How it works
How a compartmentation survey works
Book a fire compartmentation survey or a fire risk assessment and a specialist attends your building, checks the fabric and records what they find. The steps below cover what happens from the point of booking through to the paperwork you hold at the end.
A compartmentation survey follows the same stages on every property, from the initial booking to the written report.
Choose your service
Decide whether you need a fire compartmentation survey, a fire risk assessment, or both. Fire compartmentation surveys examine how well a building is divided into fire-resisting sections. Fire risk assessments look at the broader fire safety picture for the premises. Each is booked at its listed price on this site.
Book online
Select the service you need and complete the booking. Give the full address, the building type, the number of storeys, and roughly how many people occupy the building. Note any areas that are difficult to access, such as ceiling voids, risers or plant rooms, and say whether the building is occupied during the day.
The specialist contacts you
A specialist will call or write to confirm the visit date and work through access arrangements. If a loft hatch is behind stored items, a riser cupboard is locked, or a section of ceiling void requires notice to open, say so at this point. The specialist will also say how long to allow on the day, based on the size and layout of the building.
The survey visit
On the day, the specialist works through the building systematically, checking fire doors, frames and seals, penetrations through fire-resisting walls and floors, intumescent products, cavity barriers and any areas where fire-stopping has been disturbed or is absent. Every junction, void and service penetration that can be reached is recorded. Where an area cannot be accessed, that is noted too.
The written report
Once the visit is complete, a written report is produced. It records which elements were inspected, which could not be reached, and what was found at each point. Defects are described with their location and the remedial action required. Actions are set out in order of priority so the responsible person can see what needs addressing first.
Certificate where applicable
Where the specialist issues a certificate on completion of the survey, it is provided alongside the report. Keep both documents together so the responsible person holds a dated record of what was examined, what was found and when.
No pressure
Book a compartmentation survey
Tell us the building address and how it is used, and a specialist will carry out the survey and produce a written report at the set price.