Our team of qualified assessors have the expertise and experience to carry out the range of fire risk assessments to many different building types including general use residential, care homes, sheltered schemes, hostels, offices and educational and industrial buildings.
The Key Surveys we offer are as follows:
Type 1 Fire Risk Assessment – Common parts only (non-destructive) – A Type 1 fire risk assessment is the basic fire risk assessment required to satisfy the Fire Safety Order (FSO). This inspection of the building is non-destructive. A review of the means of escape as well as an examination of a sample of the flat entrance doors is required, together with taking into consideration any construction made to separate the flats from the common parts and, as far as reasonably practicable, without any need for the opening of any construction.
Type 2 – Common parts only (destructive) – A Type 2 inspection needs to examine the same areas as those inspected in a Type 1 assessment, but some samples are chosen for destructive inspection. The presence of a qualified tradesman may be required to open up the construction for inspection and make good upon completion. The purpose of this assessment is to check the integrity of separating construction through a destructive inspection of a sample of flats.
Type 3 – Common parts and flats (non-destructive) – A Type 3 assessment requires the same work as in a Type 1 assessment but exceeds the scope of the FSO, though it must not in any way contravene the Housing Act. In this assessment of fire risk, the arrangements for fire detection (smoke alarms) and the means of escape must be inspected in a sample of flats. Inside the flats the assessment is non-destructive, but it is essential that the fire resistance of doors leading to rooms be considered.
Type 4 – Common parts and flats (destructive) – Type 4 assessment is the same as Type 3 assessment in scope, other than that it will allow for destructive inspection and testing in both flats and common parts carried out in some sample areas and flats that are selected. It will require a contractor to be present to open up any construction for inspection, and then to make it good after the inspection and testing are complete. As a general note, housing landlords normally only carry out type 4 FRA’s on high risk buildings which tend to be high rise blocks or sheltered/extra care blocks.
The Key services we offer are as follows:
Compartmentation and Separation Inspections – Typically found within the action plan of a Type 1 FRA, a compartmentation and/or separation survey is usually recommended when the assessor believes there may be a breach to the integrity of the structure, but is unable to confirm without conducting a more thorough inspection. Our assessors have the experience and technical expertise to undertake comprehensive and non-destructive fire compartmentation surveys.
Fire Door Inspections – Fire doors are a vital element of a building’s passive fire protection system and should be regularly inspected for damage and ensure they operate correctly. Our assessors will carry out a comprehensive assessment of each fire door ensuring the gaps around the door frame and threshold is acceptable, as well as checking hinge condition and certification, signage, overhead door closers, fire rated glass, intumescent seals, smoke seals, locks, latches and handles. A report for each door will be provided together with any recommended actions.
Pricing and Scheduling Works from an FRA Action Plan – Commissioning a Fire Risk Assessment is only the first stage of securing building compliance; the next stage is how to translate the non-compliant actions into a manageable work stream and understand the financial budgets associated with these. As a business we are constantly passed FRA’s completed by other 3rd parties and asked by the client to interpret the actions and translate into a format that can be passed to an approved contractor for pricing and delivering works. All our assessors are also qualified building surveyors and have the expertise to quantify and convert the FRA actions into a priced schedule of work.
