Introducing Modern Fire Protection
Gold Coast-based Modern Fire Protection is a family owned and operated fire protection company that has been providing high quality services since 2015.
Delivering comprehensive, cost-effective fire protection solutions, Modern Fire Protection works alongside its partners from concept design and supply to installation and ongoing service and maintenance for any size project.
Bluebeam should be a non-negotiable tool across all organisations in the construction industry.
Josh Hall
Project Manager
Modern Fire Protection
Recognised as a Certified Supplier for Supply Nation, Modern Fire Protection has developed a range of partnerships with other Indigenous controlled organisations and is focused on the development of a culturally safe and capable environment.
“We are continually striving to increase our Indigenous workforce and the employment of women undertaking apprenticeships,” Bill said.
“Modern Fire will continue to work towards closing the employment gap and to develop long-term relationships between staff, community and stakeholders, based on trust and transparency.”
With extensive experience across diverse requirements such as high-rise residential buildings, shopping centres, major commercial buildings, mine sites and complex special hazard installations, Modern Fire has a broad footprint across South East Queensland. Robina Shopping Centre, Sunshine Coast Plaza, Brisbane Airport, Logan Hospital and Brisbane Racing Club are among the sites that their expert service has helped protect.
A trusted solution
Trust is central in a business where its stock-in-trade is in building safety.
Modern Fire ensures its trusted reputation is backed by accreditations and industry certifications – and that its workers are all suitably qualified in their roles.
Alongside its strong team presence, the organisation is firmly focused on implementing tools that enhance its reputation through increased transparency, accuracy and productivity – including Bluebeam.
Crossing the digital divide
Modern Fire first employed Bluebeam tools in early 2023.
“Before Bluebeam we printed everything out and used highlighters,” Managing Director Bill Hockley said. “It meant that after the bid was developed, the project manager didn’t have easy access to all the information he needed.”
Deploying Bluebeam not only built time and accuracy improvements into the bidding process – it also meant digital information was accessible when projects came to life.
“Bluebeam has revolutionized how we operate – it is one of our foundational tools. Through using its tools we minimise redundancy, boost accuracy and expedite critical tasks – all of which cultivate trust with our customers,” Bill said.
Designing success through Bluebeam
Construction Manager Dan Sawyer implements Bluebeam from the inception of the design process.
“I use it for everything I touch – I live in it,” he said.
“When competing for tenders I am able to save the detailed drawings and all detail that underpins our bid development.
“We then use this detail to inform and develop an accurate project plan when we win the contract.”
Bluebeam offers a plug-in for Revit that enhances the design process by integrating 3D components with 2D drafting annotations. This tool facilitates coordination with design teams and streamlines the development of design solutions.
Managing multiple and diverse priorities with ease
Biggest benefit is to have all drawing markups saved and stored and ready to be shared – this applies from the cradle to the grave with our business processes from tender through to commissioning documentation.
Dan Sawyer
Construction Manager
Modern Fire Protection
Project Manager Josh Hall considers real-time collaboration as key to his successful delivery of multiple and concurrent priorities: “The simple fact is that Bluebeam does exactly what I need it to do – it makes my job easier to do and do well,” he said.
“It should be a non-negotiable tool across all organisations in the construction industry.
“I only agreed to join Modern Fire Protection on confirmation that Bluebeam would be within my suite of tools – it’s that critical to everything I do.”
The key tasks he deploys Bluebeam for include:
- To communicate clearly using AEC-specific tools to markup contracts, drawings, photos, and documents.
- To complete drawing overlays and dimension planning up to scale
- To review detailed planning and information and confirm project delivery requirements.
A long-term Bluebeam user, Hall joined Modern Fire on the condition that the product was a key tool he could access: “I’ve been using it for five years across various roles and it underpins my success in delivering optimised outcomes in project delivery,” he said.
Modern Fire Project Administrator Hanna Greaves first began harnessing the capability of Bluebeam and its tools six months ago.
“I do all of the quantity takeoffs for tender submissions – it’s a critical tool to ensure accuracy,” she said. “It is relatively straightforward to use and quite intuitive – it was easy to self-teach and to build my skills in unlocking the Bluebeam tools as I go. Before this everything was printed out and counted out using a highlighter.”
“Time saving and accuracy has been a great outcome for me – in particular thanks to the search tool capability and categorization tools.”
Looking towards the future
“Tools such as Bluebeam mean we are better able to position Modern Fire Protection as a trusted and permanent force in the industry,” Sawyer said.
“It provides the opportunity to embed better systems and processes and reinforce the foundation of our business as we head into the longer term.”
Bluebeam is a tool that is deployed prolifically among Modern Fire’s project partners:
“When working across projects such as staged medical or shopping centre precincts with multiple partners, we are all able to talk to a common language, so to speak,” Sawyer said.
“These tools enable real time agility and responsiveness – enhancing our professionalism and elevating our position in the industry. It underpins our value and supports our future growth.”
