Fire compartmentation is the subdivision of buildings into manageable areas of risk, in order to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, and to provide adequate means of escape.
It is a prerequisite of the Fire Security Order that the ‘responsible person’ guarantees secure means of escape are accessible at all times. A fire risk assessment will ordinarily not incorporate an extensive assessment of fire compartmentation in out-of-reach areas, for example over suspended ceilings. Therefore, a detailed compartmentation study needs to be done.
Guaranteeing suitable fire partition throughout a building is one of the most effective, but not often considered, means of protecting premises and their tenants. Our experienced assessors undertake non-invasive overviews, and invasive where needed, to check not only that compartmentation exists, but that it is appropriate for the circumstances. To meet the legal prerequisites of the RRO, building proprietors and occupiers must guarantee that the fire compartmentation in their buildings is vigorous and being satisfactorily overseen and maintained.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states all organisations must ensure that fire protection components within a building are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
We will help you achieve passive fire protection compliance with a range of options. Our services span from formulating specifications at the design stage to on-site inspections at completion. In existing buildings we can assist with the creation of fire strategy drawings, or detailed on-site inspection of fire walls and fire doors.