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Fire services

Compartmentation survey.

compartmentation survey
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What is a fire compartmentation survey?

A compartmentation survey examines how well your building is divided into fire and smoke resisting sections, known as compartments. It verifies the integrity of walls, floors, ceilings, doors, risers, and service penetrations, and confirms that fire stopping has been correctly installed and maintained. The goal is to contain fire and smoke long enough for safe evacuation and fire service intervention, and to support compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and relevant guidance.

Why choose Complii?

How we can help.

Protect your people, property, and business. Here’s why we’re the right choice for a compartmentation survey.

Stronger legal assurance

A detailed survey provides evidence that passive fire protection is suitable and sufficient, giving Responsible Persons confidence that duties under fire safety law are being met.

Better life safety and evacuation

By maintaining effective barriers, compartments slow fire and smoke, protect escape routes, and give occupants time to evacuate safely.

Reduced damage and downtime

Containing a fire to its area of origin limits structural damage and disruption to operations, which helps control insurance and business continuity risks.

Clear, prioritised remedial plan

You receive a report with photos, locations, and risk‑based priorities, so you can schedule works efficiently and track progress against compliance actions.

Assurance for complex and higher‑risk premises

Specialist surveyors understand higher‑risk environments such as healthcare, education, high‑rise, sleeping risk, and construction projects, and can advise on proportionate, practical improvements.

A robust audit trail

Digital records and tagged findings provide traceability for internal governance, insurers, and enforcing authorities, supporting audits and future reviews.

Your questions answered.

  • The law requires you to maintain suitable and sufficient fire precautions. While the survey itself is not named in legislation, it is often the most reliable way to evidence that passive fire protection is effective and to close gaps found during a fire risk assessment.

  • A fire risk assessment reviews your overall fire safety arrangements and highlights concerns. A compartmentation survey goes deeper into the building fabric. It inspects the construction of compartments and fire stopping in detail, often accessing above ceilings, within risers, and behind service routes.

  • Expect targeted intrusive checks of compartment walls and floors, fire doors and frames, service penetrations, ductwork and dampers, voids above suspended ceilings, and vertical shafts and risers. Findings are geo‑referenced where possible and supported by photographs and clear recommendations.

  • Some access is intrusive, for example removing sample ceiling tiles, opening riser doors, and checking door hardware. We plan surveys around your operations, schedule out‑of‑hours or low‑impact windows where needed, and agree permits for any intrusive work in advance.

  • You receive a structured report with an executive summary, schedule of defects, photographs, priorities, and an action plan. Timescales depend on building size and access. We agree delivery dates at the outset and keep you updated throughout.

  • Review after significant changes such as refurbishments, new services, or a fire incident. As a guide, align checks with your fire risk assessment review cycle, and commission targeted re‑inspections after remedial works to verify completion.

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Get in touch for a tailored quotation that fits your site’s needs.