Fire Safety Considerations in Commercial Refurbishment Projects

Commercial refurbishment often changes how people move through a building and how fire might spread. New partitions, altered doors, additional services and revised layouts can all affect fire safety, so it needs to be designed in from the start, not added at the end. This is a general overview and does not replace advice from a fire engineer or building control.

The legal background

In England, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places duties on the responsible person for most non-domestic premises, including carrying out and maintaining a fire risk assessment. Building work also has to comply with Part B of the Building Regulations, which covers fire safety.

What refurbishment can change

• Escape routes and travel distances to exits

• Fire doors, compartment walls and fire-stopping around service penetrations

• Fire detection, alarm and emergency lighting layouts

• Smoke ventilation and sprinkler coverage where installed

Plan early with building control

Discussing proposals with building control and your fire risk assessor during design avoids expensive changes later. Fire strategy decisions affect partition layouts and ceiling designs, so they are best settled before construction details are finalised.

Work in occupied buildings

If part of a building stays in use while refurbishment is carried out, temporary arrangements must protect escape routes, keep alarms working and control hot work and contractor access. A clear method statement and regular communication with the occupier are essential.

Fire-stopping and workmanship

Gaps around pipes, cables and ducts must be correctly sealed, and fire doors must be fitted and adjusted properly. Inspecting and recording this work as it proceeds helps with sign-off and later maintenance.

Our commercial construction team coordinates design, compliance and delivery so that refurbishments can be completed safely and on programme.

Planning a commercial project in London? Contact Tota Design & Build to discuss your requirements.