UK Building Safety & Fire Compliance Consultancy
Specialist Building Safety & Fire Compliance Services
Supporting managing agents, developers, Principal Accountable Persons and property owners across the UK with practical, evidence-based compliance solutions aligned with Building Safety Regulator expectations.
Technical consultancy
Specialist Compliance Services
Clear, technically robust support across building safety, fire safety and property compliance. Each service is structured around practical evidence, proportionate risk management and regulatory readiness.
01 / Core service
Building Safety Case Reports
Supporting Higher-Risk Buildings with structured Building Safety Case Reports aligned with the Building Safety Act 2022 and Building Safety Regulator expectations. Our approach is evidence-led, building-specific and focused on demonstrating how fire and structural safety risks are identified, managed and controlled.
Services include:
- HAZID assessments
- Gap analysis against BAC criteria
- Fire and structural risk review
- Golden Thread support
- Resident engagement review
- Regulatory readiness support
02 / External walls
PAS 9980 FRAEW
Specialist Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls for residential and mixed-use buildings in accordance with PAS 9980:2022. We assess external wall construction using a proportionate, risk-based methodology and provide clear recommendations for dutyholders.
Services include:
- Desktop information review
- Façade and cladding assessment
- Cavity barrier and fire stopping review
- Balcony and attachment assessment
- Intrusive investigation support
- Remediation recommendations
03 / Fire risk
Fire Risk Assessments
Comprehensive Fire Risk Assessments for residential, commercial, mixed-use and complex occupied buildings. Our assessments identify significant fire hazards, review existing controls and provide clear, prioritised actions.
Services include:
- Type 1–4 FRA inspections
- Common parts assessments
- Fire safety management review
- Means of escape review
- Fire door observations
- Action plan and risk prioritisation
04 / Design compliance
Fire Strategies
Fire strategy reports supporting new-build, refurbishment, conversion and occupied-building projects. We work with design teams to establish practical compliance pathways while protecting life safety and design intent.
Services include:
- Means of escape analysis
- Smoke control strategy
- Compartmentation requirements
- Fire service access and facilities
- Structural fire protection review
- Building Control coordination
05 / Passive fire
Fire Door Surveys
Detailed fire door inspections to help building owners and managers understand condition, defects and compliance priorities. Surveys can support planned maintenance, remediation programmes and wider fire risk management.
Services include:
- Door set condition surveys
- Frames, seals and gaps review
- Ironmongery assessment
- Flat entrance door reviews
- Common-area fire doors
- Prioritised remedial schedules
06 / Passive fire
Compartmentation Surveys
Compartmentation surveys identifying breaches, defects and weaknesses within fire-resisting construction. Findings are presented clearly to help clients plan proportionate remediation and strengthen building fire safety.
Services include:
- Fire stopping inspections
- Compartment wall and floor review
- Service penetration assessment
- Riser and ceiling void inspections
- Photographic defect schedules
- Remediation prioritisation
07 / Project safety
Principal Designer (CDM)
Principal Designer support in accordance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. We help clients and design teams identify, eliminate and manage foreseeable health and safety risks during the pre-construction phase.
Services include:
- Pre-construction information review
- Design risk coordination
- Designer competency support
- Hazard elimination and control
- Design team coordination
- Health and safety file support
08 / Energy compliance
EPCs — Energy Performance Certificates
Energy assessment and EPC support for residential and commercial properties, helping clients understand energy performance and meet applicable compliance requirements. Our advice is practical and focused on clear next steps.
Services include:
- Domestic EPCs
- Commercial EPCs
- Non-domestic energy assessment
- MEES compliance support
- Energy improvement recommendations
- Portfolio assessment support
09 / Property compliance
Asbestos
Asbestos consultancy and surveying support for property owners, managing agents and project teams. We help clients identify asbestos-containing materials, understand risk and manage statutory duties in a practical way.
Services include:
- Management surveys
- Refurbishment surveys
- Demolition surveys
- Asbestos management support
- Project and remediation support
- Compliance advice
Who we work with
Trusted by organisations responsible for complex buildings
Our consultancy supports dutyholders, asset managers and project teams across residential, commercial and mixed-use property portfolios throughout the UK.
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Case study
Woolpack Lane, Nottingham
Residential Conversion Fire Strategy
Howatt Consulting, working alongside Keegans, were appointed to deliver a comprehensive fire strategy for the refurbishment and conversion of an existing commercial building at 30 Woolpack Lane, Nottingham, into a multi-storey residential development.
Project Overview
The project involved the transformation of a former workspace/commercial premises into 36 residential apartments arranged across lower ground to fourth floor level around a central courtyard.
The development presented a number of technical and regulatory challenges associated with the adaptive reuse of an existing historic-style structure, including:
- Retention of the existing masonry building fabric.
- Timber separating floor construction.
- Complex internal layouts and open-plan apartments.
- A single protected stair arrangement transitioning into split stair cores at upper level.
- Compliance with modern Building Regulations within an existing structure.
- Coordination with Building Control and the wider design team through RIBA Stages 3–4.
Our Role
Howatt Consulting prepared the detailed fire strategy in collaboration with Keegans, providing fire safety design guidance to support Building Regulations compliance and planning through the construction phase.
The strategy was developed in accordance with:
- Approved Document B (2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments).
- BS 9991:2015.
- The Fire Safety Act 2022.
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Fire Strategy Scope
The report addressed:
- Means of escape.
- Fire alarm and detection systems.
- Smoke ventilation strategy.
- Compartmentation.
- Structural fire protection.
- External fire spread.
- Fire service access and facilities.
- Fire safety management arrangements.
Key Fire Safety Challenges
A key challenge was delivering a compliant fire strategy within an existing building structure while preserving the architectural character of the development.
The building measured approximately 17.96m to the top occupied storey, placing it below the Higher-Risk Building threshold under the Building Safety Act 2022, whilst still triggering enhanced fire safety requirements applicable to residential buildings over 11m in height.
- Residential sprinkler protection.
- Wayfinding signage.
- Enhanced compartmentation and smoke control considerations.
- Open-plan residential apartments.
- Duplex accommodation.
- Protected escape routes.
- Smoke ventilated corridors.
- Stay Put evacuation principles.
- A passenger lift located within a protected zone.
Design Solutions
Our fire strategy introduced a coordinated package of fire safety measures tailored specifically to the constraints of the existing structure and proposed residential use.
- A Stay Put evacuation strategy supported by robust compartmentation.
- LD1 fire detection systems within all apartments in accordance with BS 5839-6.
- Smoke detection within common areas linked to automatic smoke ventilation systems.
- Residential sprinkler protection throughout the development.
- Protected corridors and stair enclosures.
- Careful management of travel distances within open-plan apartments.
- Fire-resisting construction upgrades to support compartmentation requirements.
- Use of low combustibility external wall materials and protected timber frame infill construction at fourth floor level.
- Future operational management provisions, including Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) where required.
Outcome
The completed fire strategy provided a clear compliance framework for the residential conversion and supported the Building Regulations approval process for the scheme.
The project demonstrates Howatt Consulting’s capability in delivering practical, regulation-compliant fire safety strategies for complex refurbishment and conversion projects, particularly where existing buildings present constraints that require careful coordination between architecture, fire engineering and building control requirements.
Our approach focused on delivering:
- Practical and buildable fire safety solutions.
- Clear compliance pathways.
- Early coordination with Building Control.
- Design team collaboration.
- Robust life safety provisions suitable for modern residential occupation.
This project reflects our wider experience supporting complex residential developments, conversions and Building Regulations compliance projects across the UK.
Building safety & fire compliance support
Discuss your project
Speak to Howatt Consulting about your building safety, fire safety or property compliance requirements. We can help define the scope, identify the information required and provide practical next steps.