Understanding the Difference: Fire Risk Assessment, Compartment Survey, and Fire Door Inspection
In the realm of fire safety, ensuring that a building is well-protected against the spread of fire and smoke is paramount.
However, not all fire safety measures or assessments cover the same areas of concern. When it comes to maintaining a solid compartmentation strategy, several key evaluations are necessary, each with its distinct role. Here, we’ll dive into the differences between a Fire Risk Assessment, a Compartment Survey, and a Fire Door Inspection—and why each of them is essential for comprehensive fire safety.
1. Fire Risk Assessment (FRA)
A Fire Risk Assessment is often the starting point for evaluating the fire safety of a building. This assessment is typically mandated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in the UK and is a legal requirement for most types of premises. However, it’s important to understand that an FRA provides an overview of fire risks and general safety precautions but may not dive deeply into each individual element of passive fire protection.
Purpose of a Fire Risk Assessment
The primary goal of an FRA is to:
Identify potential fire hazards.
Evaluate the risk level to people within the building.
Determine the adequacy of existing fire safety measures.
Recommend actions to mitigate identified risks.
Limitations of a Fire Risk Assessment
An FRA can indicate problem areas in a building’s fire safety but is often limited to highlighting examples of issues rather than conducting exhaustive evaluations of every fire protection element. For instance:
It might flag areas where compartmentation may be compromised but won’t necessarily cover the full extent of these breaches.
It can identify the need for fire door inspections but doesn’t delve into individual door performance.
It highlights general weaknesses in firestopping but won’t include a thorough inspection of all firestopping seals and penetrations.
In short, an FRA gives a broad assessment but lacks the in-depth analysis of each fire safety component that specialists like fire compartment surveyors and fire door inspectors provide. To ensure the building’s fire protection is robust, specialist investigations of passive fire protection elements are needed.
2. Compartment Survey
While a Fire Risk Assessment might note areas of compromised compartmentation, a Compartment Survey is a much more specialised assessment. Compartmentation is a crucial element of passive fire protection, aiming to limit the spread of fire and smoke to designated areas of a building, thereby containing a fire to its point of origin for as long as possible.
Purpose of a Compartment Survey
A Compartment Survey provides a detailed evaluation of the integrity of fire-rated compartments within a building. This includes walls, floors, ceilings, and any other structural elements intended to prevent fire spread.
In a Compartment Survey, our inspectors will:
Verify that all fire compartments are intact and compliant with building and fire codes.
Identify breaches in compartment walls caused by openings, service penetrations, or faulty firestopping.
Document all compromised areas that require remedial action to restore the compartment’s fire resistance.
Why a Compartment Survey is Essential
Without a thorough Compartment Survey, building managers cannot be confident that each compartment performs as intended. Fire compartments can be compromised by new service installations, renovations, or wear and tear over time, leading to unseen breaches that may allow fire and smoke to spread unchecked.
In addition, many buildings contain hidden or hard-to-access compartments that are not covered in a standard Fire Risk Assessment. A Compartment Survey is crucial for highlighting specific weaknesses and ensuring that any breaches are addressed to maintain a robust fire barrier throughout the building.
3. Fire Door Inspection
Fire doors play a critical role in compartmentation by providing barriers that prevent the passage of fire and smoke through doorways. However, for fire doors to be effective, they must meet specific standards and be maintained correctly. A Fire Door Inspection focuses exclusively on the condition and performance of fire doors within the building.
Purpose of a Fire Door Inspection
A Fire Door Inspection assesses whether each fire door:
Meets the required fire resistance rating for its location.
Is correctly installed and aligned with the door frame.
Has compliant hardware, such as closers, seals, and latches, that operate effectively.
Remains free from damage or defects that could affect its performance during a fire.
Inspectors will review all elements of a fire door, including the door leaf, frame, intumescent seals, glazing (if applicable), hinges, and signage. Each component is essential to ensuring that the door will perform as intended, holding back fire and smoke for a designated period.
Why Regular Fire Door Inspections are Vital
Unlike general doors, fire doors must be meticulously maintained and routinely inspected to ensure compliance and functionality. Over time, fire doors can experience damage, wear, or misuse that compromises their effectiveness. For instance, if a fire door closer malfunctions, the door may not close properly, which could render the door useless in containing smoke and flames.
Furthermore, fire doors in high-use areas, such as building entrances or high-traffic corridors, should be checked more frequently due to the increased likelihood of damage or wear. Regular Fire Door Inspections ensure that each door meets the required standards and will function effectively in the event of a fire.
Why Each Assessment is Essential for Comprehensive Fire Safety
Fire Risk Assessments, Compartment Surveys, and Fire Door Inspections each play a unique role in a building’s fire safety strategy. While a Fire Risk Assessment offers a general overview and identifies potential issues, it doesn’t go into the depth required to confirm the functionality and compliance of each passive fire protection element. Specialist assessments—like Compartment Surveys and Fire Door Inspections—ensure that each component meets regulatory standards and functions as intended.
In summary:
Fire Risk Assessment provides a high-level overview of fire risks but may miss detailed compartmentation or fire door issues.
Compartment Survey ensures that all structural fire barriers are intact, identifying breaches that could compromise compartmentation.
Fire Door Inspection guarantees that fire doors meet performance standards, reducing the risk of fire spread through doorways.
How Vanguard Can Help
At Vanguard, we specialise in all aspects of passive fire protection, including comprehensive Compartment Surveys, and Fire Door Inspections as well as installation and maintenance of fire doors and firestopping. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping property manager, contract managers and facilities managers across the south east achieve complete compliance with fire safety regulations, from initial assessments to ongoing maintenance.
By partnering with Vanguard, you can have peace of mind knowing that your building is fully protected with solid compartmentation and well-maintained fire doors. Contact us today to discuss your fire safety needs and ensure your building remains secure and compliant.
0333 339 7225