Fire safety assurance

Construction site inspection | H&S

Our inspection team will attend the site at pre-agreed dates to carry out the inspection. Following the inspection, a report with photos of the inspection and recommendations will be provided. The scope is to review the site as it progresses and assist in ensuring that the construction is in accordance with the principles of the fire strategy.

External Wall design review 

 BB7 will assess the external wall construction based on the information provided to us to determine whether we consider the wall construction poses a risk to health and safety.

EWS1 Services

We assist the wider design team in setting the minimum standard and ap

We will provide an EWS1 report, EWS1 form(s), and a covering letter for the building(s) requested by the client.

Existing Buildings: We will intrusively survey the building in locations pre-agreed with the client/contractor to allow us to fulfill the EWS1 process.

Full appointment through construction: We will monitor the installation of the external walls through the construction process on a frequency agreed with the client/contractor to inform our assessment report.

Split appointment through construction: As above, however, site visits are covered under a separate appointment.

Intrusive Survey of external walls

BB7 will intrusively survey the external wall systems in the areas agreed ahead of the survey. A report will be provided including findings and an analysis of risk.

External wall remedial design and monitoring

Should remedial works be required, BB7 will provide a suite of services to aid the client in achieving Building Regulations Approval for the design of the remedial works. Services include:

* Detailed drawing pack review;
* Design support;
* Remedial strategy report;
* Site inspections through the course of works;
* Approving authorities support.

Existing Building Fire Door Survey | H&S

Reviewing the visual condition of fire doors to determine whether they are likely to offer the resistance required.

Existing Building compartmentation (internal) | H&S

BB7 will carry out a non-intrusive site survey to identify significant findings relating to compartmentation and fire stopping of fire resisting elements to determine the adequacy of the current provisions and highlight any significant findings.

Drawing review for fire assurance – RIBA 4

Technical review of drawing packages to provide an opinion on compliance with Approved Document B.

Drawing review for fire assurance – Subcontractor 

Technical review of drawing packages to provide an opinion on compliance with Approved Document B.

Construction site fire safety plan| H&S

Implementing fire safety through construction is a requirement of the CDM regulations 2015. This service will aid the contractor in fulfilling their CDM obligations with respect to fire safety.

Construction site fire safety assessment | H&S

BB7 will carry out site quarterly site inspections and follow a checklist procedure to establish whether or not the fire precautions on a site are being comprehensively and adequately maintained and in accordance with our construction site fire safety plan. The checklist will be based on the widely recognised JCoP document.

Dispute resolution services

Expert services are typically appointed directly via a solicitor. Initially, the appointment will not be “expert witness” as the case has not progressed to court, so the initial stage is “expert services” which can later progress into witness services.

Temporary measures report 

Temporary measures are commonly required where defects are found with façade systems that pose a risk to life safety, or there are deficiencies in the building’s general fire safety precautions. This service provides professional advice on what is required to fulfill a temporary simultaneous evacuation strategy by implementing a “waking watch” and latterly a common fire detection and alarm system.

Timber frame assessment | H&S

An initiative by the UK Timber Frame Association, the 16 steps to fire safety on timber frame construction sites is guidance to good practice which relates to timber frame sites under construction where materials will be exposed and where methods of working and security factors may increase the risk of fire. This service provides practical advice on how to achieve the 16 steps.

Construction site inspection | MEP

Our team will attend site at pre-agreed (construction programme) dates to carry out inspections at key points (1^st, 2^nd fix & completion) of the build to fire active system(s). Following the inspection, a report with photos of the inspection and recommendations will be provided. The scope is to provide assurance the construction is in accordance with the principles of the fire strategy.

Construction witnessing / inspection | MEP

We will attend site at key (handover) milestones to project completion, to review the system cause and effect, to allow the contractor to demonstrate and witness fire active system(s) operation and performance. Following the witness/inspection, a report with photos of the inspection and recommendations will be provided. The scope is to provide assurance the installation provides the principles of the M&E fire (active system) strategy.

Lifecycle M&E systems | MEP

BB7 review each M&E fire active system in accordance with the building life cycle replacement strategy (CIBSE M) for the existing development, and provide recommendations following an initial assessment with the fire strategy, if available, and site O&M manuals. We will undertake a desktop review, followed by a site (non-intrusive) visual inspection for verification to main plant. Following the inspection, a report with photos of the inspection and desktop study will be documented and recommendations provided.

Aftercare site inspection

We will attend site to review, comment, inspect and witness with the contractor to demonstrate (cause and effect) the fire active system operation and performance in conjunction the existing fire strategy, if available. We can carry out a desktop study for the fire active system and review site representation in accordance with site installation as-built drawings. Following the witness/inspection, a report with photos of the inspection and recommendations will be provided.

3rd party M&E desktop reviews

We will undertake a desktop study to review the MEP design/technical packages this is in accordance with the fire consultant’s fire strategy. Following the study, a report will be issued with recommendations for the design team to review and include to the design/construction strategy to mitigate risk to the project with consultation with approving authorities.