Challenges relating to fire safety during the design and construction phase often require the guidance and advice of independent experts such as KFS to resolve and ultimately ensure confidence for building owners and occupants....
our Post Contract Fire Safety Assurance Service
the Fire Safety Guardian does just that
With KFS you’re in safe hands
KFS fire engineers will act on your behalf, to monitor and advise upon the design and (through a series of site visits) assess workmanship and appropriateness of subsequent installations. This provides a continuity and level of scrutiny that ensures your building achieves the desired standards of fire safety outlined in the fire safety strategy.
Getting it right the first time, every time
With you step by step…
- Our experts can read and understand the fire safety strategy developed by others and identify and advise on any concerns we may have.
- During the detailed design phase, we review the datasheets of the selected fire safety products and assess their suitability. Again, if we have any concerns, we can advise on alternative products or designs that can be built as per the relevant fire tests.
- During the construction, we carry out regular site inspections to identify any deviations from the original design intent or wrong installation of the different fire safety products.
- Our site inspection reports will help instruct the designers/contractors to fix the problems before they become costly remediation works.
Confidence, Competence & Clarity
In the construction industry, there is often the requirement to deliver complex projects within short timeframes whilst also keeping costs to a minimum. In some instances this could potentially result in inadequate material selection and reduced levels of workmanship.
The Fire Safety Guardian product provides our clients with the support needed to challenge these practices, highlighting areas where fire safety may have been overlooked or compromised.
In short, our fire safety guardian work is about safeguarding our clients in fire safety from the design until the handover of the building.
It’s about getting it right, first time, every time.
Elevate and exceed industry standards
The report laid out 4x key areas of improvement, all of which are encompassed in our Fire Safety Guardian Service.
Ignorance
The report stated…“Regulations and guidance are not always read by those who need to, and when they do the guidance is misunderstood and misinterpreted.”
Fire safety is our core focus. We provide assurance by identifying high-risk items to ensure that your development meets the highest standards of fire safety. With our broad expertise, we can detect potential discrepancies between the design team’s plans and on-site installations—deviations that can significantly impact performance.
Additionally, we help raise industry standards by educating our clients on what they should expect and guiding contractors on what is considered acceptable.
Indifference
The report stated…“The primary motivation is to do things as quickly and cheaply as possible rather than to deliver quality homes which are safe for people to live in.
When concerns are raised, by others involved in building work or by residents, they are often ignored. Some of those undertaking building work fail to prioritise safety, using the ambiguity of regulations and guidance to game the system.”
In the construction industry, there is often the requirement to deliver complex projects within short timeframes whilst also keeping costs to a minimum. In some instances this could potentially result in inadequate material selection and reduced levels of workmanship.
Our Fire Safety Guardian product provides clients with the support needed to challenge these practices, highlighting areas where fire safety may have been overlooked or compromised.
By detecting these issues during construction, we help reduce the risk of failures that could impact the safety and well-being of future occupants.
Lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities
The report stated…“There is ambiguity over where responsibility lies, exacerbated by a level of fragmentation within the industry, and precluding robust ownership of accountability.”
The Fire Safety Guardian product gives our clients valuable insight into the design and construction process, providing an additional layer of oversight and validation for the design.
Any oversights are relayed to the client so that the risks can be assessed and acted on.
Inadequate regulatory oversight and enforcement tools
The report stated…“The size or complexity of a project does not seem to inform the way in which it is overseen by the regulator. Where enforcement is necessary, it is often not pursued. Where it is pursued, the penalties are so small as to be an ineffective deterrent.”
The Fire Safety Guardian product empowers our clients to critically assess the robustness of design details, driving a cultural shift within the industry towards better practices and higher-quality construction.
This ensures not only that buildings meet the highest standards, but also that occupants are safe in the buildings they are in.
Case Study
The project is situated in Westminster’s conservation area within central London. The project involved construction of affordable housing where Kiwa Fire Safety Compliance were contracted by the owner of the building to undertake the Fire Safety Guardian Service.
The project involved the refurbishment, alteration, and vertical extension of historic Buildings (built circa 1882). The vertical extension included a steel frame with SFS infill, adding an extra floor to the existing structures.
The scope also features the addition of balconies, construction of cycle and refuse stores, lift and staircases. Features of the existing structure needed to be retained which posed challenges.
Need some help? Contact us
Our experienced team are on hand to assist you with advice on any fire safety issues. With personnel situated across the UK and overseas, we are able to offer local advice wherever you need it. We would be delighted to hear from you.
Please complete our enquiry form, so we can assess your requirements and fast track your request.
