Is a fire compartmentation survey a legal requirement?

No, the law does not name a fire compartmentation survey as a requirement, but the responsible person’s duties can make one necessary. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires them to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and review it regularly. They must also keep the premises and fire precautions in good repair, which in practice covers the fire-resisting walls, floors and seals that form compartmentation.

A standard fire risk assessment usually checks compartmentation by sampling, so it may not look above ceilings or inside risers. If the assessment raises concerns, or the condition of the fire stopping is in doubt, a survey is the practical way to find and record what needs fixing. No fixed interval applies, so your fire risk assessment review is the place for that decision. Our fire compartmentation surveys are carried out by FIRAS-certified surveyors, who record where fire stopping or fire-resisting construction has failed and what each defect needs.