We sit down with Derek Feeney, Technical & Quality Control Manager at Park West Fire Protection. Derek has worked his way up from installer to technical lead over 20 years, and his passion for the industry is impossible to miss.

Passive fire protection isn't fire extinguishers or alarms — it's the hidden layer of tested systems inside your walls, floors and ceilings that stops fire and smoke spreading and buys precious time to save lives. Derek covers what it is, why early engagement on projects is critical, how their training programme works, and why getting it wrong is simply not an option. From the new Children's Hospital to apartment blocks and office buildings — this one covers it all.

Sponsored by Euro Auctions.

Timecodes

0:00 Sponsor – Euro Auctions
0:12 Introducing Derek Feeney, Park West Fire Protection
0:27 Derek's background: 20 years, starting as an installer
1:13 The Park West team and company culture
2:54 What is passive fire protection? Active vs passive explained
4:09 Early engagement: why getting in at the start matters
5:20 Product selection, technical submittals and approvals
7:23 Test reports and installing to manufacturer's instructions
8:10 Late-stage engagement: the problems it causes
9:13 The biggest risk in any building
9:59 Older buildings and the challenges of retrofit
10:52 Park West's in-house training facility
12:28 Hiring and training new staff from scratch
14:58 "You're too professional" — the story of losing a job for doing it right
17:22 "Somebody from my family could be in this building"
19:00 Spotting fire protection issues in hotels and public buildings
19:21 How much is wrong out there in existing buildings?
20:53 Awareness, tragedy and why this conversation matters
21:19 Park West's work on the new Children's Hospital
22:24 Major contractors: Sisk, Clancy, BAM and expanding into Europe
23:47 Do fire barriers last forever? Maintenance and handover
26:03 What landlords and building owners should have in place
27:40 Concerned about your building? What to do
29:49 The future of Park West Fire Protection
32:29 The industry in 10 years: awareness driving rapid growth
33:11 Fire stopping workshops: how they work
36:05 Getting buy-in on site and changing mindsets
37:45 Would Derek recommend fire protection as a career?
39:26 Looking ahead to ICE Expo
39:37 Wrap-up