Compartmentation is the backbone of passive fire protection. We explain what a fire compartmentation survey involves and why every building should have one.. What Is Fire Compartmentation? Fire compartmentation is the division of a building into fire resistant sections using walls, floors, doors, and fire stopping. It is designed to: Contain fire within the compartment of origin Protect escape routes from smoke and heat Buy time for occupants to evacuate and fire services to respond Limit structural damage and support business continuity Why Surveys Are Critical Post Grenfell investigations revealed widespread failures in compartmentation across UK buildings. Common issues include: Service penetrations through fire walls without adequate fire stopping Missing or damaged fire doors Breaches created during refurbishment works Degraded fire stopping materials Incorrect specification of fire rated elements The Survey Process Phase 1: Desktop Review Review of original building plans and fire strategy Identification of intended compartment lines Review of previous fire risk assessments Analysis of refurbishment history Phase 2: Intrusive Survey Physical inspection of compartment walls and floors Opening up of service risers and ceiling voids Assessment of fire door sets (leaf, frame, ironmongery, seals, closers) Photographic evidence of all deficiencies Fire stopping product identification and condition assessment Phase 3: Reporting Detailed deficiency schedule with photographs Risk prioritised remediation recommendations Cost estimation for remedial works Compliance gap analysis against current standards Common Findings Service Penetrations The most common failure — cables, pipes, and ducts passing through fire rated elements without proper fire stopping. Every penetration requires: Tested and certified fire stopping system Installation by competent contractors (preferably FIRAS certified) Documentation and photographic records Fire Door Deficiencies Typical issues include: Gaps exceeding 3mm between leaf and frame Missing or defective intumescent strips and smoke seals Non functioning self closing devices Incorrect ironmongery (non fire rated hinges or locks) Oversized glazed panels without fire rated glass Structural Breaches Holes cut for new services during refurbishment Removed sections of fire rated walls Ceiling void barriers missing or incomplete Duct penetrations without fire dampers Legal Requirements The Fire Safety Act 2021 explicitly requires the Responsible Person to assess: Structure and external walls (including balconies, windows, cladding) Flat entrance doors in residential buildings The Building Safety Act 2022 mandates ongoing management of fire safety in higher risk buildings, with compartmentation as a fundamental element of the safety case. Remediation Standards All remedial fire stopping must be: Tested to BS EN 1366 series Installed in accordance with the test evidence Carried out by trained and competent installers Documented with photographs, product data sheets, and certificates For fire compartmentation surveys, contact Magnus Opifex.