7 Questions with Darragh Kirwan

Welcome to 7 Questions with BB7, our interview series where we shine a spotlight on the talented people who shape our business.

In this episode, I caught up with Darragh Kirwan, one of the fantastic Fire Engineers based in our Dublin office. Darragh shares his journey into fire engineering, what excites him about the future of the profession, and his advice for anyone looking to pursue a career in fire safety.

1. What drew you to fire engineering as a career? 

I’d been working in the construction industry and had been on sites for the two years prior to joining BB7. Within these roles my only knowledge of fire engineering came from occasionally seeing fire engineers do inspections on these sites. I was always curious about what they’d be looking at, and it seemed far more interesting than the site engineering I was doing at the time. So after contacting a friend within the industry and hearing a bit more, I knew it was the direction I wanted to go in.   

2. What’s the most challenging project you’ve worked on? 

A large post-primary school here in Ireland. The timelines and complexity of the building made it a real challenge. It was the first time I’d worked on a school with such a distinct design and so many features across different levels, so the fire strategy definitely required a thinking cap.

3. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career? 

Communicate early. So many issues later in a project – from difficult design options to tight timelines – can be avoided by simply having a chat with the client early on, setting out what they need from us and what we need from them.

4. What’s one emerging technology in fire engineering that excites you? 

Anything involving AI. I’ve seen how it has transformed other industries, and I’m excited to see how it can be applied to fire engineering in the future.

5. What’s a common mistake you see in fire strategy designs, and how can it be avoided? 

Usually, doors opening against the direction of escape or, in residential buildings, positioning cooking appliances too close to the escape route. These can be avoided through better communication between fire engineers and clients when reviewing design options.

6. How do you see your industry evolving in the next few years? 

I think it’s only going to get bigger, at least in Ireland. There are more and more fire-related stories in the media, whether that’s about poor construction in years past, actual fires, or the costly work needed to bring poor quality construction up to standard, I think this is waking people up within the construction industry, and I’ve definitely noticed it anecdotally. There’s much more interest from contractors on site in fire-related matters, and many contractors and architects are now asking the right questions earlier in the process. To me, that shows they’re starting to prioritise fire engineering in their designs and works.

7. Any advice for someone considering a career in your field? 

Just to go for it. Whether coming from another construction affiliated industry like architecture or site work, or something completely different, you’ll enjoy the mix of on-site and in-office work. There are so many different types of projects I’ve worked on at BB7 that I’m 100% sure you’ll never be bored, there’s always something new to get involved in.

A big thank you to Darragh for sharing his story and giving us a glimpse into life as a fire engineer at BB7. It’s inspiring to see his enthusiasm for the evolving world of fire safety and his commitment to improving standards across the industry.