Passive Fire Safety Inspections
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What is a Passive Fire Safety Inspection
Keeping fire contained & escape routes clear
A Passive Fire Safety Inspection is a structured survey of the building’s fire‑resisting construction — walls, floors, ceilings, doors and the fire‑stopping of service penetrations through them — to confirm that compartments are continuous and effective, and that escape routes remain protected. This work underpins life safety and building compliance under the Fire Safety Order and related UK regulations.
We typically examine:
- Compartmentation integrity: Fire‑resisting walls, floors, ceilings, protected shafts and voids
- Service penetrations & linear gaps: Fire collars, wraps, sealants, batt systems and movement joints
- Cavity barriers & dampers: Presence, suitability and positioning across voids and ducts
- Interface elements: Junctions with doors, glazing and structural members where relevant
- Fire doors: Specification, installation quality, on-going suitability
When is this service needed?
- Pre‑handover assurance: Independent inspection ahead of the handover between the contractor and responsible person and in support of Regulation 38 information exchange and occupation.
- Post‑works validation: After refurbishment or services retrofits to verify penetrations are re‑sealed and barriers continuous.
- Periodic assurance in occupation: To support the duty to maintain precautions under the Fire Safety Order, Fire Safety (England) Regulations, and evolving post‑BS Act duties.
- Construction phase checks: Independent, third‑party assurance during RIBA 5–7 to reduce risk of delays at completion and handover.
Building Safer Spaces Together
Discover how Kiwa Fire Safety Compliance delivers smart, tailored fire safety solutions - now available now as a digital flipbook and downloadable PDF.
Clear, actionable evidence to support safe buildings
Illustrated findings report: Location coded observations with photographs and recommended remediation
Plan based mapping:
Standards alignment:
Prioritised actions:
Golden thread support:
Why Partner with Kiwa Fire Safety Compliance
Independent, pragmatic fire risk management
Specialist Insight:
Independent, impartial inspections by a specialist Fire Risk Management team across the UK built environment.Extensive expertise:
Industry recognised and significant experience obtained across numerous sectors and in test environmentsRIBA‑Aligned:
Coverage across RIBA Stages 5–7 - for construction, handover and in‑use support.Clear Guidance:
Clarity for duty holders under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and Fire Safety (England) Regulations.Joined‑Up Support:
Aligned with KFS’ inspection services, Product Evaluation team , and integrated FRM capabilities where neededOur Inspection Process
How We Conduct Passive Fire Safety Inspections
Scope & brief:
Document review:
On‑site inspection:
Analysis & mapping:
Reporting & actions:
Close‑out support:
Business Benefits
Why Passive Fire Safety Inspections Matter
Compliance:
Risk Reduction:
Efficiency:
Confidence for Duty Holders:
Assurance & Reputation:
Supporting Duty Holders Across the Built Environment
• Main contractors and principal contractors
• Developers and client project teams
• Building owners, asset managers and FM providers
• Designers and project managers seeking independent assurance
Standards & Regulations We Work To
At Kiwa Fire Safety Compliance, we follow a clear, structured process to ensure every Fire Risk Assessment and Inspection is thorough, compliant, and tailored to your building’s unique fire safety needs.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Approved Document B (Fire Safety)
BS 9999:2017
BS 9991:2024
Relevant test and application standards
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the difference between a Passive Fire Safety Inspection and a Fire Risk Assessment?
A: A Passive Fire Safety inspection focuses on the fabric of the building — compartmentation, fire‑stopping and related passive measures. An FRA is a broader review of hazards, the people at risk and the controls across the premises. Both support legal duties under the Fire Safety Order.
Q: Do you carry out destructive opening?
A: We plan non‑destructive inspections by default. Where concealed areas must be verified, we agree sampling with you, then inspect and record.
Q: How often should we inspect passive fire protection?
A: There’s no single legal frequency. In practice, inspections are triggered by construction or services changes, pre‑handover, where challenges have been identified, or periodically in higher‑risk buildings to support ongoing compliance. Your FRA can set a suitable review cadence.
Q: Will you specify remedial actions?
A: Yes — your report includes prioritised actions. We remain independent and do not install works, which preserves impartiality, but we can develop performance specifications for your contractor tendering exercise, and can then return and verify the quality of the work you have commissioned.
Q: Do you coordinate with external wall appraisals or EWS1 work?
A: Yes — where relevant, we can integrate with FRAEW and EWS1 activity led by KFS fire engineers.
Remove Uncertainty at Handover and Throughout the Building Lifecycle
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