PROJECTS

We offer a service that is sympathetic to the structural history and function of the building being surveyed. Our recommendations take this into consideration along with the primary concern of 'life safety'. We believe that these historic buildings need to be saved for future generations to enjoy.  Our recommendations will reflect our beliefs and the legal fire requirements in an attempt to develop a fire strategy that will compliment the buildings past but guarantee the highest level of safety for visitors and occupiers.

It is true to say that the number of fires within these buildings appears to be falling. This is part way due to the changes in how these buildings have been designed and used over the past 30 years. Fire safety has been high on the agenda and as a result fire prevention methods covering active and passive protection have been implemented and improved. However, fires do still happen!  As part of our fire risk assessments we check compliance with current legislation to make sure that all that can be done is being done to protect guests and staff within these buildings. We assess means of escape, evacuation times, smoke and fire prevention measures, passive protection measures, fire alarm and detection systems, fire fighting equipment, signage and record keeping. Life safety is our primary concern when inspecting these premises.

As with IT facilities, telecommunications areas are similar in that they also require and consume vast amounts of power to operate. This power can be provided by the grid or from UPS or generator back up. The risk of fire due to overheating is high and as such fire precaution measures must be put in place that firstly provide safety for life and secondly provide a high level of business interruption prevention. We are able to survey these facilities and provide sound fire engineering recommendations that will enhance life safety and reduce business down time. Likely areas of fire are very akin to ones found within an IT facility.

This industry is one of the highest insurance risks. It is accepted that a fire will happen at some stage during the processes of the factory. There are many fire hazards that make this industry one that requires particular attention. Consider the fire hazards that exist in a typical food processing factory:

• • Large quantities of flammable cooking oils in fryers and other hot food processing equipment.
• • Direct heat i.e. electric and gas burners and elements.
• • Oil storage areas. Industrial food production areas
• • Hot fume (smell) scrubbers.
• • High voltage electrical equipment.
• • Extract ducting and heat exchangers.
• • Combustible ‘sandwich’ panel walls.

These represent some of the fire risks you would expect to see being employed within a food production facility. The risk to life is high and we would provide risk assessments to identify the hazards and the risks to persons within the vicinity and the building as a whole.