5 Jul 2022

The FPA’s expert surveyors have been conducting comprehensive, non-destructive fire compartmentation surveys and delivering detailed reports for several years.

They are delighted to announce that they have recently developed new technology to significantly improve the outputs for the customers.

New technology benefits

Using a tablet device, the software application enables the surveyors to upload building floor plans which are used to describe the compartmentation strategy, and identify the location of each fire door and any identified compartmentation issue/breach. 

A RAG rating is also included to enable the prioritization of remedial works

Each issue is given a unique ID number on the drawing, which corresponds with the digital survey report. A RAG rating is also included to enable the prioritization of remedial works.

This technology enables them to produce a clear, concise, comprehensive digital report that links any identified issues to the location on the building floor plans. Annotated drawings are provided in AutoCAD and PDF formats, and the report is produced in a useable format so that clients can filter, extract, and import data into their own systems.

Compartmentation survey outputs 

Compartmentation survey outputs comprise:

  • annotated plans of each building floor showing the lines of compartmentation
  • details of each compartmentation breach, hole, and imperfection identified with suggested repair detail
  • a thorough review of all elements of each fire door and remedial actions described using the BM TRADA Accepted Repair Techniques
  • actual or expected damper locations
  • any obvious fire hazards or risks
  • rough order costs for each issue (if required)

This new technology can also be used to carry out fire door inspection surveys as a discrete activity.

Fire door inspections

FPA Director of Operations and Principal Consultant, Howard Passey, said: "We’re really pleased to have reinvigorated the way in which we carry out our compartmentation surveys and fire door inspections through the development of this technology."

He adds, "It offers considerable improvements for our clients as it makes the process of carrying out the surveys quicker, and therefore more cost-effective. The outputs are also more comprehensive and more user friendly, and I look forward to our clients reaping the benefits."