FireMaster S Fire Curtains at the New Sydney Fish Market

The new Sydney Fish Market is a once-in-a-generation public project, set on the edge of Blackwattle Bay in Glebe, NSW. Designed as a five-storey, state significant development, it combines the bustling atmosphere of a wholesale and retail market with restaurants, cafés, a cooking school, commercial offices and working wharves. Its architectural vision was clear from the beginning: openness, light, connection and accessibility. The building’s expansive atria, voids, and interconnected levels create a space that is not only functional but also welcoming and memorable, destined to become one of Sydney’s most visited destinations. Yet this very openness presented fire engineers, designers and regulators with a serious challenge. How could such a building, with multiple classifications, extended travel distances, and interconnected public areas, meet the strict fire safety requirements of the Building Code of Australia? The solution could not be a compromise that weakened the design intent, nor could it be a generic system that ignored the unique risks of the space. It required a tailored performance solution that balanced compliance, safety, and architecture. Greene Fire was engaged to deliver that solution.

Complex Risks in a Complex Building

The fire engineering report for the New Sydney Fish Market set out the issues in no uncertain terms. This was a multi-use facility with occupancy types ranging from Class 6 retail and food service, to Class 7a and 7b parking and wholesale, through to Class 9b educational spaces. Each classification brought with it different requirements under the BCA, covering everything from fire resistance to egress to smoke hazard management. The biggest challenge was the building’s open design. Large voids and atria meant that smoke could travel rapidly between levels, creating untenable conditions far from the source of a fire. Extended travel distances raised concerns about safe evacuation times, as some areas exceeded the standard Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions. Conventional compartmentation methods, such as permanent walls or shutters, would have fundamentally altered the architecture and undermined the design intent. A performance-based approach was the only way forward.

The Greene Fire Solution

Greene Fire supplied and installed two FireMaster S fire curtain systems, chosen for their proven performance and ability to integrate seamlessly into complex architecture. These curtains remain invisible in daily use, concealed within the building fabric, but in the event of a fire they descend automatically to create effective fire compartments. The FireMaster S curtains installed at the Sydney Fish Market provide a Fire Resistance Level of -/120/-, meaning they can withstand fire exposure for 120 minutes while maintaining both structural integrity and insulation performance. Tested in accordance with AS 1530.4, the curtains give assurance that in a fire they will contain flames and heat long enough to preserve evacuation routes and allow firefighters to operate safely. Integration was critical. The curtains were connected directly to the building’s fire detection and alarm system, compliant with AS 1670.1-2018. When smoke or heat detectors activate, the curtains deploy in coordination with the building’s smoke control systems, designed under AS/NZS 1668.1:2015. This ensures that while mechanical ventilation removes smoke vertically through the voids, the curtains prevent it from spreading uncontrolled across open spaces. Reliability was ensured through redundant power supplies in compliance with AS 1851, guaranteeing the systems remain operational even during a mains failure. Optional safety features enhanced the installation, including audible and visual alerts to warn occupants of descending curtains, and emergency retract buttons that allow people to pass through if they find themselves trapped, before the curtain lowers again to re-establish fire separation.

Meeting the Performance Requirements

The FireMaster S curtains directly addressed the fire engineering concerns identified for the Sydney Fish Market. Extended travel distances, which could have compromised evacuation, were mitigated by creating temporary fire compartments that slowed the spread of smoke and fire. The curtains also addressed Clause C3.2 of the BCA, which requires the separation of openings between fire compartments. In areas where the architectural vision demanded openness, the FireMaster S provided a flexible barrier that could be deployed only in emergencies, delivering compliance without compromise. By contributing to the building’s smoke management system, the curtains ensured that conditions could remain tenable during an emergency. This was critical not just for the public, but also for emergency responders, who rely on a stable environment to carry out their operations.

The Outcome: Safety and Design in Harmony

With Greene Fire’s FireMaster S curtains in place, the New Sydney Fish Market achieved compliance with the stringent requirements of the Building Code of Australia while retaining its architectural ambition. The systems provide invisible yet powerful protection, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the openness of the markets, restaurants and public spaces without being aware of the sophisticated fire protection above them. In an emergency, the curtains transform the building’s openness into a series of protected compartments, slowing the spread of fire and smoke, safeguarding evacuation paths, and buying time for firefighting response. The balance between safety, reliability and design integrity was achieved without compromise.

A Benchmark for Future Projects

The New Sydney Fish Market is more than just a new building for Sydney, it is a statement of what is possible when architectural innovation meets engineering ingenuity. Greene Fire’s FireMaster S curtains were central to this achievement, proving that even in the most complex designs, safety and compliance can be delivered without sacrificing vision. The project sets a benchmark for future multi-use developments in Australia, where traditional fire safety methods may no longer be sufficient. By leveraging advanced fire curtain technology, Greene Fire has demonstrated that performance-based fire engineering can enable architects to realise their boldest ideas while still protecting lives and property. For Greene Fire, this project is a showcase of expertise and innovation, reinforcing our reputation as the partner of choice for fire safety in complex, high-profile developments. The FireMaster S fire curtain has once again proven its ability to provide world-class protection in world-class architecture.