Fire Compartmentation Surveys
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.
High Risk Residential Building (HRRB) Inspections
New High Rise Residential Buildings (HRRB)s should be identified by the Local Planning Authority and notified to the regulator. Existing buildings in scope should be identified through other means, learning from the MHCLG Building Safety Programme experience.
The tradgic events that took place at Grenfell Tower has shown that 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 within HRRBs to check not only that compartmentation exists but that it is suitable for the circumstances.
A standard survey covers:
- An inspection of the overall condition of the existing fire compartments.
- An assessment of the condition and effectiveness of the sealing of wall/soffit interfaces.
- An inspection of existing fire seals applied to service penetrations through fire compartment lines.
- An assessment of the materials used to seal existing service penetrations/linear joints and in particular whether appropriate fire rated materials appear to have been used and whether they appear to have been applied/installed in an appropriate manner.
- The presence of any damage to fire compartment lines that is likely to reduce the effectiveness of the fire compartment.
- The presence of unprotected structural steelwork within fire compartments which may have an impact on the overall effectiveness of the expected fire performance of the building.
- The presence of fire dampers within ducts passing through designated fire compartment lines. Where dampers are present an assessment of the positioning and fixing methods used was made.
- An assessment of the materials and methods used to construct any dry lined walls which form part of the fire compartmentation.
- An assessment of any specific issues relating to the ability to reinstate fire compartmentation (the presence of items of equipment or services which may prevent access to the required area).
Contact an expert member of our team now for your Free, no obligation, quote.
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.
Contact an expert member of our team now for your Free, no obligation, quote.
Email: brianpeck@firesafeukltd.com
Office: 01323 325 272
Out of Hours: 07534 909 036
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