FIRE DOOR & FIRE COMPARTMENTATION SURVEYS
​
At LFS Fire Solutions, our commitment to fire safety is unwavering. We specialise in conducting comprehensive onsite inspections of existing fire doors and screens to ensure strict compliance with current legislation. As a trusted BM-Trada-certified company, you can trust us to go above and beyond to guarantee that your fire doors are compliant and operating at peak efficiency in safeguarding lives and property.
Our team of experts is dedicated to the mission of enhancing fire safety nationwide. Whether you are a property owner, manager, or responsible for the safety of a building, we are here to support you every step of the way - speak with a fire door survey professional today.
​
​
FIRE DOOR SURVEYS & INSPECTIONS
​
At LFS Fire Solutions, we understand that fire doors are a critical component of your building's fire safety infrastructure. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to ensure the integrity and compliance of your fire doors. Whether you're looking for a one-off survey or prefer the peace of mind that comes with regular service contracts, we have you covered.
​
Ongoing Regulatory Compliance and Peace of Mind
Our commitment to fire door safety goes beyond a one-time inspection. We provide the option of regular service contracts, allowing you to maintain continuous regulatory compliance. With LFS by your side, you can rest assured that your fire doors are always up to code, safeguarding both lives and property.
​
FDIS Certified Fire Door Inspector
We also have our own qualified Fire Door Inspector under the FDIS (Fire Door Inspection Scheme), who joins a small group of qualified inspectors in the London area. FDIS Certified Inspectors are uniquely qualified to undertake fire door surveys and inspections.
​LFS welcomes enquiries from businesses or individuals concerned with optimising the safety of their fire doors.
​
SECTORS COVERED:
Residential | Industrial | Hotels | Commercial | Education | Healthcare | Leisure | Transport & Infrastructure | Defence
​
CASE STUDY:
Your Partner in Fire Door Safety
At LFS Fire Solutions, we welcome inquiries from businesses and individuals who prioritise the safety of their fire doors. Whether you have specific concerns, require urgent inspections, or are seeking to optimise your fire door safety measures, our team of experts is here to assist you.
​
What is a Fire Door?
A fire door is designed to endure flames and smoke for an extended period. Its primary function is to delay and isolate the progression of a fire. When closed, it acts as a barrier that hinders flames from advancing. This serves the vital purpose of preventing the fire from spreading from one area of a building to another. This reduces the spread of the fire and, therefore, the extent of the damage to the property. It also helps to keep escape routes accessible, aiding evacuation procedures and protecting tenants. In addition, limiting the fire helps firefighting efforts. Consequently, fire doors play a vital role in safeguarding your property as part of its overall fire protection strategy. However, they can only optimally serve their function if properly maintained and regularly inspected to ensure they meet the stringent regulatory standards.
​
Construction of a Fire Door
​
The effectiveness of fire doors hinges on a combination of design features and carefully chosen materials:
​
Intumescent Strips or Seals:
Fire doors are equipped with intumescent strips or seals that spring into action when exposed to heat. These strips expand rapidly, creating a tight seal around the door edges. This vital function serves to block the passage of flames and smoke, effectively containing the fire within a specific area and preventing its spread to adjacent spaces.
​
Robust Construction:
Fire doors are engineered from robust materials that are specifically chosen for their ability to withstand the punishing effects of fire. These materials are carefully selected to ensure that the door retains its structural integrity for as long as possible, even when exposed to high temperatures.
​
SECTORS COVERED:
​
Residential | Industrial | Hotels | Commercial | Education | Healthcare | Leisure | Transport & Infrastructure | Defence
​
​
FIRE COMPARTMENTATION SURVEYS
​
A Fire Compartmentation Survey is a comprehensive examination of a building's internal structures, including walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and penetrations, to assess their ability to resist the passage of fire and smoke. This survey aims to identify any deficiencies or breaches in the fire-resistant barriers and recommend corrective actions to maintain the building's safety.
​
What is Fire Compartmentation?
Fire compartmentation is a crucial element of any building's fire safety system. It involves dividing a structure into separate compartments or zones to prevent the rapid spread of fire and smoke, providing occupants with precious time to evacuate safely and giving firefighters a better chance to contain the blaze. To ensure the effectiveness of fire compartmentation, regular surveys are essential.
SECTORS COVERED:
​
Residential | Industrial | Hotels | Commercial | Education | Healthcare | Leisure | Transport & Infrastructure | Defence
​
​
What’s Included in a Fire Compartmentation Survey?
​
-
Fire-Resistant Barriers: During a survey, our experts assess the integrity of fire-resistant barriers, such as walls and floors, to determine if they meet the required fire resistance ratings. Any breaches, gaps, or damage are noted for remediation.
-
Fire Doors and Seals: Fire doors play a critical role in compartmentation. Our survey includes a meticulous inspection of fire doors, frames, and seals to ensure they are in optimal condition. Any issues like damaged door leafs, missing intumescent strips, or faulty closers are documented.
-
Penetrations: We examine any penetrations through walls and floors, such as pipes, cables, or ducts, to ensure they are adequately firestopped or sealed. Penetration breaches can compromise the integrity of compartmentation.
-
Construction Materials: The survey evaluates the materials used in the construction of fire-resistant barriers, checking for compliance with relevant standards and identifying any non-compliant materials.
Why are Fire Compartmentation Surveys Important?
Regular Fire Compartmentation Surveys are essential for several reasons:
​
-
Fire Safety Compliance: To meet legal requirements and building regulations, it is crucial to ensure that fire compartmentation is maintained and up to code.
-
Life Safety: Effective compartmentation can save lives by slowing down the spread of fire, allowing occupants more time to evacuate safely.
-
Property Protection: It helps protect property by minimising fire damage and reducing the risk of fire spreading to adjacent areas.
-
Insurance Requirements: Many insurance companies require proof of regular fire compartmentation surveys to provide coverage.
.jpg)
FIRE SURVEYS & RISK ASSESSMENTS​
A fire door's fire-stopping performance depends on its upkeep, so your fire doors must be checked and maintained regularly.
LFS interpret Fire Risk Assessments (FRA) and provide recommendations for repair work necessary to achieve optimum compliance.
​
HOW MUCH DOES A FIRE DOOR SURVEY COST?
If our clients have already been instructed by a recent FRA carried out by LFS that their doors need replacing, we will come to your London-based property or premises and measure the doors, screen or glass that you need to replace free of charge. This is an inclusive part of the service when ordering doors from LFS. Our qualified fitters will then be able to provide you with a clear quote detailing everything you need to ensure compliance with the FRA.
​
SECTORS COVERED:
Residential | Industrial | Hotels | Commercial | Education | Healthcare | Leisure | Transport & Infrastructure | Defence
How Often Should Fire Doors be Surveyed?
As fire doors are a vital part of your fire prevention system and pivotal to saving lives, you must have them surveyed regularly. However, the frequency of surveys depends on the door's age and state. In this instance, surveys will need to be conducted more regularly to ensure the fire door does not fail in an emergency. New premises may also require more frequent checks to survey how the fire door performs against heavy foot traffic and business use. This is especially important in multi-residential housing.
​
As a rule, we recommend that you have fire door surveys on your premises on a six-monthly basis as a minimum.
​
Ensuring Fire Safety & Compliance
​
Did you know that three-quarters of all fire doors surveyed in the UK in 2021 were condemned as not fit for purpose? This staggering number attests to the need for regular fire door surveys.
​
The responsibility of ensuring a building is safe and protected against fire risks and hazards is down to the building owner, whether it’s a commercial premises or a residential home. The owner must organise regular fire surveys and inspections to maintain any protective or passive fire solutions properly.
​
When it comes to ensuring your building’s safety, our team of qualified installers will thoroughly inspect every element required by the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) and provide a detailed survey stating which elements require maintenance, replacement and more so you can rest assured you're in safe hands and your building meets and exceeds standard fire regulations.
​
NATIONAL FIRE DOOR SURVEY SERVICES
LFS works nationwide, helping ensure the highest fire safety standards for businesses across the country. We are based in London and have happily served many local businesses, authorities, housing associations and more. But our work is certainly not limited to London, Kent and the surrounding areas. In fact, we are proud to have many happy clients across the length and breadth of the country.
If you’re looking for a team of fire door surveyors you can trust, LFS is the team for you. No matter where you are located, LFS can help you stay safe with fire door surveys (and a range of other fire protection services).
COMPREHENSIVE PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SOLUTIONS
LFS is a UK market leader in passive fire protection, providing a ‘one-stop’ service which includes surveying, manufacturing, installation, repairs, certification and maintenance of fire doors, screens, fire alarm systems and other fire protection solutions like fire stopping services.
Get in touch today to book a fire door survey or learn more about our other passive fire protection solutions.
SURVEY FAQs
​
For more information, find the answer to your queries here in our most frequently asked questions for fire door surveys and fire compartmentation surveys in London and nationwide. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our friendly team for further help in answering your queries.
​
Q. How is fire compartmentation achieved in a building?
Fire compartmentation is a critical element of a building's fire safety strategy and is achieved through several key components:
​
-
Fire-Resistant Barriers: Fire-resistant walls, floors, and ceilings act as physical barriers that prevent the spread of fire and smoke between different sections of a building. These barriers are constructed using materials specifically designed to resist fire.
-
Fire Doors: Fire doors are strategically placed throughout the building and equipped with intumescent seals that expand with heat exposure. They are designed to close automatically in the event of a fire, effectively sealing off one compartment from another.
-
Penetration Seals: Any openings or penetrations in fire-resistant barriers, such as pipes, ducts, or cables passing through walls or floors, must be properly sealed to maintain compartmentation. This is often achieved using fire-resistant materials and seals.
Compliance with Regulations: Achieving fire compartmentation also involves adhering to strict building codes and regulations that dictate these fire-resistant elements' construction, installation, and maintenance.
​
Q. What is the purpose of a Fire Compartmentation Survey?
A Fire Compartmentation Survey serves several essential purposes:
​
-
Compliance Assessment: It evaluates whether the fire-resistant barriers, fire doors, and penetration seals in a building comply with current safety regulations and standards.
-
Identification of Deficiencies: The survey identifies any deficiencies or breaches in the fire-resistant barriers or fire doors that may compromise their effectiveness in containing fire and smoke.
-
Safety Assurance: By ensuring the integrity of fire compartmentation, the survey contributes to the safety of building occupants and provides peace of mind in the event of a fire.
Recommendations for Improvement: If deficiencies are identified, the survey report will typically include recommendations for corrective actions to address the issues and enhance the building's fire safety.
​
Q. How often should I conduct a Fire Compartmentation Survey?
The frequency of Fire Compartmentation Surveys depends on various factors, including the building's usage, changes in occupancy, and local regulations. In general, it is advisable to conduct surveys regularly, with some buildings requiring annual inspections. Additionally, surveys should be carried out when significant renovations or alterations occur that may affect fire compartmentation.
​
Q. Can fire compartmentation be upgraded or improved in an existing building?
Yes, fire compartmentation can often be upgraded or improved in existing buildings. This is especially important as building codes and safety regulations evolve over time. Improvements may involve retrofitting fire-resistant barriers, upgrading fire doors, or enhancing penetration seals to meet current standards. Our experienced team can assess your specific building and provide tailored recommendations for improving fire compartmentation to enhance safety and compliance.
​
Q: What is fire compartmentation?
Fire compartmentation is a crucial fire safety strategy that involves dividing a building into distinct sections or compartments using fire-resistant barriers, walls, and doors. The primary goal is to contain and limit the spread of fire, smoke, and heat within a specific area, preventing it from engulfing the entire structure. By confining the fire to a single compartment, occupants have more time to evacuate safely, and firefighters can effectively control and extinguish the blaze. Fire compartmentation is fundamental in ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants, as it helps mitigate the destructive and life-threatening consequences of fires.
Whilst fire doors and, therefore, fire door surveys play a role in compartmentation, they are only part of the process. You will require a compartmentation survey for a more comprehensive examination of all areas of your building's compartmentation.
​
Q: What is the difference between a fire door and normal doors?
Fire and normal doors are not the same, and the former is specially designed to withstand flames for much longer than a standard door could. A standard food may be immediately engulfed by flames in the event of a fire, especially if made from traditional timber.
​
Fire doors are crafted from fire-resistant materials and are fitted with a seal which prevents smoke from seeping through.
​
Q: What buildings require fire doors?
Fire doors are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties as stated by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This means that all businesses, public buildings and commercial premises should have a sufficient number of fire doors throughout the property and residential flats and housing for multiple occupants.
​
Q: Will a fire door survive a fire?
It is also important to ensure your fire doors are installed in the most appropriate areas of your property. If you’re unsure where these might be, you can get further advice and information from our team by getting in touch.