Compartmentation Surveys

A compartmentation survey is a systematic inspection of the fire-separating elements within a building — compartment walls, compartment floors, fire barriers, cavity barriers, and fire stopping at service penetrations — to identify breaches, deficiencies, or deterioration that could compromise the building's fire compartmentation.

Compartmentation is fundamental to fire safety in multi-storey and multi-occupied buildings. It limits fire spread, protects escape routes, supports stay-put or simultaneous evacuation strategies, and provides the fire service with predictable fire behaviour for effective firefighting operations.

• Desktop review of available construction records and previous survey findings
• Non-intrusive visual survey of accessible compartment lines
• Intrusive inspection where instructed, including opening up of service risers, ceiling voids, and wall cavities
• Photographic recording and deficiency mapping
• Clear remediation recommendations with prioritisation

A detailed survey report with annotated floor plans, photographic evidence, deficiency schedule with categorisation by severity, and prioritised remediation recommendations. The report is structured to support procurement of remedial fire stopping works and ongoing management of compartmentation integrity. Survey findings also inform the development of retrospective fire strategies where a comprehensive fire safety framework is needed for the building.

What is a compartmentation survey?

A compartmentation survey is a systematic inspection of the fire-separating elements within a building, including compartment walls, compartment floors, cavity barriers, and fire stopping around service penetrations. The purpose is to identify breaches or deficiencies that could allow fire and smoke to spread beyond the compartment of origin. Apex carries out both non-intrusive and intrusive compartmentation surveys to Approved Document B (Volume 2) standards.

How often should compartmentation be inspected?

There is no single prescribed interval, but compartmentation should be inspected whenever a fire risk assessment identifies concerns about passive fire protection, after any building works that may have disturbed fire-separating elements, and as part of ongoing building safety management for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Apex recommends incorporating compartmentation checks into your cyclical fire safety review programme.

What are common compartmentation deficiencies?

The most frequently identified deficiencies include unsealed or inadequately sealed service penetrations through compartment walls and floors, missing or displaced cavity barriers, degraded fire stopping materials, breaches created during maintenance or refurbishment works, and gaps around pipe and cable routes in risers. Apex surveys include a prioritised deficiency schedule with photographic evidence to support remediation procurement.

Is compartmentation required in residential buildings?

Yes. Approved Document B (Volume 2) requires residential buildings to be divided into fire compartments to limit fire spread and protect means of escape. For blocks of flats, each dwelling must generally be a separate fire compartment, and compartment floors and walls must achieve the required period of fire resistance. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 further reinforce the duty to manage compartmentation in the common parts of residential buildings.

What happens if compartmentation fails?

If compartmentation is breached, fire and smoke can spread rapidly beyond the compartment of origin, undermining evacuation strategies, endangering occupants in adjacent areas, and reducing the time available for fire service intervention. Failed compartmentation has been a contributing factor in numerous fatal fires. Identifying and rectifying breaches is one of the most cost-effective life safety improvements a building owner can make -- contact Apex to arrange a survey.