Central Park, Brighton

Project Overview

Scope of Works

Vanguard Fire Protection was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive fire door remediation programme at Central Park, a seven-storey residential block on Preston Road, Brighton.

The works covered 146 fire doors, comprising 63 flat entrance doors and 83 communal doors, including risers, cross-corridor doors, store cupboards, and stairwell doors. The asset contained a mix of FD30 and FD60-rated sets.

All activity was delivered under our LPCB LPS 1197 third-party certification, ensuring full compliance with Approved Document B, the building’s fire strategy, and compartmentation design.

Our team carried out:

• Gap adjustments to achieve compliant tolerances (2–4mm at head/jamb, max 8mm at threshold)
• Installation of firestopping between frames and apertures
• Replacement of damaged or missing intumescent and smoke seals
• Upgrading hinges, closers, and drop seals to tested and certified products
• Functional testing and adjustment of self-closing devices
• Full photographic QA and certification through OneTrace
• Compilation of Regulation 38-compliant O&M documentation

Challenges Identified

The project presented a number of challenges typical for property and facilities managers responsible for high-occupancy residential buildings:

• Non-Compliant Installations: Many doors exhibited excessive gaps (up to 8mm+), missing firestopping, and degraded seals, compromising the building’s compartmentation.
• Access Restrictions: Coordinating access into all 63 occupied flats while maintaining programme progress required extensive communication and flexibility.
• Historic Neglect: No maintenance had been undertaken since completion in 2016, leading to widespread deterioration.
• Tight Timescales: The client required immediate mobilisation following a compliance audit that identified urgent remedial needs.

Solutions Implemented

To minimise disruption and deliver within the client’s timescales, Vanguard deployed a structured, phased delivery plan:

• Mobilised within two weeks of instruction.
• Operated a top-down delivery sequence, working floor-by-floor to maintain progress and minimise disruption.
• Implemented a flexible access strategy, switching to communal areas when residents were unavailable to prevent downtime.
• Coordinated closely with the property manager and residents to ensure smooth access and communication.
• Used OneTrace for real-time QA tracking, photographic evidence, and certification control.
• All works carried out strictly in accordance with LPCB LPS 1197 scheme standards, providing full traceability and third-party certification upon completion.

Key Project Milestones

• Pre-Start: 16 June 2025 – Site review, planning, and resident communication strategy.
• Project Start: 30 June 2025.
• Ongoing QA Checks: Door-by-door verification conducted in line with LPCB inspection protocols.
• Completion: 1 August 2025 – All works finished and certified.
• Final Client Sign-Off: 6 August 2025 – Documentation and certification issued.

Notable Challenge Overcome: Access to individual flats was identified early as a potential programme risk. Through proactive scheduling, clear communication with residents, and coordination with building management, access was secured without delay, allowing all works to be completed ahead of programme.

Results and Outcomes

• Compliance Restored: All 146 fire doors remediated to compliant standards, verified under the LPCB LPS 1197 scheme.
• Fire Safety Enhanced: The building’s compartmentation integrity and smoke control performance were fully reinstated.
• Resident Satisfaction: Works within occupied flats were completed with minimal disruption, and all areas were left clean and tidy.
• Programme Delivered: The project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget, with full certification and documentation provided.
• Client Retention: Following successful completion, Vanguard was re-engaged for additional properties within the client’s portfolio.

Client Feedback

“Going into the project, our main concern was gaining access into individual flats without disrupting residents. Vanguard handled this exceptionally well. Communication was clear, the team worked efficiently, and all doors were repaired as required. The areas were left clean and tidy, and we had no complaints from residents. We were very happy with how the project was managed and will definitely be instructing Vanguard on our other sites.”

Property Manager, Central Park

Conclusion

The Central Park project demonstrates Vanguard Fire Protection’s ability to deliver high-quality, compliant fire door remediation across complex, occupied residential environments.

Through certified expertise, strong resident liaison, and robust digital QA processes, Vanguard restored full fire safety compliance while ensuring minimal disruption.

This project reinforces Vanguard’s reputation as a trusted partner to property and facilities managers who require transparent, fully certified, and efficient fire protection solutions.