compartmentation surveys

Ensuring appropriate fire separation throughout a building is one of the most effective, but often least considered, means of protecting premises and their occupants. Our team of experienced assessors can undertake non-invasive and where required, invasive, surveys to check not only that compartmentation exists but that it is suitable for the circumstances. To meet the legal requirements of the RRO, building owners and occupiers must ensure that the fire compartmentation in their buildings is robust and being adequately managed and maintained.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, organisations must ensure that the 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.”

The objective of fire compartmentation is to prevent the spread of smoke, gases, and flames. By subdividing the building with fire resisting construction, escape routes and high-risk or high-value areas are protected to ensure the safety of occupants and prevent extensive losses. 

A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment will typically involve a review of existing fire compartmentation measures through a sampling approach (walls, floors, voids, and shafts predominantly).  

Sampling can indicate the presence of significant issues, such as locating or confirming the presence of fire dampers, or establishing if existing measures meet the requirements of current guidance or other specific business resilience objectives.  

However, the scope of a fire risk assessment will not extensively cover every area or aspect of fire compartmentation and a more detailed survey may sometimes be recommended.  

What is included?

• An assessment of the compartmentation arrangements for the premises, or defining the compartmentation strategy if not known
• A comprehensive visual inspection of the existing provisions including fire compartmentation in roof voids, floors, walls, basements, floor and ceiling voids, risers, and shafts where present
• An assessment of the condition of elements of structure providing fire resisting compartmentation  and any subsequent defects in accordance with Building Regulations guidance, relevant British Standards, and any site-specific fire strategy information made available
• A clear action plan which outlines the location of defects, supported by photographic evidence, and suggested remedial actions to be taken.