Southwark has one of London's largest concentrations of social housing, with extensive council and housing association estates alongside a growing number of new-build residential developments. Fire compartmentation is a critical safety concern for the borough's post-war tower blocks, slab blocks and estate buildings where passive fire protection has often deteriorated over decades.
Our fire compartmentation surveys in Southwark assess the condition of fire-separating elements in residential buildings of all ages and types. We work with Southwark Council, housing associations and private freeholders to identify compartmentation deficiencies in buildings from the Aylesbury and Heygate areas to Peckham, Bermondsey and Dulwich.
Whether you manage a high-rise tower on the Aylesbury Estate, a low-rise block in Camberwell, or a new-build scheme near Elephant and Castle, our RICS regulated surveys provide the evidence needed for remediation planning and regulatory compliance.
Assessment of fire stopping in Southwark's social housing blocks, where original fire stopping materials have often degraded and maintenance works over decades have created new unsealed penetrations through compartment lines.
Inspection of compartment walls and floors in post-war concrete-framed tower blocks, brick-built low-rise estates and modern residential developments, checking for correct fire resistance and structural integrity.
Survey of mechanical, electrical and plumbing penetrations through fire compartment boundaries in housing association and council stock, including communal heating risers and electrical distribution systems.
Review of cavity barrier provision in external wall over-cladding, rendered insulation systems and new-build cladding installations, addressing the specific external wall concerns affecting Southwark residential towers.
Fire risk and external wall assessments for Southwark buildings.
View ServiceExternal wall fire review certificates for residential blocks.
View ServiceRICS regulated building condition surveys across the borough.
View ServiceSouthwark's extensive social housing stock includes many post-war buildings designed around the stay-put evacuation principle, which relies on effective compartmentation. Decades of maintenance, refurbishment and service upgrades have often compromised fire-separating elements. With new obligations under the Building Safety Act, demonstrating that compartmentation is adequate has become a regulatory priority.
Common issues include deteriorated or missing fire stopping around service risers, breached compartment walls from kitchen and bathroom modernisation programmes, missing cavity barriers in over-cladding systems, fire doors that no longer achieve the required resistance period, and gaps at the junction of compartment walls and floors caused by structural movement.
Yes. We regularly work with local authorities and housing associations on phased compartmentation survey programmes covering multiple blocks. We can survey individual buildings or entire estates, providing consistent reporting and remediation prioritisation that helps asset management teams plan and budget for fire safety improvements across their stock.
For higher-risk residential buildings in Southwark, the Building Safety Act requires a building safety case that demonstrates how fire and structural safety risks are managed. A compartmentation survey provides essential evidence for this case, documenting the condition of passive fire protection and identifying works needed to bring it to an acceptable standard.