Example of Hidden Fire Compartmentation Risks
Case Study
SURVEYS | REMEDIAL WORKS | REPLACEMENTS | INSTALLATION
Example of Hidden Fire Compartmentation Risks
About the Project
Fire safety non-conformaties are not always obvious. In many commercial buildings, some of the most serious risks remain hidden from plain sight behind ceilings, inside riser cupboards, above corridor doors, and around service penetrations.
During a recent fire compartmentation project, Meritas uncovered a large number of non-conformities throughout a multi-storey hotel property. This project perfectly demonstrates just how vulnerable buildings can become when passive fire protection systems are compromised over time, often due to contractors installing new systems without correctly reinstating fire barriers.
Challenges and How We Overcame Them
Fire compartmentation is designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke, giving occupants valuable time to evacuate safely and helping emergency services contain the incident. However, every penetration through a fire-rated wall or floor creates a potential weakness if it is not correctly sealed.
Our inspection revealed multiple instances where fire-resistant barriers had been breached by pipework, cabling, ducting, and air conditioning systems without suitable fire-stopping measures. A major recurring issue was the misuse of non-compliant expanding foam around air conditioning pipe penetrations. When compartmentation is compromised like this, fire and smoke can spread rapidly through concealed voids, leading to severe risks:
Reduced evacuation time
Increased smoke damage
Fire spreading rapidly between floors
Compromised escape routes
Greater danger to occupants and firefighters
How We Overcame It
To resolve these hidden dangers without disrupting the hotel’s day-to-day business, Meritas implemented a structured, phased fire compartmentation remediation programme.
Complete Removal: We entirely removed the non-compliant expanding foam and unsuitable lagging to clear the way for compliant solutions.
Phased Upgrades: In several riser locations, Phase 1 works involved installing fire-rated batt systems and sealing penetrations, with additional compound pours scheduled as Phase 2 works for full completion.
Certified Expertise: All works were completed by qualified passive fire protection operatives holding industry-recognised certifications and competency qualifications.
The Golden Thread Audit: The project was fully documented with before, during, and after photographic evidence for every single breach location. This creates a complete digital audit trail of compliance, aligning with the “Golden Thread” principle to ensure building owners can understand, manage, and prove they meet their legal safety obligations.
Scope of Works
Across the multi-storey property, non-conformaties were identified and rectified in numerous hidden locations, including corridor voids above room entrances, stairwell lobbies, riser cupboards between guest rooms, cleaners’ cupboards, areas adjacent to lift shafts, and pipe/cable penetrations across multiple floors.
Conclusion
Buildings naturally evolve over time. The continuous introduction of new infrastructure, such as cables, pipes, HVAC systems, and general refurbishments, can silently compromise existing fire barriers if not strictly managed. Without specialist inspection and remediation, these dangerous non-conformaties can remain undetected for years.
This project highlights why regular fire compartmentation surveys are absolutely essential for high-occupancy and commercial buildings, including hotels, apartment blocks, offices, healthcare environments, and educational facilities. Identifying and rectifying these issues early prevents costly compliance failures and significantly improves life safety.
Contact Meritas &
Speak to an Expert
Meritas combines life safety with long-term structural resilience, offering premier passive fire surveys, fire damper maintenance, and robust remediation frameworks. Ensure your property is truly protected.
Contact our specialist team for upfront, expert advice today.
Tel: 01621 770834
