Abodo® Presents / Inside Vaaro® Fire: Rethinking Fire, Design, and Material Innovation

Abodo® Presents / Inside Vaaro® Fire: Rethinking Fire, Design, and Material Innovation NZST 1pm | AEST 11am

Synopsis: This session explores the evolving global landscape of fire safety in architecture and the growing importance of responsible material specification in response to recent fire events globally and the increasing impacts of climate change. The presentation will examine how changing regulations and environmental pressures are reshaping the way architects approach façade and interior design, fire compliance, and sustainable material selection.

A key focus of the session will be Vaaro® Fire, an ultra-durable, fire-compliant* timber developed as a complete coated and tested product range. Extensively tested internationally in both coated and uncoated forms, before and after accelerated weathering, Vaaro® Fire demonstrates world-leading fire performance and exceptional leach resistance for exterior architectural applications. The session will highlight how innovations such as thermally modified timber and advanced fire testing methodologies are creating viable, low-carbon alternatives to traditional old-growth timbers and third-party chemical treatments in high fire-risk environments.

Participants will also gain insight into the thermal modification process, wildfire resilience strategies, and the comprehensive international testing standards used to validate timber performance, including Type A, Group 1-S (Interior) in New Zealand, BAL 29, Group 1 (Interior) in Australia, EN16755:2017. EN16755:2017 classifications in the EU/UK and ASTM E84 Class A testing in the United States.

After the main session, stay for our “Where Fire Compliance Meets Reality” roundtable. Experts in their field, Simon McClean (Cheshire Architects) and Martin Feeney (Holmes Group) together with Ben Campbell and Sarah Buckley from Abodo, will unpack the real-world gap between documented fire compliance and what gets delivered on projects.

Key Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Understand the global context for fire safety and how major incidents (e.g., Grenfell Tower) have shaped building regulations worldwide.
• Identify regulatory measures influencing responsible material selection in architectural practice.
• Gain knowledge of sustainable timber alternatives, carbon reduction benefits, and the role of forestry in environmental stewardship.
• Comprehend the thermal modification process and its impact on timber durability, stability, and safety.
• Evaluate timber solutions as viable responses to wildfire and climate change challenges.
• Understand the comprehensive fire testing methodologies, used to validate the performance, durability, and chemical stability of timber in architectural applications.

*Abodo’s Vaaro has been tested to and has achieved AS/NZS 3837:1998 Type A and ISO 9705:2003 Group 1-S (NZ), AS 3959:2018 BAL29 and AS 5637.1:2015 Group 1 (AU), B-s2, d0 (LVG) / B-s1, d0 (Flatsawn) (EN 13501-1:2018) DRF EXT INT1 INT2 (EN 16755:2017) (UK+EU), and ASTM E84 Class A (USA) fire compliance standards.

Speaker BIOs:

Ben Campbell | Head of Innovation | Abodo Wood. Based in Auckland, Ben works at the intersection of material performance, buildability, and sustainability, supporting architects with solutions that balance aesthetics, durability, and long‑term compliance. His role spans research and development, technical strategy, and close collaboration with manufacturing, commercial and specification teams to bring rigorously tested timber systems to market. Ben has been involved in the timber and building products sector for over 20 years, specifying and delivering sustainable timber solutions to numerous multi-million-dollar projects in New Zealand and worldwide. Through design-led thinking, user insights and rigorous testing, Ben and the Abodo team continue to lead the field in the creation of breakthrough architectural timber solutions.

Sarah Buckley | National Sales and Specification Manager - New Zealand | Abodo Wood. With 19 years of experience in the building industry, Sarah began her career as an architectural designer before transitioning into sales and specification management. Passionate about innovation and healthier building practices, Sarah is dedicated to educating designers and builders on the impact of their material choices, helping to shape a more sustainable and informed future for the industry.

Simon McClean | Principal and Project Leader | Cheshire Architects with extensive experience in design and construction management, having spent several years working in London before joining the studio in 2007. Known for his calm and considered approach to complex projects, Simon provides strong leadership across both architectural design and project delivery. He led the delivery of the award-winning Q Theatre, successfully navigating a highly ambitious and multifaceted brief within a constrained urban site. His expertise spans theatrical, commercial, hospitality, mixed-use, and residential developments, with notable projects including Catalina Bay, Tantalus Estate and Winery on Waiheke Island, Heritage Offices Britomart, and large-scale apartment developments. More recently, Simon has focused on the residential sector, fostering strong client relationships to create thoughtful and enduring architecture.

Martin Feeney | Principal and Senior Fire Engineer BE(Civil), MEFireE CPEng, IntPE, DistFEngNZ, FSFPE | Holmes Martin Feeney is a Principal and Senior Fire Engineer with consulting engineering firm Holmes. He holds a Bachelors degree in structural engineering from University of Auckland and a Masters degree in Fire Engineering from the University of Canterbury. During his 42 years of consulting engineering he has practised as a structural engineer and fire engineer and has developed specialist expertise in performance-based fire safety design.

He is passionate about performance-based design generally and has a particular interest in developing fire safety concepts for complex projects. He has prepared performance-based fire safety solutions for a wide range of building types, including office buildings, apartment buildings, hospitals, shopping centres and public assembly buildings. His specialist interest is in the assessment of structural performance in fire. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer in New Zealand, a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, a Distinguished Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and a Past President of the SFPE New Zealand Chapter.

Hosted by Teulo CPD platform on behalf of Abodo Wood. NZRAB: 10 CPD - 5 Documentation, 5 Project Management | Australian CPD: 1 Formal CPD | BC | Canada | USA: 1 Hour Structured Continuing Education (1 Learning Unit)

Abodo® creates New Growth™ feature timbers that rival old growth options, preserving the ancient forests the planet depends on. Crafted from rapidly renewable, sustainably managed forests, our timbers deliver the beauty, durability, and performance you need – without compromise.