The challenge
Where things stood
A large property developer approached us about a building that was already occupied but had no clear, documented fire strategy. Alterations had been made over the years, the original design intent had been lost and the responsible person could not demonstrate how the building was meant to perform in a fire. With tightened expectations on building safety, they needed a defensible strategy that reflected the building as it actually stands today, not as it was first drawn.
What we did
Our approach
We carried out a full review of the building, its construction, its escape routes and its fire protection measures, then reconstructed the fire strategy from the evidence on site. Because our fire engineering is delivered in-house with chartered engineer capability, we were able to assess the building against the relevant guidance and, where a simple code comparison did not fit the building as built, apply an engineered approach rather than forcing unnecessary and costly works.
The strategy set out how the building is compartmented, how people escape, how the fire and rescue service would operate and what the responsible person needs to maintain to keep it valid.
The outcome
What it changed
The client received a documented, defensible fire strategy that satisfied the Fire and Rescue Service and addressed the letter of enforcement they had received.