Passive Fire Surveys

What is required

Passive Fire Survey
The inspection of Passive Fire Protection (PFP) forms part of (or is an extension of) a fire risk assessment under appropriate fire safety legislation:

  •     Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England & Wales) (FSO)
  •     Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
The most important consideration is the verification that the PFP supporting means of escape is adequate. In addition, the legislation referred to above is designed to save lives in the event of a fire but does not necessarily cover the issue of property protection. Building owners or insurers wishing to ensure that the building is capable of withstanding the spread of fire for a period longer than that necessary to evacuate its occupants should contact a qualified Fire Engineer for further guidance.

(Note: Kelburn Risk Management is also able to provide this more in-depth engineering advice).

PFP features are those ‘built-in’ to the fabric of a building to restrict the growth and spread of fire and smoke. They do this by:

  •     controlling the flammability of wall and ceiling linings;
  •     dividing the building into fire-resisting compartments;
  •     providing protection to the structure of the building to prevent its collapse; and
  •     providing protective routes for escape.
PFP products include: fire doors, fire-resisting walls, floors and ceilings, fire-resisting ducts and dampers, fire-stopping, and fire protection to structural components.

Our Approach

    When completing PFP surveys, the following matters would be considered:

    • Lining materials for walls and ceilings on escape routes
    • Fire doors
    • Construction of fire resisting walls, ceilings and floors forming escape routes
    • Penetrating services in walls, ceilings and floors forming escape routes

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    Your Benefits

    The specific format of the Passive Fire Survey report would be bespoke to the client, however it would include the following:

    • Executive summary - including a summary of key findings and conclusions
    • Fire safety action plan - containing a prioritised plan for detailing any risk improvementsFire Risk Assessment - containing a table of risk ratings by subject
    • Protocol - containing the fire risk assessment methodology and risk rating and advice priority definitions