Sectors
Fire Safety & DSEAR Consultancy for Construction & Refurbishment
Construction and refurbishment projects introduce fire risks that may not be present in the completed building — hot works, temporary materials, compromised compartmentation and changing evacuation arrangements. Responsible persons, contractors and designers all have fire safety obligations during construction phases.
Key fire and DSEAR considerations
Construction and refurbishment works create specific fire hazards that require careful management by the responsible person, contractor and designer. Permanent fire precautions may be disabled or bypassed during works; compartmentation may be compromised by temporary openings or service penetrations; and hot works introduce significant ignition risks.
Where premises are occupied during refurbishment — a common scenario in commercial, care and residential environments — the fire risk assessment must reflect the changed conditions and ensure that means of escape, fire detection and emergency procedures remain adequate throughout the works programme.
Change of use projects — converting warehouses to residential, offices to hotels, or industrial units to mixed-use — typically require a fresh fire risk assessment reflecting the new use, occupancy and risk profile.
Sector-specific risks
- Hot works during refurbishment — welding, cutting, disc cutting
- Temporary fire precautions where permanent systems are disabled
- Compartmentation compromised by works in progress
- Flammable materials on site — adhesives, solvents, LPG
- Evacuation arrangements for occupied premises during works
- Change of use — increased risk profile from conversion works
- Liaison with contractors and designers on fire safety requirements
Common questions — Construction & Refurbishment
Request a quote for Construction & Refurbishment
Submit an enquiry with details of your premises. A member of the team will review the information and get in touch to discuss the scope and approach.