I think Mr. SA Private Contractor has a few issues by the looks of things. Atleast he has managed to spark some interesting discussion.
As a basic rule, a building or structure large enough to require a FIP/EWIS and Booster installations really should have at a minimum, 2 brigades turning out. As much as you may have a number of flase alarm calls to the premisis, don't forget that some of the largest fires begin as a mere alarm call.
Upon arrival, why can't you have the best of both worlds? Follow the book, arrive at the closest entrance to the FIP. Have the second responding appliance standby at the Booster. If, as some people have mentioned, there is a time lag between the arrival of appliances, there is nothing wrong with dropping the OIC and 2xBA off at the door and then driving back to the booster.(Ofcourse assuming the driver isn't one of the OIC and BA crew)
Trust me, I've done laps of warehouses on 35C days looking for the door to the FCR, it helps to have that appliance pull up as close to the door as possible.
As for actually using the boosters, the ones you'd most often use are the Hydrant booster systems, which as people have already mentioned, boost the pressure of the ring main, or the internal hydrants of a highrise. Sprinkler boosters on the other hand are really only there as a backup incase the booster pumps have serious issues.
Rather than requiring less appliance on scene, it allows you to conduct firefighting operations away from appliances. If you boost the mains pressure from 400kpa to 1000kpa, for example, it allows you to use handlines straight from pillar and internal hydrants. Its a very valuble tool in large buildings and industrial complexes.
On the one hand CFS certainly does need more training in FIP/EWIS and Booster operations, but at the same time its not all that complex and as the local fire service, brigades need to be looking for ways that they can enhance the protection they provide to their community. If you don't understand how to use the fire detection and suppression systems at a given location that your brigade turns out to, then why not try to find ways to be trained. Even if it is just having one person undertake the training from a private provider and then bring it back to the rest of the brigade? Brigades need to take some responsibility for themselves, rather than relying on someone else to blame.
Don't forget that if you isolate alarm zones, shut off sprinkler systems, don't replace broken sprinkler heads or do anything to diminsh the fire protection of a given premisis, and don't specifically notify the occupants and the building manager that this is the case and that they will need to call 000 in the event of fire, you could be looking down the barrel of serious consequences in the event of a fire occurring.
