralian Standards revisionspassive fire systems and tested system requirementsfire engineering principles and performance solutionsproduct technical literature and manufacturer informationconstruction methodologies and building services interfacescompliance documentation and asset management practicestechnical discussions with engineers, certifiers, manufacturers and industry specialistsindependent research into emerging compliance issues

Christine is available to provide independent building compliance consulting, passive fire assessments, technical investigations, expert technical review and compliance information management services for projects throughout Australia.

Engagements range from single technical opinions through to large-scale compliance assessment programs across existing buildings, construction projects and government asset portfolios.

e: hello@christinepo.com.au

w: www.christinepo.com.au

VersionDateSummary1.0July 2026Initial publication of Professional Master Profile.1.1July 2026Expanded professional history, refined project portfolio, updated technical competencies and publication design.1.2July 2026Added a dedicated Firecode Systems chapter, refined document structure and strengthened the integration of professional experience, technology development and compliance methodology.