Why fire compartmentation is a vital part of fireproofing your property

August 29, 2024
Infrastructure, Engineering & Construction

Leading UK fire protection specialist Trident Fire Protection & Training explores fire compartmentation and how inspection and surveys should be a key part of fire safety in your project

What is a compartmentation survey?

Fire compartmentation aims to prevent the spread of smoke and fire. By subdividing the building, we can protect escape routes and high-risk or high-value areas and prevent extensive losses.

A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment will typically involve a review of existing fire compartment measures

However, the scope of a fire risk assessment will typically not include an extensive assessment of fire compartmentation in out-of-the-reach areas, for example, above suspended ceilings. As such, a detailed compartmentation survey should be completed.

Our expert surveyors can conduct comprehensive, semi-intrusive and intrusive fire compartmentation surveys and deliver detailed reports on the condition of walls and floors, roof voids, wall voids, risers and shafts, floor voids and basements.

The scope of a Fire Compartmentation Survey will typically include the following:

An assessment of the fire separation strategy for the premises or defining the fire separation strategy if not known.
A comprehensive visual inspection of the existing provisions, including fire compartmentation in roof voids, fire doors, floors, walls, basements, floor and ceiling voids, risers, and shafts where present.
The reporting of unprotected structural steelwork within fire compartments may impact the overall effectiveness of the expected fire performance of the building.
The reporting of fire damper omissions within ducts passing through designated fire compartment lines (where this can be ascertained).
The reporting of any damage to fire compartment lines that is likely to reduce the effectivness of the fire compartment.