Exeter City Council - Passive Fire Prevention

The Challenge

Exeter City Council approached Ventro for specialist Fire Compartmentation works required for their residential housing stock. This need for improvement in fire safety was identified through several channels: Exeter City Council's own Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs), directives from the Local Fire and Rescue Service, and assessments by Exeter City Council Surveyors. A key aspect of the challenge involved improving fire compartmentation in older properties to ensure resident safety and legislative compliance.

The Solution

Ventro engaged in several consultancy sessions with Exeter City Council over a number of months. During this period, Ventro meticulously identified the full scope of work and developed a detailed forecast of remedial actions, including associated timescales and budgetary estimates.

Following these initial assessments to pinpoint areas needing improvement, Ventro executed a variety of essential fire safety works. These included FD30S Fire Door Installations, Fire Compartmentation Surveys, FRA Remedial Works, and Roof space compartmentation. Furthermore, Ventro performed the installation of specialist fire stopping products, such as Ablative Batt Board, Intumescent Pipe Collars, Intumescent Grilles, and Linear Gap Sealing.

During December 2022, Ventro further demonstrated its commitment through the "Great Giving Back" campaign. Rich Toms, the local site manager, and Dan Conniss, the project manager for the campaign, personally visited residents in Exeter to deliver hampers, actively addressing any concerns residents had about the ongoing work and helping to alleviate anxieties.

The Results

Ventro's comprehensive approach yielded significant and ongoing results for Exeter City Council:

• Enhanced Fire Safety & Compliance: Ventro tirelessly worked with Exeter City Council to ensure their residential stock not only meets current legislation but also establishes robust processes for maintained compliance. This work substantially improved fire compartmentation in older properties.

• Extensive Fire Safety Upgrades: A total of 170 fire-rated doors were installed across 9 medium to large residential sites, alongside comprehensive fire compartmentation and FRA remedial works.

• Improved Resident Safety and Peace of Mind: A large part of the work focused on making buildings safer, which led to residents genuinely feeling safer in their homes. The direct engagement through campaigns like "Great Giving Back" fostered trust and addressed concerns.

• Robust Digital Golden Thread of Information: All relevant fire safety information for properties worked on by Ventro is securely stored and available on Ventro's cloud-based portal. This includes detailed data on remediation work, materials used, product and installation certification, before-and-after photos, work dates, and operative details. This information is readily accessible by building managers, fire safety personnel, emergency services, and other responsible persons, providing a complete and continuous record for long-term safety management.