Fire Stopping Surveys for Defence & Public Estates

What buildings do defence and public estates include?

Defence estates include single living accommodation, offices, messes, workshops, stores and training buildings, often of very different ages on one site. Public estates include town halls, libraries, leisure centres, depots, offices and other civic buildings. Many have been extended, refurbished and re-serviced over decades.

Accommodation blocks carry a sleeping risk, and workshops and stores can contain higher-risk activities that compartmentation is intended to separate from the rest of the building.

How do we work within site security procedures?

Defence and some public sites control who can enter, when and where. We follow each site's own procedures: passes, vehicle access, sign-in, escorts and any restricted areas. Arrangements are agreed in advance with the site contact, and our named contact keeps them informed of who is attending and when.

What if photography is restricted?

Our reports normally include a photograph of every observation. Some sites restrict photography in certain areas or require images to be reviewed before they leave the site. Where that applies, we agree with you before the survey how observations will be recorded: for example, approved devices, images reviewed by the site, or written descriptions and plan references where photographs are not allowed. Any change from our usual method is recorded in the report.

How do we survey large, dispersed estates?

Large estates are surveyed as a programme. We group buildings by site and area, agree a schedule with the estate team, and plan around operations, training periods and occupied accommodation. Every building is surveyed and reported the same way, so findings can be compared across the whole estate, and you have one point of contact throughout. Each building is quoted as a fixed fee.

See portfolio survey programmes for how multi-site work is scheduled and coverage for where we work.

Where are problems usually found on these estates?

• Accommodation blocks, where services pass between rooms and from risers into corridors
• Plant rooms and boiler houses, where services have been replaced over time
• Ceiling voids in offices and civic buildings, where data and power have been added
• Roof spaces, where compartment walls should continue up to the roof
• Junctions between original buildings and later extensions

Which legislation applies?

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended) applies to most non-domestic premises, including the common parts of accommodation. Different legislation applies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and our surveys work to it. Where a site has its own additional fire safety arrangements, we follow the procedures it sets for contractors.

We report what we find. We do not grade risk, rank priorities or set timescales; the Responsible Person decides, with their Fire Risk Assessor.