Fire safety assessments and expert opinions
We prepare fire safety expert opinions on technical questions concerning existing buildings and proposed changes. The purpose of the fire safety assessment, the building condition examined and the limits of the conclusions are defined around your task.
Who we work with
For clients, property owners, building operators and design teams, covering existing buildings and proposed changes.
What the work delivers
- A documented assessment basis
- A record of the subject of the fire safety assessment, the information used and the assumptions needed to support the findings.
- A fire safety expert opinion that answers the question
- An assessment of the technical questions defined in the commission, identifying the supporting information and the limits of applicability.
- Informed next steps
- Identification of any further design work, clarification or investigation arising from the assessment.
When can a fire safety expert help?
Work by a fire safety expert may start with a proposed alteration, uncertainty about an existing condition or a need to compare technical solutions. An assessment supporting an investment decision differs from one addressing a disputed point in a developed design. Our initial discussion therefore focuses on understanding the decision the assessment will support and who will use its findings.
A clearly defined question helps identify the relevant assessment criteria. Part of a building may change use, a circulation connection may be altered, or an existing technical solution may need clarification. These circumstances define the subject and boundaries of the fire safety assessment. We also record the particular building condition, solution or document that the client wants assessed.
Fire safety review of an existing building and its documentation
We review drawings and previous descriptions in the context of the fire safety assessment’s purpose. For an existing building, it matters which information describes the original arrangement, which relates to later modifications, and what is known about the current use. We do not automatically treat conflicting or incomplete information as verified fact. Clarifying it may be a task in its own right.
Where the site needs to be inspected, we tailor the visit to the question being examined. A visual inspection provides different information from a document review or a separate technical investigation. In the assessment, we distinguish findings supported by the available data from questions requiring another specialist or a more detailed investigation. This makes the basis of the opinion clear to the reader.
Methods used in fire safety assessments
Different fire safety questions call for different methods. Sometimes comparing drawings with site information provides a useful answer. In other cases, calculations, comparison of alternatives or simulation can assist the technical assessment. We select the method according to the question and the available data, clarifying the conditions for its use when preparing the task.
If simulation can inform the decision, we first clarify the building condition and scenario to be modelled and the question the results need to address. Evacuation and smoke spread involve different questions and input data. The scope of detailed modelling can be agreed separately; the expert opinion explains its relevance to the assessment question and how its results can be used.
What does a fire safety expert opinion deliver?
The fire safety expert opinion connects the agreed task, the documents and building condition examined, and the technical findings. Where several solutions can be considered, we describe the differences identified through the assessment and any open questions. We distinguish conclusions supported by the available information from assumptions that still need clarification. The next step may involve design coordination, obtaining missing information or further investigation.
You do not need a finished technical brief to begin. Describe the problem in your own words and identify the part of the building involved. When preparing the quotation, we work with you to clarify the assessment question, the information needed and the content of the expected document. This distinguishes the initial discussion from the expert work actually commissioned.
Questions before you start
How does a fire safety assessment differ from fire safety design?
A fire safety expert examines and evaluates defined technical questions. Design develops the documentation for a proposed arrangement. The two tasks may build on each other; the quotation will clearly identify the work requested.
Does every fire safety expert opinion require a site visit?
The need for a visit depends on the question and the information available. When preparing the commission, we clarify what can be assessed from documents and what requires site information or further investigation.
Does a fire safety expert opinion automatically include simulation?
No. Calculations or evacuation, fire and smoke spread simulations may be separately defined assessment tasks. We select the method to suit the question and the information available, and clarify its purpose, inputs and scope in the quotation.
Can I request a fire safety expert opinion when preparing a change of use?
Yes. We can begin by discussing the current and proposed uses. First, we clarify the decision to be supported, the records available and the questions that require assessment or further design. This discussion alone does not determine which documents are required for the particular project.
Let’s discuss your project.
Tell us where the project stands and what decision you need to make. The quote request helps you organise the available information.
Request an initial consultationProfessional background
The following sources provide professional background. The requirements and scope of your project are assessed individually.