Specialist Fire Engineering
We provide and facilitate bespoke and specialist fire engineering services, e.g. Structural Fire Engineer, Evacuation Modelling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling. These services are usually provided as part of a holistic fire safety strategy, although can be standalone projects in some cases. Such quantitative analyses can be used to support and substantiate qualitative risk assessments of proposed designs and demonstrate with an appropriate safety factor that safe conditions are present for life safety in and around a new or existing building.
Modelling and analysis to assist in risk assessment
We have tools that enable us to realise the clients design aspirations while helping ensure we satisfy the functional requirements of the Building Regulations or other statutory documents. We can offer:
- Computational Modelling
- Structural Fire Engineering
- Evacuation Modelling
- Radiation Modelling
Passive Fire Engineering Judgements/Assessments, Product Reviews and Advice
Our engineers are experienced in all aspects of fire engineering and have a further solid understanding the testing and application of passive fire protection products. This has been gained through both practical experiences managing fire resistance test laboratories, conducting fire resistance tests and from working closely with, and for, passive fire product manufactures within industry.
Our knowledge base provides Ashton Fire with the expertise to impartially review and comment on designs both on plan and installed. Where evidence has been presented to demonstrate performance of passive fire products, Ashton Fire also has the expertise to review fire test/assessment reports in order to assist in understanding whether they are appropriate and cover the required design, or not. If not, then we can offer our professional opinion as to what the next steps to providing approvals may be and how that may be achieved. In some cases, we may be in a position to prepare appropriate engineering judgements/technical assessments to cover the gaps in provided test evidence.
Fire Safety Advice
Article 18 of the Fire Safety Order requires the responsible person to appoint one or more competent persons to assist them in undertaking the preventive and protective measures and to advise on the fire safety arrangements i.e. guidance on the fire safety measures required by the legislation and how they should be implemented.
Where a responsible person does not have sufficient competence to comply with their statutory duties they should appoint a competent person to assist them.
Not every company has the need or resources for their own in-house fire safety adviser, therefore, fire safety advice may be provided by an external consultancy service providing they are competent to do so and have a sound knowledge of fire safety requirements in applicable premises.
Ashton Fire can support organisations with providing competent advice on fire related issues.
- We work directly with the Responsible Person, together with other relevant parties engaged by them, to provide expert advice on fire safety management issues in the buildings the Responsible Person manages to ensure agreement and consistency in approach to fire related matters.
- We offer advice on the systems that need to be put in place to effectively manage fire safety within the building.
- Conduct reviews of 3rd party fire risk assessments and challenge the findings where there are concerns or the findings are disputed by the Responsible Person.
- Act as the single point of contact for matters relating to fire safety.
- Attend scheduled meetings to discuss issues arising, status of work and provide updates.
- Ad hoc attendance at meetings relating to fire safety, where required, by the Responsible Person.
