Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers to all of your
fire safety questions here
Welcome to the Meritas FAQs page, your go-to resource for clear, concise answers about our passive fire protection services, compliance support, and safety solutions.
At Meritas, we’re dedicated to helping building owners, facilities managers, and responsible persons understand how passive fire protection works, why it matters, and how our expert team can support you in achieving and maintaining compliance with UK fire safety regulations.
Whether you have questions about fire compartmentation, fire dampers, fire doors, surveys, or general fire safety best practice, you’ll find helpful information here to guide you through the most common queries we receive.
Fire Compartmentation FAQ
Fire compartmentation is the method of dividing a building into separate fire-resisting sections (walls, floors, ceilings, doors, service penetrations) so that fire and smoke are contained within a compartment for a defined period rather than spreading freely.
It protects lives (by slowing fire spread so people can escape), assists fire services in controlling an incident, and limits structural/property damage.
Across all walls, under floors and ceilings which separate compartments (for example, high risk rooms, between flats, above service voids, around risers) and at service penetrations (cables, pipes) that cross those boundaries.
No — existing buildings are subject to passive fire-protection duties (especially under the Building Safety Act 2022 and related regulations), and remodelling or changes to building use often require reassessment of compartmentation. The first fire safety regulation in buildings was in 1744.
Typical issues include missing or inadequate fire-stopping at service penetrations, voids above suspended ceilings, compromised walls/floors after renovations, fire-doors removed/altered and/or proof of installation methods and/or procedures.
The “Responsible Person” under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) must ensure that passive fire-protection elements remain in good condition, including compartmentation barriers.
There is no fixed national interval for every element, but it is best practice to include compartmentation barriers and fire-stopping as part of regular surveys (e.g., annually) and always when building alterations occur, or every 12-month period.
Penetrations are a weak link in the compartmentation envelope. They must be sealed with approved and compliant fire-resistant materials to restore the integrity of the barrier.
It works alongside fire doors and fire dampers: compartmentation creates the boundary, fire doors control openings in those boundaries, and fire dampers control ductwork penetration of those boundaries.
Failure to maintain passive fire-protection (including compartmentation) can lead to enforcement by the regulator, potential prosecution, and impact on insurance claims. Additionally, this could result in a custodial offence.
Yes — typically, a survey will identify breaches, and remedial works can be scoped to seal and upgrade existing barriers to a compliant system, rather than a full rebuild.
Changes can invalidate existing passive fire-protection arrangements (walls cut, new ducts, altered ceilings), so a new survey is required, and the compartmentation system must be re-verified.
Survey reports, records of remediation work, certificates of installed fire-resisting products, and maintenance logs, all of which support the ‘golden thread’ of building safety information, which is now a regulatory requirement.
No. While high-rise buildings carry a greater risk, compartmentation is relevant in any building where fire-safety measures are needed, especially where people sleep or where occupancy is dense.
Engage with a professional, competent firm (such as Meritas) to identify breaches, assess risk and produce a remediation plan. Then schedule remedial works and embed regular inspection.
Fire Dampers FAQ
Fire dampers are devices installed in ventilation ductwork at points where the duct crosses a fire-resisting wall or floor. They automatically close in the event of fire to prevent flames/smoke from spreading via the duct.
Because HVAC ductwork can act as a fire-path, even when walls/floors are fire-resistant. If dampers weren’t present, fire and smoke could bypass compartmentation via the ducts.
Yes, in the UK, dampers must be installed where ducts penetrate fire-resisting barriers (under standards such as BS 9999) and must be maintained at least every 12 months and more frequently in areas of high contamination.
Often via a fusible link (melts at a set temperature, typically 72 degrees Celsius) or via an actuator linked to the fire alarm. On activation, the damper closes, retaining the integrity of the barrier.
Annual testing is typical; many guides (including a Meritas white paper) state that fire dampers should be drop-tested and cleaned at least annually.
If access is poor, then testing can’t be done, and compliance is compromised. Part of good practice is ensuring access hatches are installed, and dampers are freely accessible for testing.
It varies significantly: large buildings with complex HVAC systems may have dozens or hundreds. Maintaining an inventory is important.
Problems include blocked or inaccessible units, dampers wedged open, non-functioning fusible links, incorrect installation or missing records or insufficient compartmentation surrounding the damper.
Fire dampers protect against fire and smoke via heat-sensitive mechanisms; smoke dampers are a related but distinct type of device for smoke control.
They complement compartmentation by protecting ducts, and work alongside fire doors, which protect openings. Together, they form a holistic passive-fire protection strategy.
A full schedule/inventory of each damper, test dates/results, maintenance/cleaning logs and any remedial works. This supports compliance and audit readiness.
Yes — as part of a remedial survey, the locations can be identified and dampers installed where needed, although accessibility and integration may raise cost/complexity.
Failure to test/maintain may be seen as negligence in passive fire protection; this could lead to difficulties with insurance claims and regulatory enforcement.
BS 9999 (and earlier BS 5588) are referenced in UK guidance, and competent inspection/testing is required.
If a damper fails, it should be replaced promptly, and the building’s fire-risk assessment updated accordingly. Until remedial works are complete, the building’s fire-protection strategy may be compromised.
Fire Doors FAQ
A fire door is a specially constructed door-set (door leaf + frame + ironmongery + seals) designed to resist the passage of fire and smoke for a defined period (e.g., FD30 or FD60) when properly installed.
They protect escape routes, contain fire/smoke within compartments and allow occupants safe evacuation and the fire service to attend.
In multi-occupied residential buildings (especially above 11 m), HMOs, commercial buildings, public buildings, between garage and house, etc, placement depends on fire-risk assessment.
Among them: the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Regulations Approved Document B, BS EN 1634-1, BS 8214 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (for high-rise residential).
Good practice (and referenced by Meritas) is at least every six months for communal doors. For high-rise residential buildings, regulatory requirements under Reg 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations include quarterly checks for common parts and annual checks for entrances.
The door leaf, frame, seals (intumescent and cold smoke), hinges, closers, ironmongery, vision panels (if any) and surrounding wall/partition, all must be compatible as a tested and certified system and correctly installed by a competent professional.
Poor maintenance may invalidate insurance cover, lead to regulatory action and increase the risk of fire spread, casualties and property loss.
Minor defects (e.g., missing seals, adjustment of the closer) may be remedied by repair, but if the door-set is significantly damaged or deviates from its tested specification, it likely needs replacement.
No — fire doors must be closed when needed, unless fitted with an approved hold-open device linked to the fire alarm. Propping open undermines the door’s function and may invalidate performance.
Fire doors provide compartmentation boundary control over openings (doors), while fire dampers manage duct penetrations; together, they preserve the integrity of a compartmentation strategy.
A third-party certification (e.g., for fire-resisting performance) listed test report, correct labelling and proof of installation per the manufacturer’s specification, typically FO30 or FD60.
Common ratings include FD30 (30 minutes) and FD60 (60 minutes) for resistance to fire/smoke; choice depends on building use, risk and regulatory requirements.
All installation documentation, survey and inspection reports, installation records, maintenance logs, certification/tracking of door-sets (especially in high-risk buildings). This supports the golden thread of information.
The inspector checks door leaf and frame condition, seals/intumescent strips, correct gaps at the door frame, closers/hinges operating, no inappropriate alterations or damage, and correct signage/label.
Yes. Having properly installed and maintained fire doors demonstrates reduced risk. Insurers may view this favourably (potentially lower premiums) and, conversely, may challenge claims where critical passive fire-protection (including doors) is absent or poorly maintained.