Fire compartmentation is the passive fire protection that prevents fire and smoke spreading between dwellings and communal areas. In Hampstead's older mansion blocks and Victorian houses converted into flats, original compartmentation may have been compromised by decades of alterations and service installations.
Our surveyors carry out detailed compartmentation surveys that identify breaches in fire-separating elements, assess fire door condition and review fire stopping around service penetrations. We provide prioritised remediation recommendations that help building managers and freeholders protect their residents.
Inspection of fire-separating walls and floors between flats and communal areas in Hampstead's mansion blocks, identifying hidden breaches and inadequate fire resistance.
Condition survey of fire doors throughout communal areas, checking certification, intumescent strips, self-closers and frame integrity in buildings across NW3.
Assessment of fire stopping where pipes, cables and ducts pass through compartment walls and floors, a common weakness in older Hampstead buildings with updated services.
Specialist review of compartmentation in Victorian houses converted to flats, where original timber construction requires careful upgrading to achieve adequate fire separation.
PAS 9980 external wall appraisals and fire risk advisory in NW3.
ViewExternal wall fire review certificates for mortgage and sale purposes.
ViewComprehensive building condition surveys for period properties in NW3.
ViewMany mansion blocks in Hampstead were built before modern fire regulations. Over decades, flat conversions, service upgrades and alterations can compromise original fire barriers, creating hidden pathways for fire and smoke spread between dwellings.
We inspect fire-separating walls, floors and ceilings between flats and communal areas, check fire doors and their frames, assess fire stopping around service penetrations, and identify breaches that allow fire or smoke to pass between compartments.
Yes. Victorian houses converted into flats often have inadequate compartmentation between units, particularly where original timber floors and lath-and-plaster walls provide insufficient fire resistance without proper upgrading.
We recommend fire compartmentation surveys at least every five years for multi-occupancy buildings, or whenever significant alterations are carried out. Buildings under the Building Safety Act may require more frequent assessment.