For property managers and building owners, ensuring a building is compliant with fire safety laws is a significant legal and moral responsibility. Fire compartmentation is a cornerstone of this legal duty, acting as a passive defense system that is critical for protecting lives and property. Understanding your obligations and how to meet them is essential to staying on the right side of the law and ensuring long-term safety.
Meeting fire compartmentation compliance in the UK is governed by a combination of key legislation that places a clear duty on building owners, managers, and other duty holders.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)
The FSO is the primary piece of fire safety legislation in England and Wales. It requires the “Responsible Person” to carry out a fire risk assessment and implement necessary fire safety measures. The assessment must consider the building’s fire compartmentation and ensure it is maintained and effective. Breaches in compartmentation are a significant fire risk and must be addressed.
Fire Safety Act 2021
The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarifies that the FSO applies to the structure, external walls (including cladding, balconies, and insulation), and individual flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings. This means your legal duty now explicitly includes the compartmentation of a building’s external walls and doors, which were previously a grey area.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
These regulations, which came into force in January 2023, place specific new duties on the Responsible Person for high-rise residential buildings. This includes providing residents with information on fire safety and undertaking checks of fire doors and other vital fire safety features.
Building Regulations (Approved Document B)
While the FSO covers ongoing fire safety, Approved Document B of the Building Regulations sets out the standards for new buildings and major refurbishments. It dictates the requirements for fire compartmentation and the fire resistance of materials used. Any modifications to a building must comply with these standards to ensure the integrity of existing compartmentation is not compromised.
Meeting these legal requirements is non-negotiable and provides multiple layers of protection.
A common mistake is assuming that a simple Type 1 FRA will cover all risks. This can have serious consequences:
Choosing the right FRA ensures your ongoing fire safety management is based on accurate, verified information. This not only keeps occupants safe but also protects your assets and reputation.
Take Action to Secure Your Building’s Compliance
Don’t wait until an incident occurs to address fire compartmentation issues. Proactive management is the only way to meet your legal duties and protect your assets.
Request a Fire Compartmentation Survey quote today to gain peace of mind and the assurance you need.
This quick, easy form takes just a few minutes to complete. Tell us your building’s key details and upload any existing plans, compartmentation drawings, previous fire-stopping or compartmentation reports, and photos of joints, doors or penetrations if you have them. The more you provide, the faster our accredited compartmentation experts can prepare an accurate, fixed-scope survey quote.
We only work with vetted, insured professionals accredited under UKAS-recognised schemes. Our specialists hold leading certifications such as IFC Certification, BM TRADA Q-Mark, BAFE, and ASFP membership, ensuring every fire compartmentation survey meets the highest standards.
Each quote includes a Due-Diligence Pack, so you can verify credentials with complete confidence.