Fire Compliance

LONDON & CO.  provides compliant installations following manufacturer guidelines and tested specifications.
Our services include:

• Fireproofing structural elements
• Installing fire-resistant doors and window
• Fire stopping, compartmentalisation
• Installing cavity barriers
• Inspection and maintenance.

Fire Stopping

Fire stopping is typically used in buildings to prevent the spread of a fire which can cause a life risk to building occupants. Smoke and fire spread is contained by creating fire resistant compartments throughout the building, either horizontally or vertically, which subdivide the building. This can be in vertical risers, lift shafts or horizontal voids across suspended ceilings.

Quite often it is overlooked potential fire and smoke spread through air conditioning systems, and the installation of simple fire and smoke dampers, (electrical or mechanical), at predetermined locations throughout the distribution pipework. Dampers can be an effective solution to help prevent the risk of fire and smoke spread.

Fire stopping, also known as compartmentation, is a fundamental part of passive fireproofing. It refers to the process of filling openings and joints between walls and floors with fire-resistant material, inhibiting the spread of fire between ‘compartments’ within a building.

In addition, it must be ensured that buildings are fire stopped to restrict both vertical and lateral fire spread. This is done by fire stopping all openings and gaps within a building by trained and qualified engineers.

Fire Compartmentation Surveys

LONDON & CO.  inspects all designated fire walls for breaches in compartmentation, focusing on areas outlined in the building’s fire strategy drawings. This includes all plant rooms, service risers, roof and loft spaces.

Surveys are digitally recorded using mobile devices, with each observation given a unique reference. The compiled survey provides an overview of the building’s current condition regarding compartmentation and fire safety, along with recommended solutions.

The Importance of Fire Stopping within a Building

The Building Regulations 2019, Fire Safety, Approved Document B – Requirement B3, internal fire spread (structure) states ‘A building shall be designed and constructed so that, in the event of a fire, its stability will be maintained for a reasonable period’.

Furthermore ‘the building shall be designed and constructed so that unseen fire and smoke within concealed spaces in its structure and fabric is inhibited’.

Fire stopping is required to control the spread of fire using fire-rated compartmentation of a building. Without adequate fire stopping materials in place, fire and smoke can quickly travel through a building, causing serious damage to property and risk to life.

Fire-stopping materials include:

1. • Cement mortar
   • Gypsum-based plaster
   • Cement-based or gypsum-based vermiculite/perlite mixes
   • Concrete. Concrete is highly resistant to heat, and it is non-combustible, so it’s generally considered one of the most effective building materials for slowing down fires
   • Brick. On an individual basis, bricks are extremely resistant to fire
   • Glass fibre, crushed rock, blast furnace slag or ceramic-based products (with or without resin binders)
   • Intumescent mastics
   • Proprietary fire-stopping and sealing systems

There are different types of Fire Sealants used for their individual properties. Firestop Sealants can be silicone, ablative or intumescent.

What are firestops in walls?

Top of Wall: At the top of a wall assembly and floor assembly, a small gap is created that can allow fire and smoke to travel between rooms and floors. Top of wall firestopping successfully fills these gaps with a fireproof compound to stop the spread of fire and smoke.

Quite often below there will be a fire door protecting the escape route but in our experience the compartment wall above the fire door will be non-existing. The simple addition of extended fire boarding or smoke curtains can help provide the solution to this problem.

Where are fire collars required?

1. A fire collar is a type of fire-resistant fitting that maintains the integrity and fire insulating rating of a building element which has been penetrated by building services. This might be required, for example, when walls or floors are penetrated by cables, ducts, pipework.

What is the British standard for fire stopping?

1. A fire stop is defined by Approved Document B as a “seal provided to close an imperfection of fit or design tolerance”, to prevent flames and smoke from being passed throughout a building.

How can London & Co. help you?

When conducting a fire risk assessment room integrity, risers, voids and escape routes must be inspected for room integrity. Quite often we find that contractors have either drilled through walls leaving holes or gaps where fire and smoke can spread therefore compromising the building structure. Sometimes we find these holes have had several attempts at repair by just using self-expanding foam which in a lot of cases is not fire rated. Again, this just compromises the room integrity and whilst it will slow down the spread of smoke the incorrect material will eventually collapse under fire conditions.

We have a small but highly trained team of fire engineers who have a great deal of experience in fire stopping repairs and retrospective small works to ensure the life safety of your employees as well as protection against smoke spread within your building.

We always organise a detailed survey and quotation before commencing any works within a client’s building to ensure there are no nasty surprises or non-budgeted costs.

Following completion of works we always issue certification to show which area has been fire stopped, the nature of the work, and identification of the correct materials used.

Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes it a legal requirement to ensure that fire resisting doors and escape doors are correctly installed, and adequately maintained for them to be fit for purpose.

Fire doors should be checked at least once every six months by a competent person.

A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge. The level of competence required will depend on the complexity of the situation and the help you need.

All fire door assessors at London & Co. have had necessary industry training and qualifications in order to assess the integrity of fire doors within your building. For simplicity the assessment also, asset tags all fire doors within the complex to enable easier identification of each door, its location, and whether is suitable and sufficient or whether its effectiveness in a fire situation has been compromised. For example, this could include intumescent strips painted over, fire doors not closing correctly into its rebate, self-closer not working correctly, fire rated door hinges.

Every fire door is therefore required to act as a barrier to the passage of smoke and/or fire to varying degrees depending upon its location in a building and the fire hazards associated with that building.

Fire Door Installation & Maintenance

LONDON & CO.  assesses existing doors for any damage, defects, and overall suitability. Whenever possible, we maintain existing doors, but if maintenance isn’t an option, we offer replacements. LONDON & CO.  ensures all installations follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and adhere to tested standards

Fire Door Inspections

LONDON & CO.  inspects all fire doors to assess their current condition and compliance levels, covering all door components and identifying any installation defects, including those involving the substrate. Our surveys include communal fire doors and residential flat entrance doors (FED). LONDON & CO.  also offers quarterly fire door inspections in line with best practice guidance from BS 9999 and the Regulatory Reform Order 2005

Experience and Accreditation

Who can carry out fire door checks?

In commercial properties, the Responsible Person may be the owner, landlord or occupier. In shared premises, there is likely to be more than one Responsible Person, and these people must work together to ensure they meet all relevant requirements of the Fire Safety Order. Our team are happy to coordinate these checks as part of the company’s fire safety strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fire Safety Act 2021?

1. The act will require Responsible Persons of multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises to update their fire risk assessment to include an assessment of the building’s structure, external walls, and flat entrance doors.

How do you tell if a door is a fire door?

1. The most effective way to identify a fire door is to check its certification label. All fire doors are required to have a certification label as it acts as proof of whether the doors are tested enough to determine their fire resistance level. These labels are usually found on the top edge of the door leaf.

1. To confuse matters some fire doors do not have a label on them and this is where the experience of our assessor can help you identify whether the fire doors in your building are compliant or not.

Does a bathroom door need to be a fire door?

As bathrooms and cloakrooms are considered low risk, even if they’re fitted off the stairwell in a three story house, fire doors are not required.

Can a fire door have glass in it?

1. While it is not commonly known, fire doors can have glass in them, and glazed fire doors are becoming increasingly popular. Again, fire rated glass in fire doors should be marked accordingly to help identify that the glass used has been tested under fire and smoke conditions.

Can I paint my fire door?

Fire doors can be painted using regular paint, as long as the coats aren’t too thick. This is to prevent anything from reducing the efficiency of the door. For example, if the layers of paint prevent the door from closing properly, this could render it ineffective.

What colour should a fire door be?

Fire exit doors in the UK should have green signage indicating an exit. Fire exit signs are green because this has become the universal colour for “go”. Every fire exit sign should be suitably illuminated via a reliable source of light and if not, should light up.

What should you never do to a fire door?

1. 1. Never lock a fire door
   2. Never leave a fire door wedged open
   3. Never allow a fire door to be blocked
   4. Never remove the self-closing device from a fire door
   5. Paint over intumescent strips or smoke seals installed in the door frame rebate

Do fire doors need intumescent strips?

In the event of a fire, without the intumescent strips, the door would not prevent the spread of fire for half as long, thus putting the residents or occupants of that building at much higher risk of injury and/or death. Fire doors play a crucial role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke.

Passive Fire Protection

• Fire Door Installation & Maintenance
• Fire Stopping Works
• Fire Compartmentation Surveys

• Fire Door Inspections

What we do

LONDON & CO.  maintains continuous communication with leading passive fire protection manufacturers to ensure our clients benefit from the latest tested solutions.
In a rapidly evolving construction sector marked by continuous improvements and technical advancements, LONDON & CO. provides only the most up-to-date and tested solutions.
Services provided:

• Compliant installations following manufacturer guidance and tested specifications
• Fireproofing of structural elements
• Installation of fire-resistant doors and windows
• Fire stopping solutions
• Compartmentalisation services
• Installation of cavity barriers
• Inspection and maintenance

FRA Compliance Accreditations

LONDON & CO.  has been working with residential and commercial businesses and the public sector performing fire protection, construction, maintenance and repair works for nearly 15 years.

• We meet/exceed the guidelines for over 15 accreditations
• 100% of our workers are CRB checked and Health and Safety trained, including the latest Covid-19 guidelines
• Our Fire protection services are comprehensive, covering surveying, maintenance, active/passive fire protection and client training.

Active Fire Protection

• Fire Alarm Systems
• Emergency Lighting
• AOV Installations
• Evacuation Systems
• Fire dampers
• Fire Extinguishers and blankets

What we do

LONDON & CO. provides comprehensive Active Fire Protection services, from design and installation to maintenance of fire alarms, EVAC systems, AOVs, emergency lighting, and dry risers. As a BAFE-accredited provider, we ensure high-quality, compliant solutions with regular inspections, testing, and prompt remedial work to keep systems reliable and up-to-date.

Services provided for domestic and commercial environments.

LONDON & CO. has been working with residential and commercial businesses, performing fire protection, construction, maintenance and repair works for nearly 15 years.

• We meet/exceed the guidelines for over 15 accreditations
• 100% of our workers are CRB checked and Health and Safety trained, including the latest Covid-19 guidelines
• Our Fire protection services are comprehensive covering surveying, maintenance, active/passive fire protection and client training.

Fire Alarm Systems

LONDON & CO. offers end-to-end fire alarm services, from system design through to installation and commissioning. With extensive experience in testing, maintenance, and a proven history of installations across diverse property types, we deliver tailored fire alarm solutions that ensure compliance and safety for every building.

Emergency Lighting

LONDON & CO.  supports every stage of emergency lighting, from design through to installation, certification, and sign-off. We’re committed to thorough inspections, offering monthly testing and a comprehensive 3-hour annual service to keep systems fully compliant. Our team also addresses any follow-up or remedial work identified in these tests, always ensuring reliable and effective emergency lighting.

AOV Installations

LONDON & CO.  collaborates closely with clients and contractors to deliver high-quality AOV installations, inspections, and testing. With extensive experience in AOV installations, we conduct regular weekly and bi-annual testing to ensure system reliability. Our team also provides thorough remedial services based on these inspections, upholding the highest standards in AOV system performance and compliance.

Evacuation Systems

LONDON & CO.  installs EVAC systems in buildings requiring enhanced safety measures, particularly high-rise blocks with a single staircase. Our installations include sounders in each flat, allowing the fire brigade to trigger a coordinated evacuation when necessary, ensuring residents’ safety in critical situations.

Fire dampers

Stay compliant and ensure safety with our annual fire damper inspections, as required
by British Standard 9999:2017 and BESA VH001. Our certified engineers provide expert
installation, inspection, and maintenance for fire and smoke dampers, keeping your
premises protected.

Fire Extinguishers and blankets

We provide a full range of fire extinguisher servicing to ensure safety, functionality and
compliance with regulations.
In line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS5306 guidelines, this
service includes a thorough inspection of the extinguishers, covering maintenance,
examination, and any necessary repairs.
We not only ensure the proper maintenance of fire extinguishers but also offer
replacement for any type when necessary. With BAFE approved fire extinguisher
engineers, we can take care of all your fire extinguisher needs.
In addition, we service and supply fire blankets.

Dry Riser Works

For buildings where the floor is between 18 & 60 metres above ground level, dry risers need to be installed. This is determined by Approved Document B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations (England & Wales).
We provide Dry & Wet Riser Maintenance in accordance with BS9990:2015.
Regular testing is crucial for system performance in emergencies, and our team ensures your risers remain in peak condition.

Specialist Work HRBS

• Sprinkler System Installations, Inspections, Testing & Maintenance
• Automatic Doors and Barriers
• Wayfinding Signage
• High Rise Building Surveys
• Secure Information Boxes (SIB) Installation

• Emergency Response Packs (ERP)

What we do

LONDON & CO.  Specialist Works services cover the design, installation, repair, inspection, testing, upgrades, and maintenance of essential systems, including fire protection, accessibility, security, navigation, and emergency evacuation. This comprehensive approach safeguards people, assets, and the building as a whole.

Services provided for domestic and commercial environments.

Sprinkler System Installations, Inspections, Testing & Maintenance

All our sprinkler installations, inspections, testing, and maintenance services comply with UK fire safety regulations. This ensures your system not only functions correctly but also meets the necessary standards, including Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Regulations Part B.

Automatic Doors and Barriers

LONDON & CO.  specialise in the installation, repair, and maintenance of automatic doors and barriers, ensuring compliance with EN 16005 safety standards. Our work guarantees these systems are installed seamlessly, function efficiently, and meet the highest safety requirements.

Whether it’s setting up new equipment, addressing issues to restore smooth operation, or carrying out routine servicing to prevent breakdowns, we provide expert solutions tailored to your needs.

Wayfinding Signage

LONDON & CO.  offer bespoke wayfinding signage tailored to your building’s unique layout. Whether for residential, commercial, or mixed-use buildings, our signs are designed for ease of use and high visibility.

Our signage solutions adhere to the latest UK fire safety and building regulations, including BS 5499 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, ensuring your property meets the required safety standards.

High Rise Building Surveys

LONDON & CO.  conducts thorough fire safety inspections tailored to the requirements of the Building Safety Act. Our surveys and maintenance services ensure that the existing fabric of the building, fire-resistant barriers, fire doors, and alarm systems are in optimal condition to protect occupants during a fire emergency.

Secure Information Boxes (SIB) Installation

Our secure information boxes are designed to store essential building and safety documents in a fireproof, tamper-resistant enclosure. Perfect for high-risk environments, these boxes ensure key information is readily accessible during emergencies.

Emergency Response Packs (ERP)

LONDON & CO.  can ensure that your building meets UK regulatory standards, such as those outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, with our professionally developed and tailor-made Emergency Response Packs.