Passive Fire Protection Services in Hampshire, West Sussex and the South Coast
Active fire protection systems - alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers - detect and suppress fire once it has started. Passive fire protection does something different and arguably more fundamental: it is built into the fabric of the building itself, designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke, maintain the structural integrity of the building and keep escape routes clear - automatically, without activation, for as long as the building stands.
Through our specialist sister company, Aran Fire Protection - FIRAS-certified passive fire protection specialists with over 25 years of experience - we provide a comprehensive range of passive fire protection services for commercial premises, residential buildings and construction projects across Hampshire, West Sussex and the South Coast. Arundel Firecare, Security & Electrical remains your single point of contact.
Contact us to arrange a passive fire protection survey - call 01903 716445 or complete our contact form.
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FIRAS-certified passive fire protection - third-party accreditation recognised by insurers and regulators
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Fire doors: supply, installation, inspection and remedial works
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Fire door surveys and compliance assessments
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Compartmentation surveys and remedial works
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Fire stopping: penetration seals, linear gap seals, intumescent products
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Fire barriers: cavity and linear barriers for concealed voids
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Fire board encasements: structural steel and services encasement
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Single point of contact - passive fire managed alongside your fire alarms, emergency lighting and security
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What is Passive Fire Protection - Active vs Passive Fire Protection
The distinction between active and passive fire protection is fundamental to understanding a building's complete fire safety strategy:
Active fire protection: systems that detect or suppress fire when triggered - fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers and emergency lighting. These systems require activation (automatic or manual) to perform their function.
Passive fire protection: systems built into the structure and fabric of the building that work continuously without activation. Fire doors, compartmentation walls and floors, fire stopping around penetrations, cavity barriers and structural fire protection all work passively to slow fire spread, maintain escape routes and support the building's structural integrity during a fire.
Both are required for a complete fire safety strategy. A building with excellent active fire protection but compromised passive fire protection - fire doors that do not close correctly, unsealed penetrations or missing cavity barriers - provides significantly less protection in a real fire scenario than the specification would suggest.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Regulations Approved Document B, the responsible person for a commercial or multi-occupied residential building must ensure that passive fire protection measures are installed, maintained and in efficient working order. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 strengthened these requirements, particularly for multi-occupied residential buildings.
Our Passive Fire Protection Services
Use the links below for detailed information on each of our passive fire protection services:
Fire Doors
Supply, installation, inspection and remedial works for fire doors in commercial and residential buildings. FD30 and FD60 rated. Third-party certified installation by Aran Fire Protection.
Fire Door Surveys
Independent fire door condition surveys and compliance assessments for commercial buildings, HMOs and residential blocks. Written reports with prioritised recommendations.
Compartmentation Surveys
Comprehensive passive fire protection surveys to assess the integrity of fire compartmentation throughout a building. Identifies breaches, penetrations and remedial works required.
Fire Stopping
Installation of penetration seals, linear gap seals and intumescent products to maintain the fire integrity of walls, floors and ceilings where services pass through.
Fire Barriers
Supply and installation of cavity barriers and linear fire barriers in concealed roof voids, ceiling voids and wall cavities to prevent unseen fire spread.
Fire Board Encasements
Intumescent board encasement of structural steel, service risers, ductwork and columns to protect structural integrity during a fire.
Passive Fire Protection for High-Rise Buildings and Multi-Occupied Premises
The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 led to fundamental changes in passive fire protection regulation and enforcement for high-rise and multi-occupied residential buildings. The Building Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 significantly strengthened the obligations of responsible persons - particularly in relation to fire doors and compartmentation. For buildings over 11 metres in height, new requirements for quarterly fire door inspections in communal areas and annual checks of flat entrance doors came into force in January 2023.
See our High-Rise Buildings sector page for more information on passive fire protection obligations for higher-risk buildings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Passive fire protection (PFP) refers to systems and materials built into the fabric of a building that slow or contain the spread of fire and smoke without requiring activation. Examples include fire doors, fire compartmentation walls and floors, fire stopping around service penetrations, cavity barriers and intumescent board encasements of structural steel. Passive fire protection works continuously, in contrast to active systems such as alarms and sprinklers which must detect a fire and activate in response.
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Regulations Approved Document B, responsible persons for commercial and multi-occupied residential buildings must ensure that passive fire protection measures are in place, properly maintained and in efficient working order. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 strengthened these requirements, particularly for multi-occupied residential buildings. Failure to maintain passive fire protection can result in enforcement notices, unlimited fines and - in the most serious cases - prosecution.
All passive fire protection services are delivered through our specialist sister company, Aran Fire Protection - a FIRAS-certified passive fire protection contractor with over 25 years of experience. Aran specialises in fire stopping, fire doors, fire barriers, compartmentation and structural fire protection. Arundel Firecare, Security & Electrical remains your single point of contact for all enquiries and account management.
FIRAS is a third-party certification scheme for passive fire protection installers, operated by Warrington Fire Research. FIRAS-certified installers have been independently assessed to confirm they have the competency, systems and quality management processes to install passive fire protection products correctly and in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and relevant standards. FIRAS certification is recognised by insurers, building control bodies and enforcement authorities as evidence of competent passive fire protection installation.
Passive Fire Protection Services Near You - Hampshire and West Sussex
Our passive fire protection services are available to commercial and residential clients across Hampshire, West Sussex and the South Coast, including Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, Eastleigh, Chichester, Arundel, Worthing, Horsham, Guildford, London and beyond. Contact us to confirm coverage and arrange a survey.
From Our Knowledge Centre
Our fire safety team has written extensively on compliance obligations, system types and sector-specific requirements. Visit our Knowledge Centre for articles, guides and PDF downloads covering fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire risk assessments and more.
The Importance of Fire Door Safety Audits: Understanding the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
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The Importance of Fire Doors
At FireCare, we help businesses to comply with fire safety legislation by recommending the best fire doors for your businesses following our comprehensive fire risk assessment.
Fire Safety Hub
See our Fire Safety Hub for our full range of active fire safety services.
Looking for a complete compliance package? We manage fire alarms, emergency lighting, passive fire protection, security and EICR under one annual service.