Fire Compartmentation Surveys Across The South East

For estates and block managers who need to know whether the walls, floors and service penetrations in their buildings would hold back a fire, and what to do if they would not. Clear findings you can act on, budget for and show to your board, governors or fire risk assessor.

Get a quoteCall 0333 339 7225
Residential corridor with a timber flat entrance fire door and a glazed communal fire door
Digital compartmentation plan showing fire-resisting walls and compartments on a building floor plan

What is a Compartmentation Survey?

A compartmentation survey is a detailed inspection of a building’s fire-resisting walls, floors, ceilings and service penetrations. Its purpose is to check that fire compartments are properly built and maintained in line with the building’s fire strategy, so that fire and smoke are contained if the worst happens.

Our surveys are carried out by people who understand how real buildings are used and altered over time. Whether you manage a trust’s schools, a college, a care home or a residential block, we assess the existing construction to identify:

  • Breaches in walls or ceilings, including around services like pipes and cables
  • Missing or poorly installed firestopping
  • Inadequate construction or workmanship
  • Defects within risers, ceiling voids, or plant rooms
  • Areas at risk of rapid fire or smoke spread

We use photographic evidence and floor-by-floor reporting to help you understand exactly what’s needed to bring your building up to standard.

Elevation drawing showing fire compartment lines through a multi-storey building

Clear, Actionable Reporting

Our reports are written to be used: by your maintenance team, by whoever carries out the remedial works, or as evidence at your next fire risk assessment review. No jargon and no vague conclusions, just a prioritised list of what needs doing and why, so you can plan the works around your budget.

You’ll receive a detailed report that clearly outlines

  • The location and nature of any defects
  • Recommended remedial actions
  • Priority levels for compliance planning
  • Supporting images and site observations
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We Cover

  • Sussex
  • Hampshire
  • Kent
  • Brighton
  • Surrey

Our Expertise

When you choose Vanguard Fire Protection for fire compartmentation surveys, you benefit from accredited expertise:

  • LPCB certified, LPS 1197 scheme
  • Institute of Fire Safety Managers affiliate member

LPCB third-party certificated works. Evidence-led reporting you can act on.

LPCB Certified

We are certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) under the LPS 1197 scheme for fire door inspection, maintenance and repair. Our work is independently audited, not self-declared.

IFSM Affiliated

As an affiliate member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM), we stay close to current guidance and best practice, so our advice reflects how the rules apply today.

Cutaway of a fire-resisting partition wall showing the insulation and lining layers

Why Choose Vanguard?

  • Surveys across schools, colleges, care homes and residential blocks in the South East
  • Trained and experienced surveyors with experience across all property types
  • Fully documented surveys with prioritised remedial recommendations
  • Remedial works recommended only where the survey shows they are needed

If your compartmentation is in good order, we will tell you. Where it is not, you get a clear, prioritised plan for putting it right, and the option of having the same team carry out the work.

Frequently asked questions

What does a fire compartmentation survey involve?

We inspect the fire-resisting walls, floors, ceilings and service penetrations throughout the building, including risers, ceiling voids and plant rooms where access allows. Every breach or defect is photographed, located floor by floor and given a priority, and you receive a report setting out what needs to be done and in what order.

When do you need a fire compartmentation survey?

Common triggers are a fire risk assessment flagging possible breaches in compartmentation, building alterations or new services being installed, taking over a building with incomplete records, and before pricing any firestopping works. For schools, colleges, care homes and residential blocks, where compartmentation is central to the evacuation strategy, a survey is the most reliable way to know the building will perform as intended.

Should a compartmentation survey come before pricing firestopping works?

Wherever possible, yes. Without a survey, firestopping is priced on assumptions and is easy to under or over scope. A survey shows exactly where the breaches are, what each one needs and how urgent it is, so the remedial works can be priced accurately, line by line.

What happens if my building fails its compartmentation survey?

It is common for surveys to find defects, especially in older buildings or where services have been added over the years. You receive a prioritised list of remedial works, so the most serious issues can be dealt with first and the rest planned around your budget. We can carry out the firestopping and repairs ourselves, recorded against each original finding.

How much does a compartmentation survey cost?

It depends on the size of the building, the number of floors and how easy it is to access risers, ceiling voids and plant rooms. Tell us about your building and we will give you a clear quote before anything is booked.

Know where your buildings stand

Tell us about your buildings and we will come back to you with a quote for a compartmentation survey, usually within one working day.

Get a quoteCall 0333 339 7225

Fire Door and Passive Fire Protection Services

Delivered by one team across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire. Every service is part of the ARM Process, so you can start wherever your buildings need it.

  • Cutaway of a fire-resisting partition wall showing the insulation and lining layers

    Fire Compartmentation Surveys

    Detailed assessment of your building’s fire-resisting walls, floors and service penetrations to find breaches that would let fire and smoke spread, giving you a clear picture of what needs to be done to keep compartments intact.

  • Vanguard inspector checking an oak fire door in a residential building

    Fire Door Inspections

    Thorough, certified inspections of your fire doors to support you in your legal duties and to keep on top of any issues affecting their functionality as fire safety equipment.

  • Vanguard engineer fitting a new fire door

    Fire Door Installations

    Certified fire doorsets supplied and installed to their tested specification, from survey to sign off, so every door holds back fire and smoke as it should and suits the building it is fitted in.

  • Vanguard engineer carrying out maintenance on a fire door

    Fire Door Maintenance

    One-off maintenance works and planned maintenance contracts that keep your fire doors closing, sealing and performing as they should, year after year.

  • Cutaway illustration of firestopped service penetrations through a fire-rated wall and floor

    Firestopping Installations

    Compliant, clean firestopping applications to openings of services such as cables, pipes and ducting within fire-rated compartments to slow the spread of fire and smoke, supporting a safe escape in an emergency.

One connected programme, not three separate jobs

This service fits into the ARM Process: we establish where your buildings stand, put the physical work right, then keep you compliant year after year. Start at any stage, you are never committed to the next one.

Assess

Fire door inspections, fire risk assessments and fire compartmentation surveys that establish exactly where you stand today.

  • Fire door inspections
  • Fire risk assessments (Type 1 and Type 3)
  • Fire compartmentation surveys and plans
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Reinstate

Fire door remediation, replacement and firestopping, carried out against the findings rather than a generic scope.

  • Fire door repairs and upgrades
  • Fire door replacement and installation
  • Firestopping installation
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Maintain

Fire door maintenance contracts that keep your buildings compliant as they age, on a schedule that fits your budget cycle and reporting year.

  • Maintain Essential: inspections, gap adjustment, hinge servicing
  • Maintain Plus: adds seal replacement and closer adjustment
  • Maintain Premier: adds filler repair and lock servicing
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