Brief
Concertus was commissioned to design and project manage fire remedial works following non-intrusive fire risk assessments conducted by a third party across various educational institutions in Derbyshire. These included primary schools, junior schools, nurseries, and sports colleges. The primary objective was to ensure the implementation of correct fire safety measures, ensuring full compliance with fire safety regulations.
As part of our commission, detailed compartmentation surveys were carried out, necessitating intrusive inspections by opening up sections of the buildings’ fabric and structure. The purpose was to verify the presence and effectiveness of fire-resistant barriers and materials in preventing the spread of fire and smoke. Our work spanned multiple sites, including, but not limited to:
In total, we assessed fire safety provisions across 24 sites, highlighting the critical role of fire compartmentation in safeguarding building occupants.
Key Info
Project Location:
East Midlands
Project Type:
Refurbishment + Maintenance
Contractor:
Various
Client:
Derbyshire County Council
Project Completion:
2024
Concertus Disciplines:
Building Surveying; Project Management
Scope
Concertus conducted numerous fire risk assesments and fire compartmentation surveys.
Fire Compartmentation Surveys
The surveys involved:
1. Review of Existing Fire Strategies:
o Analysis of prior fire risk assessments and relevant site documentation.
2. Comprehensive Visual Inspections:
o Examination of walls, floors, ceiling voids, doors, glazing, and service shafts.
o Inspection of fire doors to verify proper certification, fit, and maintenance.
3. Assessment of Construction Materials:
o Verification of the adequacy of fire-resistant materials in constructing compartmentation barriers.
4. Identification of Defects:
o Detection of unsealed service penetrations, gaps, or damages in compartmentation lines.
o Review of fire-stopping measures to ensure compliance with industry standards.
5. Actionable Reporting:
o Provision of a clear action plan with photographic evidence and prioritised recommendations to address identified issues.
Result
A key finding from the Concertus review was that the original Fire Risk Assessment had made certain assumptions about key features, such as walls and ceilings, being appropriately fire-rated in their construction.
Our compartmentation surveys revealed that, in several cases, entire walls and ceilings assumed to be fire-rated were not, necessitating upgrades to meet the client’s fire strategies. Additionally, unsealed penetrations were identified within compartmentation lines across multiple buildings, posing significant fire spread risks. Many fire-stopping installations lacked appropriate certification or identification markers, requiring further corrective action.
Concertus provided comprehensive reports for all 24 sites, detailing current conditions, recommending remedial actions, and assisting in prioritising necessary updates to ensure full compliance with fire safety standards.
The findings and recommendations from our inspections had a significant impact on the client’s budget for remedial works and presented operational constraints for building users. However, implementing these recommendations will result in enhanced fire safety measures, offering stakeholders peace of mind by ensuring improved protection for building occupants and adherence to fire safety regulations.
Verifying assumptions made during visual inspections through intrusive opening-up works is crucial in assessing the fire safety of premises. Concertus remains committed to safeguarding people and ensuring compliance through meticulous fire risk assessments and compartmentation surveys.