Protecting the integrity of Britain’s buildings
Ensure you’re compliant with Adaston!
Fire Compartmentation Survey
At Adaston, we carry out professional fire compartmentation surveys across the UK. Compartmentation is one of the most important passive fire safety measures, helping to prevent the spread of fire and smoke throughout a building.
A compartmentation survey involves a detailed survey of walls, floors, ceilings, and voids to confirm that fire resisting construction are in place and effective. Our surveys highlight serious defects, service penetrations, or inadequate compartmentation that could put life safety and property protection at risk.
Our expert team works with landlords, facility managers, and contractors to ensure residential buildings, commercial premises, and public properties are compliant with building regulations and best practice standards.
What is Fire Compartmentation?
Fire compartmentation — sometimes referred to as fire compartmentalisation — is the division of a building into fire resistant compartments. This prevents the uncontrolled spread of fire, protects escape routes, and buys precious time for evacuation.
Common features of compartmentation include:
- Fire resisting walls and floors built with approved fire resisting materials.
- Fire doors and fire door inspections to ensure doors are sufficient and perform as intended.
- Fire dampers within ducts to stop the spread of smoke and fire and smoke movement.
- Protected plant rooms, boiler rooms, IT server rooms, and service cupboards.
- Barriers within roof voids, floor voids, and ceiling voids to prevent the spread between compartments.
In simple terms, compartmentation meaning is dividing up the building construction into zones that contain fire for long enough to keep people safe. It is a legal requirement under UK building regulations, and forms part of a building’s fire strategy in accordance with Approved Document B.
The objective of fire compartmentation is clear: to protect lives, occupants, and the building itself by slowing down fire and allowing safe use of escape routes.
Get Your FREE Quotation Today
Our Fire Compartmentation Survey
A professional compartmentation survey from Adaston will check the entire building to ensure effective compartmentation is in place.
Our surveys include:
- Non destructive assessment of walls and floors to locate weaknesses.
- Checks on dry lined walls and other materials for fire resistance.
- Review of service penetrations and areas that are potentially compromised.
- Confirmation that fire resisting construction around ducts, service cupboards, and plant rooms is intact.
- Examination of fire compartment lines and compartmentation lines across the property.
- Identifying compartmentation issues and recommending remedial works.
- Highlighting areas that must be reviewed regularly as part of ongoing risk assessment.
The vast majority of buildings have some form of compartmentation, but without a fire compartmentation survey, it is impossible to know if it will perform correctly in the event of a fire.
A competent person with the necessary qualifications must complete the survey, and our team provides full documentation and further advice where required.
Get Your FREE Quotation TodayGet in Touch
Why Fire Compartmentation Matters
- Life safety – Protecting occupants and staff by allowing safe escape.
- Fire protection – Keeping high risk or high value areas like server rooms and plant rooms safe.
- Property protection – Limiting extensive losses and preventing damage to vital materials and floors.
- Legal compliance – Meeting the legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and Approved Document B.
- Peace of mind – Knowing your building has been checked and remedial works carried out if needed.
Without proper compartmentation, a fire can move through roof voids, floor voids, and other hidden areas, causing extensive losses and putting life safety at risk. Simultaneous evacuation might then be the only option — a clear sign of inadequate compartmentation.
Why Choose Adaston?
Competent persons
Our surveys are carried out by qualified fire safety professionals.
Complete service
From fire stopping surveys and compartmentation surveys to remedial works, we offer a full solution.
Experience
We have surveyed hundreds of residential buildings and commercial premises across the UK.
Accurate reporting
All issues identified are documented, with further advice and costed recommendations for remedial works.
Trusted company
We are known for thoroughness, reliability, and commitment to fire protection.
FAQs
What is compartmentation in fire safety?
Compartmentation in fire safety refers to dividing a building into zones using fire resisting construction. This helps to prevent the spread of fire and smoke and protects escape routes.
What is fire compartmentalisation?
Fire compartmentalisation< is another term for fire compartmentation. Both mean creating fire resistant compartments to contain fire.
What is a fire compartmentation drawing?
A fire compartmentation drawing shows the compartmentation lines in a building. It maps out how fire resistant construction divides areas into safe zones.
How often should fire doors be inspected?
Fire doors in communal areas or commercial properties should be regularly inspected. We recommend periodic checks every 6 months, or more often in high-use locations.
Why do I need a fire compartmentation survey?
A fire compartmentation survey identifies weaknesses such as inadequate compartmentation, service penetrations, or damaged fire resisting materials. Without this, the spread of smoke and fire could compromise life safety.
What happens if compartmentation issues are found?
We recommend and carry out remedial works to make the building safe and compliant. Sometimes destructive works may be required, but we start with non destructive assessment.
Is compartmentation required in security?
Yes, compartmentation in security also exists. In addition to fire safety, dividing a building into compartments can help protect sensitive areas like IT server rooms.
Featured Articles
View All
Contact Us
Adaston provides comprehensive fire compartmentation surveys and fire stopping surveys across the UK, including fire stopping surveys Nottingham.
Whether you manage residential buildings, commercial premises, or public spaces, we’ll ensure your compartmentation and fire stopping are reviewed regularly, compliant with building regulations, and ready to protect lives in the event of a fire.
Contact our team today for further advice or to book your fire compartmentation survey.
Contact usSubscribe
To stay updated with industry news and regulations!
And receive your free fact sheet regarding the new 2022 regulations
