We conduct Passive Fire Compartment Surveys to evaluate the condition and capability of your building’s passive fire protection measures, ensuring they are up to standard and effectively compartmentalise fire.

A Passive Fire Compartment Survey is a detailed inspection assessing the integrity of fire compartments within a building. These compartments are designed to contain fire and prevent its spread, thereby protecting occupants and minimising property damage. The survey typically involves:

Initial Assessment

Review of building plans and architectural drawings to understand the designated fire compartments and their intended purposes.

On-Site Inspection

Visual Inspection: Physically inspect walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and penetrations (such as pipes, cables, ducts) within each fire compartment.

Identification of Fire Stopping Measures: Check for the presence and integrity of fire-stopping materials around penetrations to maintain compartmentation.

Assessment Criteria

Compliance with Standards: Evaluate whether the construction materials, fire stopping methods, and compartment boundaries adhere to relevant British Standards.

Integrity Testing: Conduct tests to ensure fire doors, seals, and other components maintain their fire resistance rating.

Reporting and Documentation

Detailed Report: Document findings, noting any deficiencies or areas of concern regarding fire compartment integrity.

Recommendations: Provide recommendations for corrective actions, such as repairs, upgrades, or improvements to maintain or enhance fire compartmentation.

Compliance and Verification

Verification of Compliance: Ensure that the building’s passive fire protection measures comply with current building regulations and safety standards.

Certification: Issue a certificate or compliance statement upon successful completion of necessary repairs and improvements.

Ongoing Maintenance

Advise on ongoing maintenance practices to preserve fire compartment integrity over time, including regular inspections and repairs as needed.

Regular Fire Door Inspections are crucial for maintaining maximum safety and compliance. We assess the integrity, functionality and installation of fire doors to ensure they perform effectively during a fire incident.

The integrity of a fire door can be affected by its hardware, for example hinges, closers, handles and locks. It can be difficult for those unfamiliar with the standards to determine whether a fire door is suitable, especially for buildings where older fire doors that were previously compliant have been installed and may have been modified or damaged over time.

AB Fire Solutions inspects your fire doors to ensure they will provide adequate protection against the spread of fire. We provide a clear report detailing which doors are compliant and whether any further action is required, looking at the following key details to ensure a fire door is an effective barrier in the event of a fire:

Hardware

A thorough examination of the door’s hardware. This includes hinges, locks, latches, and handles. All hardware components must be securely fastened and in proper working condition.

Seals

Examine the intumescent seals and smoke seals that expand under heat and seal the gaps around the door, to ensure they are intact and undamaged.

Door Frame

Ensure the door frame is properly anchored and structurally sound. 

Clearance Gaps

Check for excessive gaps between the door and the frame, and between the door and the floor, which can allow for the passage of smoke and compromise the door’s efficacy.

Glazing

Ensure fire doors with vision panels or glazing use fire-rated glass which is properly installed and that there are no cracks or damage to the glazing that compromise the door’s integrity.

Signage

Ensure proper signage is installed so that occupants can identify fire doors in an emergency. Fire doors are appropriately labelled with fire rating information and other essential details.