Fire Protection Systems Review

An independent review of the fire protection systems package before it is built. The aim is to find the gaps while they are still on paper: moving a main or resizing a pump at design stage costs hours, while the same change after installation costs weeks, budget and often a delayed approval.

What the review covers:

• Drawings and specifications: sprinklers, water networks, pumps, tanks, alarm systems and smoke control.
• Calculations: hydraulic, detection and coverage, battery standby and voltage drop, and water supply sizing.
• The operating sequence and the cause and effect matrix between systems, and their fit with the project's strategy.
• Clashes between fire, mechanical, electrical and architectural works, plus buildability and maintenance access.
• A prioritised comment register, with the design team's responses tracked until every comment is closed.

When you need it: when you inherit a design from another consultant, before tendering, before submitting to the authority, or when the owner or the lender wants an independent technical opinion.

For systems already installed in an existing building, the right service is fire protection system assessment. For the building as a whole — exits, compartmentation and compliance — see fire safety review.