Passive Fire Protection Surveys

Passive fire protection surveys are essential for ensuring that a building’s fire-resisting elements are correctly installed, maintained, and effective at containing fire, smoke, and heat. These surveys form a fundamental component of building fire safety, legislative compliance, and life safety management.

Passive fire protection surveys are commonly commissioned to support fire risk assessments, regulatory inspections, refurbishment projects, and ongoing compliance under UK fire safety legislation. They provide documented evidence that fire-resisting construction and compartmentation remain effective.

At Fire Risk Assessment Network, we carry out competent passive fire protection surveys across the UK, helping duty holders understand the condition and performance of passive fire protection measures and comply with current fire safety law.

Whether you are responsible for a workplace, commercial premises, residential common parts, or a multi-occupied building, our surveys provide a clear picture of your passive fire protection performance and highlight areas that require improvement.

What Is Passive Fire Protection?

Passive fire protection (PFP) refers to the fire-resisting elements of a building designed to slow or prevent the spread of fire, smoke, and heat. Unlike active systems such as sprinklers or alarms, passive measures work by compartmentalising a building and maintaining the integrity of critical elements during a fire.

Passive fire protection systems may include:

• Fire-resisting walls and floors
• Fire doors and shutters
• Fire stopping and compartmentation
• Fire dampers in ductwork
• Fire-resistant coatings and materials

These systems provide time for safe evacuation and reduce the potential for fire escalation.

Why Passive Fire Protection Surveys Matter

Unlike fire risk assessments, which assess overall fire safety arrangements, passive fire protection surveys focus specifically on the condition and performance of fire-resisting construction and systems.

Passive fire protection systems can deteriorate over time or be compromised during refurbishment, repair, or routine maintenance. A passive fire protection survey provides a structured inspection of these features to determine:

• Whether PFP systems have been installed correctly
• Whether they remain effective and compliant
• Whether there are gaps, defects, or unsafe conditions
• Whether recommended remedial actions are required

Effective passive fire protection is a legal expectation under UK fire safety law, and surveys help duty holders demonstrate that their fire safety management is robust and suitable.

Who Should Commission a Passive Fire Protection Survey?

Passive fire protection surveys are typically commissioned by duty holders who are legally responsible for managing fire safety within a building, or who require assurance that fire-resisting construction remains effective.

A passive fire protection survey may be appropriate for:

• Building owners and landlords responsible for non-domestic premises or residential common parts
• Employers and Responsible Persons with duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Managing agents and facilities managers overseeing day-to-day building safety
• Organisations planning refurbishment, maintenance, or service installations that may affect fire compartmentation
• Duty holders responding to findings or recommendations from a fire risk assessment
• Property managers preparing for fire authority inspections, audits, or insurance reviews

Commissioning a passive fire protection survey helps ensure that fire-resisting systems continue to perform as intended and that fire safety management arrangements remain suitable, proportionate, and compliant.

Passive Fire Protection vs Fire Stopping Surveys

While fire stopping surveys focus specifically on the inspection of fire-resisting seals at penetrations and junctions, passive fire protection surveys take a broader view of all PFP systems within a building.

A passive fire protection survey may include:

• Fire stopping inspection as a component
• Fire doors and frames checking
• Fire-resisting barriers and compartmentation
• Structural fire protection elements
• Fire dampers and penetrations within fire-resisting structures

In contrast, a fire stopping survey is a specialist inspection of penetrations only and is often commissioned where a fire stopping issue is suspected or identified.

What a Passive Fire Protection Survey Involves

A typical passive fire protection survey will include:

1. Pre-survey Information Review

We collect available information such as:

• Building plans and fire strategy
• Previous PFP records or surveys
• Recent alterations or refurbishments

2. On-Site Visual Inspection

Our surveyor systematically inspects accessible areas to assess:

• Fire-resisting walls and floors
• Fire doors and hardware
• Penetration seals and fire stopping
• Fire dampers and ductwork protection
• Fire-resistant coatings and materials

3. Defect Identification and Documentation

Any issues affecting fire integrity — e.g., gaps, inappropriate penetrations, damaged seals — are recorded and classified by severity.

4. Survey Report and Recommendations

We provide a clear report covering:

• Findings with photographic evidence
• Compliance evaluation against guidance and standards
• Prioritised recommendations for remedial action

Surveys are benchmarked against relevant guidance, manufacturer specifications, and recognised fire safety standards where applicable.

Passive Fire Protection and UK Legislation

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places legal duties on those who control premises (Responsible Persons) to manage fire safety, including passive fire protection.

Failure to ensure that passive fire protection is adequate and maintained places occupants at risk and may attract enforcement action.

Fire and rescue authorities enforce fire safety legislation in line with National Fire Chiefs Council guidance, which emphasises the role of effective compartmentation and fire-resisting construction.

Fire Safety Act 2021

The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified the application of the Fire Safety Order and reinforced the need for responsible persons to consider building structure and fire spread risks, including passive measures, especially in multi-occupied residential buildings.

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced additional duties for certain higher-risk buildings, including documentation and fire safety information requirements, which support passive fire safety management and survey documentation.

These regulations emphasise the importance of up-to-date records, competent inspection, and effective fire safety systems.

How Passive Fire Protection Surveys Support Compliance

Passive fire protection surveys help you:

• Understand the condition of fire-resisting systems
• Prepare for regulator inspections or audits
• Demonstrate proactive fire safety management
• Prioritise repair or upgrade work
• Support fire risk assessments (internal link suggestion)

Note: Passive fire protection surveys do not replace fire risk assessments — they complement them by providing detailed information on passive elements.

Examples of Passive Fire Protection Systems

Fire-Resisting Walls and Floors

Compartmentation prevents fire spreading from one area to another.

Fire Doors

Fire doors protect escape routes and contain fire within compartments; they must be surveyed for fit, gaps, hardware, and integrity.

Fire Stopping

Fire stopping seals gaps around cables, pipes, ducts — maintaining compartmentation.

Fire Dampers

Installed in ventilation ductwork, fire dampers prevent smoke and fire spreading between compartments.

Fire-Resistant Coatings

Applied to structural elements to improve fire resistance.

Why Choose Fire Risk Assessment Network?

Our passive fire protection survey services are:

• Conducted by experienced, competent fire engineers
• Aligned with legislative expectations and recognised guidance
• Backed by clear, prioritised reporting
• Supported by tailored remedial recommendations
• Suitable for commercial, residential common parts, and mixed-use buildings

We help duty holders understand and manage passive fire protection risk efficiently and effectively.

Conclusion

Passive fire protection surveys are a vital part of any comprehensive fire safety strategy. By inspecting and evaluating passive systems such as fire doors, fire stopping, compartmentation, and fire-resisting structures, you gain confidence that your building’s fire protection measures function as intended.

Effective passive fire protection lowers risk, supports compliance, and, most importantly, helps protect people and property.

If you need a professional passive fire protection survey, our team can provide clear, detailed, and practical support.