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    Are you confident your building’s compartmentation is breach-free, sealed, and fire-resistant?  

    To ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, your fire compartmentation must be adequate to prevent spread of fire and smoke. This means all compartment walls, floors, ceilings, and doors must be adequately constructed and fire-resistant in order to prevent the spread of smoke and fire from one compartment to another. Fire resistant construction and fire-stopping can often be breached as a result of building movement, service and utility installation, or building works.  

    Our variety of Compartmentation Survey options are designed to assess your compartmentation in accordance with relevant British Standards, Approved Document B of the Building Regulations, and site-specific fire strategy information to ensure all action has been taken to contain fire and keep your tenants safe. We offer surveys tailored to each building and each organisation’s specific requirements, giving you the assurance that your building is fire-safe, no matter the size or complexity.  

    £657,074
    According to the Fire Protection Association, a fire can cause significant damage, averaging £657,074k per incident to both structure and contents.

    60%
    The London Fire Brigade estimate nearly 60% of businesses never recover after a fire.

     

    28 days
    Upon receiving an Enforcement Notice from a fire and rescue service, you have 28 days to address the identified issues outlined in the notice.

    Explore our Fire Compartmentation Services

    9 Compartmentation Surveys

    Assessing and capturing the defects found in fire rated compartments of your buildings, which are normally related to floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows and services passing from one compartment to another.

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    9 Compartmentation Sample Surveys

    Developed by our fire safety experts to address the need for prompt actionable insights following a FRA, a Compartmentation Sample Survey strategically surveys sample areas of a building to provide a holistic view of fire risk, without the need for exhaustive access.
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    9 Bespoke Compartmentation Survey 

    An inspection of specific compartmentation issues in each building, for example, the soil stack, riser, and roof space inspection,  with recommended actions provided.

     

    9Intrusive Compartmentation Survey  

    An inspection of compartmentation measures within enclosures, above plasterboard ceiling coverings, and around door frames, with recommended actions provided. This survey does not include our External Wall Inspections. 

     9Post-installation Survey  

    An assessment of the areas of installation after a third-party company has carried out remedial actions identified by the initial Compartmentation Survey. Providing assurance that the work has been carried out correctly and all issues have been addressed. 

    Get in touch today and we can discuss how we can assist you with fire compartmentation.

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    Compartmentation Surveys 

    A Full Compartmentation Survey is the most comprehensive and identifies and lists all compartmentation defects across the building. Depending on the requirements of your building, it will include:

    • All areas of the building, including walls, floors, and fire doors. 
    • Assesses existing fire compartmentation, fire compartment lines, and structural steelwork within the fire compartment.  
    • Investigates all fire seals applied to service penetrations. 
    • Records the positioning and fixing method of fire dampers, including within ducts passing through designated fire compartment lines. 
    • Evaluates the materials and methods used to construct any dry-lined walls that form part of the fire compartmentation.  
    • Identifies any specific issues relating to the ability to reinstate fire compartmentation.  
    apartment building (2)

    From this survey, you will gain:     
    • A risk rating for your building based on survey findings. 
    • A report of the data collected alongside a draft schedule of remedial actions and outlined costs. 
    • Updated CAD drawings showing the locations of the firewalls. 
    • An assessment of noted firewalls, their location, and classification in relation to a provided Fire Risk Assessment (FRA). For example, information on any missing or wrongly classified walls.  
    Fire-Door-Audit

     

    Compartmentation
    Sample Surveys

    Due to full Compartmentation Surveys only being required for large, complex buildings, a Compartmentation Sample Survey could be more suitable for your organisation.  

    • Based on a minimum of 10 buildings. 
    • Surveys sample areas of each building (including samples of doors), to provide a general overview of compartment defects that are representative of all buildings.
    • Includes recommended actions.
    • Provides a risk rating for the buildings based on survey findings.
    • Significantly quicker and more cost-effective than a full Compartmentation Survey. 

    Key guidance

    apartment floor plan
    Blog 3 mins
    What is a Fire Compartmentation Survey and Why Do You Need One?
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    compartmentation-floor-plan-1
    Blog 3 mins
    What Every Building Owner Should Know About Fire Compartmentation
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    Cover image - Building and Fire Safety Checklist
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    Building and Fire Safety Checklist
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    Why Pennington Choices?

    • Qualified team of experienced fire surveyors accredited by RICS
    • We are part of a number of frameworks and DPS across the housing sector and local authorities throughout the UK
    • Competent service excellence from a values-driven organisation

    Fire Compartmentation FAQs

    What is a Fire Compartmentation Survey?

    What is a Fire Compartmentation Survey?  

    Fire Compartmentation involves dividing a room, space, or storey of a building into fire-resistant compartments. This is achieved through the implementation and maintenance of fire-resisting floors and walls. Any openings or penetrations in the floors or walls, such as doors, windows, or service penetrations, must be installed and maintained to ensure the wall or floor remains fully sealed. A Compartmentation Survey assesses the condition of these elements of construction in providing fire-resisting compartmentation and identifies any subsequent defects.  

    Is compartmentation a legal requirement?

    Is compartmentation a legal requirement?  

    Yes. To meet the legal requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, building owners and occupiers must ensure that the fire compartmentation in their buildings is robust and adequately managed and maintained, where required by building regulations or Fire Risk Assessment (FRA). 

    When is a Fire Compartmentation Survey needed?

    When is a Fire Compartmentation Survey needed?  

    Currently, there is no legal requirement specifying how often a Fire Compartmentation Survey should be conducted. Compartmentation should be reviewed as part of a regular Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) review process. If issues with compartmentation are raised in the FRA, particularly in hard-to-access areas, then a Compartmentation Survey is crucial to provide a comprehensive assessment. Compartmentation Surveys are also essential when serious defects are identified in either the common parts or inside the flats, as these cannot be accurately investigated during the FRA. 

    What does a Fire Compartmentation Survey involve?

    What does a Fire Compartmentation Survey involve?  

    Our Compartmentation Survey options are based on your needs and tailored to each of your buildings. As we don’t undertake remedial works following the Compartmentation Survey, you can be confident that our advice is impartial and reliable to avoid any unnecessary costs. Each survey is meticulously designed to assess various aspects, helping you select the most suitable choice for your organisation.  

     

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