/// Passive fire protection in Medway
Medway is a group of towns with a naval past: Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham. Its buildings range from the historic streets of Rochester to Victorian terraces in Gillingham and Chatham, post-war estates, and newer flats and student accommodation at Chatham Maritime and along Rochester Riverside.
Student halls and HMOs near the university campuses, and newer riverside blocks, are a big part of the work here. We cover all of Medway and can plan larger jobs around term times and tenancies.
Fire doors in Medway
Student accommodation puts doors under heavy use: slammed, propped open, kicked and fitted with extra locks. Closers fail, seals are torn off and frames loosen. We carry out fire door inspections on a schedule that suits you, keep doors working with maintenance and repairs, and replace doors that are past saving.
Fire stopping and compartmentation in Medway
In purpose-built student and residential blocks, cluster flats and corridors are divided into compartments, and every pipe and cable between them needs a seal. In older terraces converted into HMOs, the floors between rooms rarely have proper fire separation around services. We survey and put both right with fire stopping and compartmentation.
What we check in Medway buildings
- Bedroom and kitchen doors in student clusters and HMOs
- Doors propped open or fitted with extra locks
- Compartment walls between cluster flats and corridors
- Floors between rooms in converted terraces
- Riser and meter cupboards in newer riverside blocks
Rules that apply to Medway buildings
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Requires a fire risk assessment for the common parts of blocks of flats and all non-domestic buildings, including flat entrance doors since the Fire Safety Act 2021.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Over 11 metres: communal fire doors checked every three months, flat entrance doors yearly (best endeavours).
Tested fire stopping (BS EN 1366-3)
Penetration seals must be tested for the actual service, construction and opening size.