Marshall Fire can provide advice regarding all fire safety aspects of the building design. Anything from; site survey, external wall construction survey, remediation works survey, firestopping survey, EWS1, PAS 9980 external wall fire risk assessment to FRAEW and third party review and survey. This is to help ensure that both the developed design and completed building comply with your objectives, attain an acceptable fire safety standard, and adhere to current, applicable legal fire safety requirements.
Do I need a Site Survey?
Whilst there are no legal requirements for a Fire Surveyor/Engineer to carry out site inspections during a build, it is strongly recommended that a third party be appointed to inspect internal and external firestopping/cavity barrier installations, to allow for an unbiased review of the construction details and assess whether they meet the manufacturers tested installation details and current building regulations.
Site surveys are used to assess that fire safety measures in a building are adequate and comply with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO).
The RRO places legal duties on the Responsible Person to ensure the safety of people in the building they’re in control of, in the event of a fire. This includes checking that the fire safety provisions are adequate and retain the ability to resist the passage and spread of fire throughout their working life.
However, fire resistance capabilities can be seriously compromised if it has not been installed and maintained by someone who has appropriate knowledge of this complex life safety product e.g. a fire door’s fire resistance performance can be weakened if components such as hardware, glazing and intumescent strips are installed incorrectly or not to specification.
It is therefore essential to make sure your fire safety provisions are checked by an expert; site surveys are an efficient way of doing this.
What is an External Wall Construction Survey?
An external wall survey is a comprehensive survey undertaken by one of our Senior Fire Surveyors to investigate the whole external wall system of your building inclusive of balconies and any other external projections.
Along with cladding and associated fixings, the scope of the survey would also include a range of other elements such as reviewing the insulation, various coverings backing structure and related fittings and all firestopping measures. Each of these elements and how they perform together is comprehensively reviewed and reported on.
What is a Compartmentation Survey?
A compartmentation survey is used to assess the fire compartment walls (including doors within fire-rated walls), floors and ceilings within the property and to comment on whether they’re likely to restrict the spread of fire and smoke for the required period, and to ensure tenable conditions are achieved for means of escape and firefighting. The survey is non-destructive but would involve a visually intrusive investigation within concealed spaces (e.g. suspended ceiling voids, raised floor voids, roof spaces service risers etc).
What is a Firestopping Survey?
A firestopping survey is an inspection and report that will determine areas where fire-resisting walls and ceilings have been breached, so the correct remedial works can be carried out to stop the spread of fire and smoke throughout a building.
A firestopping survey can take the guise of two forms which would be tailored to working on either new or existing buildings. Where the buildings are new, firestopping surveys are encouraged to be carried out during the course of the build to review the installation of firestopping products and details, so that suitable compartmentation is achieved and that compliance with the relevant fire safety guidance is followed.
Where a firestopping survey is required within an existing building, the purpose is to review a typical feature to identify defects in relation to its fire performance should there be queries regarding its installation. This could include service penetrations through fire rated construction and their treatment with regards to firestopping, or the treatment of fire rated construction where abutting a structural element.
Do I need a Third Party Review and Survey?
Third party reviews are often required in construction projects. This is because they can support submission paperwork under the Building Regulations, or help you to understand and evaluate a submission that a third party has presented to you.
A third party review may be required where another company has been employed to carry out a specific service where the outcome has either raised further queries that require a more experienced/qualified person to review and advise, or where the outcome of the initial survey has been questionable in relation to the depth of investigation undertaken. Having a third party review carried out can provide clarity on the situation and can be used as evidence to support an opinion/stance.
Our team have experience working on a variety of large and small projects. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your current fire strategy or learn more about our services.