Continuous Fire Services
from pre-design to building in use and beyond
“Early engagement at RIBA Stage 1/2 has enabled us to solve problems further downstream saving considerable time and costs.”
Thomas Joseph
Project Officer
Cardiff Council
RIBA Stage 1 – Stage One Fire Strategy
This stage captures the design brief, planning requirements and client information.
Knowing your battles upfront is critical to creating a safe and cost efficient project.
Early collaboration means the fire strategy can evolve with the project with inbuilt flexibility for changes.
This minimises costly mistakes downstream.
RIBA Stage 2 – Fire Concept Strategy
Stage 2 encompasses the architect’s detailed drawings and design to formulate fire plans and compartmentation for the building.
This establishes the correct regulations, standards and guidance particular to your project.
The fire strategy for the proposed building begins to take shape.
Early engagement is vital. We view your project as one continuous process from RIBA Stage1 to RIBA Stage 7.
RIBA Stage 3 –
Developed Fire Strategy for planning
At the third stage, the concept design progresses to a developed design. Design expectations and constraints are known.
Lead Designers, Structural Engineers and M&E Engineers become involved and more detailed information is known.
The fire consultant analyses all this information to produce the Developed Fire Strategy.
“The fire services team at Green Hat live and breathe the Golden Thread approach to building information at each RIBA stage. They already envisage a building in use and its practical operation – whether a school, a residential home for the elderly or a block of flats. They have helped us plan and design robust systems for fire safety guiding us through the minefield of regulations”
Karen Lock,
Architect Associate Director.
Wales.
We ensure communication between all stakeholders – everyone on the same page!
RIBA Stage 4 – Technical Design and RIBA 4 Final Issue Report
This is the dreaded GAP in involvement and collaboration, design and construction. This is the biggest single source of project delay, frustrated clients and arguments over who pays for mistakes and remedies.
Stakeholders need to stop planning and working in silos. There is no point in having modern sustainable designs if the project process is fragmented with no communication and collaboration throughout.
How refreshing to see a consultancy looking to up their game and raise standards.”
Peter Jones,
Senior Lead Governance & Assurance,
Housing Association. Wales
This is a critical stage where fire engineers work with the architects, principal contractors, specialist design engineers and the client in collaboration.
We engage with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) namely Building Control and the Fire Officer to review the design for approved sign off.
This strategic approach identifies
- Design issues, fire risk compliance issues and minimises gaps in information.
- Guidance for the Principal Contractor for their role for fire safety management, adherence to strategy and recording of appropriate installation evidence and documentation at RIBA Stage 5.
- Signposting the requirements for safe handover at RIBA stage 6.
The RIBA 4 strategy is the cornerstone for the in use fire safety management at RIBA stage 7.
Stage 4 – Additional Reports
Timber Frame Radiant Heat Report
A radiant heat report is required for any development using timber structural products or a timber frame. This is required before the construction phase. The report will highlight risks and make recommendations to ensure safety during the construction phase.
Sustainable development is key to many projects. Timber is often used as a Carbon zero material. Therefore these reports play an important role in a successful project.
Why not call us for an informal discussion?
Construction Phase Fire Planning Document
These reports are required under CDM 2015 Regulations.
The Principal Contractor needs a fire plan for the whole construction site for fire safety during construction.
This would include things like temporary safety measures, alarms. storage, housekeeping, training, signage and site management.
RIBA Stage 5 – Fire Safety Inspections during Construction
This is where a project can go off the rails. This is frequently due to a third party fire risk assessor not being engaged at this stage.
Engaging with Green Hat at this stage ensures that the development is accordance with the fire strategy.
We offer the following services at this stage:
- Fire Clerk of Works Reports.
- Construction Stage Fire Risk Assessments.
- Inspection & Test Plan Tracker – this is a running tracker collecting evidence throughout the project build to show compliance once the job is completed.
- Compartmentation Inspection & Sign off Reports.
“It is a reasonable expectation that installation of specialist fire stopping, fire doors, compartmentation, alarms and sprinklers etc is completed correctly and passes compliance. We discovered through fire engineers at Green Hat that this was often not the case. Many non-compliant issues came to light which could cause project delays and be costly to put right. Collaboration with fire experts from the beginning could prevent this in future.”
Geraint Thomas,
Senior Site Manager,
Principal Contractor, UK
No Costly Planning Delays. We check the work has been done correctly and compliantly. Continuously..
RIBA Stage 6 – Services
Stage 6 is the point of practical completion for the building. The following reports are critical to a successful handover.
- R38 FRA & GAP Analysis
- R38 FRA Close Out Report
- Final R38 Report
Many clients ask us to collate the Health & Safety File – O&M Manual – Fire Safety Manual at this point. This is for the benefit of the client. The data is easily located, updated and referenced. This ensures safe operation of the building for the future.
RIBA Stage 7 – Building in use
Building Management passes to the Responsible Person to ensure compliance to the Fire Safety Order 2005.
To safeguard the responsible person we offer the following services:
- Premises Fire Risk Assessments
- Fire Safety Management Audits
- Ongoing building compliance support – inspections, plans and reports.
- Fire safety training.
“We look forward to engaging with the team at Green Hat on an ongoing basis for the continued safe operation of our buildings. The complexity of fire regulations post Grenfell is not going to disappear. Dean and his team are at the forefront of matching regulations to building design, occupancy, and changes of use”
Peter White
Local Authority
England
A Golden Thread of information continually updated for the building occupier.
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Get in touch with one of our
our Fire specialists…
Tel: 01792 797 833
Email:
enquiries@greenhat-consulting.co.uk
Safety – Quality – Sustainability – Profitability