Fire Safety Works to University Residential Buildings

Fire Safety Upgrades – Completed Project Case Study

P A Hollingworth successfully completed a comprehensive programme of fire safety upgrades across a number of residential properties located throughout the university campus.

The project involved the installation of Q-Mark certified fire doors and comprehensive fire-stopping measures, addressing recommendations identified through fire risk assessments undertaken across the buildings. The works were delivered to enhance fire protection, improve the safety of students and residents, and reduce the potential for the spread of fire and smoke throughout the properties.

Project Objectives

A key objective was to ensure that the required fire safety improvements were delivered in accordance with current standards and the recommendations arising from the building fire risk assessments.

P A Hollingworth is fully trained and certified in the installation of fire doors and fire-stopping systems under the Q-Mark BM TRADA certification scheme, providing the specialist knowledge and expertise required to undertake the works to the appropriate standards.

The completed works included:

• Installation of Q-Mark certified fire doors to identified areas throughout the residential properties.
• Installation of compliant fire-stopping systems to seal penetrations, service openings and gaps within fire-rated walls and compartments.
• Improvements to the overall fire protection and compartmentation of the buildings.
• Particular attention to communal areas, corridors, hallways and service rooms to help restrict the spread of fire and smoke.
• Careful coordination of works to maintain the buildings in full occupation throughout the project.

Professional Delivery in a Busy Occupied Environment

One of the principal challenges of the project was undertaking specialist fire safety works within busy, fully occupied residential buildings.

Working around students, residents, university staff and ongoing campus activities required a high level of professionalism, communication and coordination. Work areas were carefully managed and maintained in a safe and orderly condition, with consideration given to access, noise, working hours and the movement of residents throughout the buildings.

Our site teams worked closely with the relevant university representatives to programme the works effectively and minimise disruption to day-to-day operations. Maintaining a professional presence on site was essential, with operatives required to work safely, efficiently and respectfully within a live residential environment.

Despite the challenges associated with working within occupied buildings and a busy campus, the works were successfully completed while maintaining the functionality and occupancy of the properties.

Working Within Existing Buildings

The residential properties presented a range of existing building configurations, incorporating older construction alongside more modern additions and alterations. Each area therefore required careful assessment before works commenced to ensure that the new fire doors and fire-stopping installations were appropriately integrated with the existing structure and fire compartmentation strategy.

The fire-stopping works required particular attention to existing service penetrations, gaps and interfaces within fire-rated construction. These were addressed using appropriate certified systems to provide effective fire and smoke protection while maintaining the integrity of the existing buildings.

Compliance and Quality

All fire door and fire-stopping works were undertaken by suitably trained personnel and in accordance with the required certification and installation standards.

Quality control was maintained throughout the project, with careful attention given to installation details, interfaces with existing construction and the correct application of certified fire-stopping systems. The completed works provide enhanced fire protection across the residential properties and address the relevant recommendations identified through the fire risk assessment process.

Completed Project

The successful completion of the project has delivered significant fire safety improvements across the university’s residential properties, while allowing the buildings to remain occupied and operational throughout the works.

Through careful planning, professional site management and close coordination with the university, P A Hollingworth was able to deliver a complex programme of fire door and fire-stopping upgrades safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption within a busy live environment.