Case Study — Fire Remediation Confidential – Cardiff: Multi-Block Internal Fire Remediation
Quantity Surveyor, Employer’s Agent and Project Manager for internal fire remediation works, including compartmentation and firestopping, across occupied apartment blocks in Cardiff, coordinated around residents in a live, occupied environment.
The challenge
Restoring compartmentation in occupied blocks
Alongside the external facade upgrades, the apartment blocks needed internal fire safety works to restore compartmentation, so that a fire in one part of a building is contained and residents are protected.
The works involved protecting communal corridors and stairs, opening up ceilings, surveying fire doors and their frames, and firestopping linear joints and service penetrations, block by block and floor by floor, with residents living in the buildings throughout. With many residents living across the blocks, coordination was central to the role: access to corridors, stairs, risers and individual apartments was planned in advance with residents and building management, residents were kept informed, and the works were sequenced to keep escape routes open and disruption to a minimum in a live environment.
Delivered by Ollie Thompson MRICS in a previous role at Rider Levett Bucknall.
Project facts
At a glance
Quantity surveying, Employer’s Agent and project management services during the construction stage of internal fire remediation works.
Stage
Construction stage (RIBA Stage 5)
Location
Cardiff, Cardiff
Sector
Fire remediation, residential
Contract
Client’s bespoke jobbing contract
Our role
Quantity Surveyor, Employer’s Agent and Project Manager
Scope
Compartmentation, firestopping and fire door works
Buildings
Four occupied apartment blocks
Contractor
Miller Knight
Fire engineering
Rider Levett Bucknall
Our approach
Cost, contract and delivery control on site
Mobilisation
Reviewing the contractor’s programme, logistics and construction phase plan, with resident access, protection of communal areas and fire safety agreed before work began.
Opening Up & Surveys
Managing the opening up of ceilings and the surveys of existing compartmentation, fire doors and service penetrations, so the true scope could be priced and agreed.
Employer’s Agent
Administering the client’s jobbing contract: issuing instructions, agreeing technical queries and protecting the client’s position.
Valuations & Payment
Regular valuations and payments, so the contractor was paid fairly for work completed in line with the contract.
Change & Cost Control
Assessing additional works uncovered once ceilings and risers were opened, with regular cost reports to the client.
Project Management
Coordinating the contractor, residents, building management, fire engineer and building control, so the works could be delivered safely in a live, occupied building.
The outcome
Safer homes, inside and out
Roles, one team
Quantity surveying, Employer’s Agent and project management combined, giving the client a single, joined-up point of contact.
Blocks
Internal fire remediation managed block by block and floor by floor across an occupied estate.
Coordinated around residents
Works planned and sequenced around residents in a live building, keeping escape routes open and disruption to a minimum.
Read our guide, What does an Employer’s Agent do?, or see our Employer’s Agent and Cost & Commercial Management services.
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