Blog

A compartmentation survey can have a significant effect on the fire safety of your building or facility. But just what is a compartmentation survey, why do you need one, and who carries it out? You’ll find answers to all these questions and more below.

A fire compartmentation survey is conducted to assess the integrity and effectiveness of fire compartmentation within a building. Fire compartmentation is the practice of dividing a building into separate compartments with fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors to prevent the spread of fire, smoke, and heat. A survey to assess your building’s readiness for fire compartmentation can be very important for several reasons, including:

Fire Safety Compliance

Building regulations often require the implementation of proper fire compartmentation measures. A compartmentation survey ensures you comply with these regulatory requirements, helping to avoid legal and regulatory issues down the line.

Life Safety

Fire compartmentation plays a crucial role in protecting occupants' lives during a fire. Compartments act as barriers, limiting the spread of fire and smoke and providing safe escape routes. A survey ensures that the fire compartments are intact and functional, allowing occupants to evacuate safely and providing firefighters with time to control the fire.

Identification Of Breaches Or Deficiencies

A compartmentation survey can help to identify any breaches, gaps or deficiencies in the fire-resistant walls, floors or doors that may compromise effective compartmentation. It helps detect issues such as improper installations, damaged fire-resistant materials, missing or faulty fire doors or any penetrations that would allow the spread of fire and smoke.

Prevention Of Fire Escalation

Proper compartmentation prevents the rapid escalation of a fire by confining it to its origin and limiting the extent of the damage. A survey ensures that fire-resistant barriers are appropriately maintained, reducing the risk of fire spreading to other areas of the building and minimising property damage.

Protection Of Critical Infrastructure And Assets

Certain areas of a building may house critical infrastructure, sensitive equipment or valuable assets. Compartmentation surveys ensure that these areas are adequately protected against fire by assessing the integrity of fire-resistant barriers, doors, and penetrations. This helps prevent potential damage and operational disruptions.

Risk Management And Insurance Purposes

A thorough compartmentation survey provides valuable information for risk management assessments and insurance purposes. It demonstrates proactive measures taken to reduce fire risks and can help in negotiating insurance coverage and premiums.

Maintenance And Repairs

Over time, fire-resistant materials, fire doors and seals may deteriorate or become damaged, compromising the efficacy of compartmentation. A survey identifies areas that require maintenance, repairs or replacements to restore the integrity of the fire barriers and doors.

Documentation And Record-Keeping

Compartmentation surveys provide documentation and records of the condition and maintenance of fire compartmentation within a building. These records serve as evidence of compliance, due diligence and ongoing maintenance efforts.

As you can see, a compartmentation survey is essential for ensuring fire safety compliance, identifying breaches or deficiencies and preventing fire escalation. It can also help to protect critical infrastructure and assets, manage risks and maintaining fire-resistant barriers throughout the building. In addition, it can be very useful in helping you to provide documentation for regulatory compliance and insurance purposes.

If you would like to maintain the integrity of fire compartments, reducing the impact of fire incidents on occupants and property, and enhance the general fire safety of your building, then get in touch with the team at IFI Group and ask about fire compartmentation survey services.