Myth 31: As part of a fire risk assessment required by the Fire Safety Order, it is necessary to carry out a full compartmentation survey
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09 April 2026
Short answer: No. As a matter of course this is not required.
Long answer:
For the fire risk assessment, the assessor will need to take a view on the level and condition of the compartmentation, based on the hazards and the use of the building. This may lead to a recommendation for a compartmentation survey, but a full survey is not a requirement of a fire risk assessment. Unless there is reason to expect serious deficiencies or inadequate compartmentation, or poor fire stopping, a sampled non-invasive inspection will normally be sufficient.
Where doubt exists, the fire risk assessment may recommend that another type of assessment be carried out or that further investigation be carried out by specialists. This should not be a generic recommendation of all fire risk assessments; the recommendation should be based on identification of issues that justify reasons for doubt which are recorded in the fire risk assessment. This principle applies to fire doors that contribute to a buildings fire compartmentation. (see Myth Buster 29)
This myth is growing in prevalence, resulting in unnecessary expenditure, often of a significant amount, in existing buildings (to which current building regulations do not apply unless, or until, new building work is carried out or there is a material change of use).
This is causing serious concern for experienced and competent fire risk assessors, such as those of the FIA Fire Risk Assessment Council, as well as for regulators, building owners and other dutyholders, and the leaseholders of flats.
Common causes of misconception
Fire compartmentation is intended to prevent spreading fire. This is done by sub dividing the building with fire resistant construction, protecting escape routes, and enclosing places of special fire hazard. The fire resistance should be continuous at the join between elements forming a fire resisting compartment. Stairs and service shafts connecting compartments should be protected to restrict the spread of fire between the compartments.
The main aim of a fire risk assessment under UK legislation, is to reduce the likelihood of a fire happening and for the occupants to be able to escape if a fire occurs. A fire risk assessment needs to confirm that the fire compartmentation supporting the means of escape are satisfactory and any defects do not compromise life safety.
In some situations where an evacuation is delayed as part of the fire strategy, such as when a ‘stay put’ approach is adopted in apartment blocks, or where there may be significant risk associated with the evacuation of vulnerable people, such as in hospitals and care homes, compartment walls and floors not directly protecting means of escape routes may also serve ultimately to protect the means of escape.
There are two types of inspection used when checking fire compartmentation, non destructive/non-invasive, or destructive/invasive.
- Non-destructive/non-invasive visual inspection to check the condition of fire-resisting construction does not involve damage of the structure. Any part of the construction that can be readily moved to facilitate inspection, such as moving a ceiling tile, can be readily made good with no need for further repair.
- Destructive/invasive inspections involve the taking apart of part of the structure that would then require repair. For most FRAs, a sampled non-destructive/non-invasive visual inspection is adequate.
During an FRA, it is not necessary to carry out an in-depth check of the compartmentation, other than to carry out a visual inspection of the visible compartmentation to see if there has been any damage or alterations that may reduce its effectiveness below than the standard expected. A physical check of the condition of easily accessible elements, such as fire-resisting walls, floors, ceilings and ducting, should be made. Where there are demountable false ceilings, it may be appropriate to lift a sample of readily accessible false ceiling tiles. In addition, it will normally be appropriate to open a sample of service risers, provided access is practicable at the time of inspection.