Fire Door Installation and Maintenance – Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Scope of Works

Fire door installation and maintenance with compartmentation works were carried out across two hospitals with the Black Country- Edward Street Hospital and Heath Lane Hospital.

Heath Lane Hospital is a dedicated dementia care unit where we have adopted a different approach by making sure staff always have a thorough understanding of our movements to ensure safety of all personnel.

Edward Street Hospital is a three-storey hospital which supports older people with mental health needs such as dementia, depression and anxiety.

Fire doors installations and maintenance were BM Trada Q Mark scheme certified with FIRAS certification to all fire stopping.

We installed FD30 and FD60 new door sets and carried out maintenance on existing doors located across the hospital. These included:

• Riser cupboard doors
• Cross corridor doors
• Ward entrance door sets

The works were delivered under strict time constraints and with limited access to each area. To alleviate any issues and disruption on the wards, doors were relocated to a secure space where we carried out the works before re-installing them in situ.

All penetrations along the required compartment walls were identified prior to work commencing, with details captured on the types of penetration and associated remedial action required (all completed to FIRAS Certified standards).

We worked from the Client’s Fire Risk Assessors survey, who was advised by a structural engineer for certain elements of the works. From this, a schedule of works was created with support from our suppliers to identify the most effective seal to install.

What works did Novus carry out?

• Door frame seals
• Vertical pipe penetration
• Cable penetration
• Linear gaps
• Metal/ combustible pipe penetration
• Wall cavity
• Large cable tray
• Duct brackets
• Voids through concrete
• Trunking through concrete and various repair works

In addition to the above works, we also carried out new line markings works along with up-to-date signage within hospitals.

Resourcing Details: This contract is managed and delivered by our team based out of our Birmingham Operational Office at Smethwick. We have a dedicated contract management team including Quantity Surveyor and Contracts Manager, who is a Certified FIRAS and BM Trada Approved Supervisor.

Our labour commitment for this contract was:

• 6 x carpenters
• 2 x multi-trades

All operatives allocated to this project had recognised trade qualifications gained through formal apprenticeships and/or vocational qualifications to enable them to carry out their work in a safe and professional manner. They have also had the mandatory Company health & safety training including:

Asbestos Awareness, Manual Handling, Working at Height, Ladder & Steps, Face Fit. All operatives received relevant FIRAS Passive Fire Protection Training, FIRAS Door Set Engineer Training and BM Trada Fire Doors Installer & Maintenance including Door set ARTs Training.

All operatives received Advanced Fire Risk Assessment training delivered by the Fire Protection Association (FPA).

We have extensive experience in delivering similar works and holds the following qualifications directly relating to passive fire protection:

• BM Trada Q-Mark Approved Supervisor Fire Door Installation & Maintenance
• FIRAS Approved Supervisor Passive Fire Protection
• E.A Contractor Fire Safety Training
• F.S Passive Fire Protection Techniques & Guidance

How did Novus add value?

We suggested alternative working methods/arrangements to help minimise disruption on the wards i.e. taking doors outside the building to work on and re installing to minimise the time we were present on each ward. We also agreed out-of-hours working, when the hospital was less busy, to help minimise disruption.

Through efficient programming and close liaison with hospital staff we completed on time and within budget, to the complete satisfaction of the client.